Bennett could land post as backup QB
Robservations ...
Our man Murray McCormick reported Monday that 25-year-old Bryan Bennett is making a strong bid to become the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ second-string quarterback, behind Kevin Glenn and ahead of former NCAA and NFL star Vince Young.
On Tuesday, Young left the Roughriders’ training-camp workout with a hamstring injury of undetermined severity. So now Young is on the limp after struggling in Saturday’s mock game. His comeback attempt is a compelling story but, in light of recent events, you really have to wonder how much longer this experiment will continue.
Something I did not expect
to write as the Roughriders’ training camp loomed: I am very curious as to how Bennett will perform in the Roughriders’ preseason opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Saturday, 7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
Kudos to Saskatchewan
Roughriders head coach, etc., Chris Jones by pointing the finger at himself, and the coaching staff, when necessary. If the Roughriders struggle during a game, or even a training-camp workout, Jones does not hesitate to put the onus on the coaches.
Jones made a fine move by
adding tailback Anthony Allen, a proven commodity. Allen removes a lot of the guesswork from the backfield battle. If one of the newcomers is superior to Allen, great. Failing that, he provides reliability in addition to being an admirable teammate and representative of the club.
Quarterback Brett Smith
retired from football upon being released by the Edmonton Eskimos the other day. Too bad. He was a rare bright spot in the Roughriders’ three-win circus of 2015. Despite accepting just 40 per cent of the snaps that season, he threw 15 touchdown passes. At that pace, he would have easily exceeded 30 TD passes over a full season. Darian Durant, Kent Austin and Henry Burris are the only Riders to reach the 30 mark.
The Regina Riot is a pleasure
to watch. The Western Women’s Canadian Football League team’s offensive scheme includes all kinds of trickery and motion. When basic, smash-mouth football is required, quarterback Aimee Kowalski can simply hand off to Carmen Agar and watch her squelch a series of would-be tacklers, à la Ray Elgaard.
It is fitting that someone wearing No. 23 (Agar) was a key figure during the last tackle football game at Taylor Field — the Riot’s 34-24 victory over the Saskatoon Valkyries on Sunday. Agar rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns. She also caught four passes for 50 yards.
And here’s a shout-out to
Valkyries quarterback Alex Eyolfson, an elusive and exciting scrambler who also has a strong arm. She is the WWCFL’s version of Doug Flutie.
Why do basketball players slap
hands after a missed free throw? (“Good job. Congratulations on launching that brick and nearly concussing the mascot. Better luck next time.”)
Four-on-four hockey would be
the most exciting sport ever.
Memo to NHL commissioner
Gary Bettman: Eliminate reviews of possible offside calls that can negate a goal. Only the NHL would enact a rule that reduces offence.
Memo to the next CFL commissioner: Push for an enlightened media policy with which every team must comply. As it stands, each team has a different philosophy regarding access provided to the media, which is a conduit to the ever-crucial ticket-buying public. It shouldn’t be too difficult for decisionmakers in a league of modest size to come up with an across-theboard solution.
Fast fact: Morgan Mayer sang
the national anthem before the first football game at new Mosaic Stadium (University of Regina Rams versus University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Oct. 1) and performed another splendid rendition of “O Canada” prior to the aforementioned finale at Taylor Field.
Nice people who deserve a
plug: Sarah Clemens, Brad Wetterstrand, Anthony Allen, Brett Smith, Marian McCormick,
Sam Berg, Susan Dorwart, Dean Vendramin, Ashley Vendramin, Roger Brandvold, Rod Schmidt, Alex Eyolfson, Nathan Morrison, Ann Schubert, Carlie Jackson, Aly Bell, Avery Deren, Bernice Donnelly and Joshua Mae Bacor.
A closing note: We appreciate
and invite feedback from valued readers. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any comments on our level of sports covfefe ...