Coaches who condone early showboating miss the boat
Robservations ...
Call me a Golden Tate worrier, but it is endlessly bothersome when football players prematurely celebrate a touchdown, jeopardizing the precious six points in the process.
Consider the case of Tate, who on Sunday caught a 51-yard touchdown for the New York Giants. Approaching the fiveyard line, Tate began running backwards, even though Miami linebacker Jerome Baker was in close pursuit. Tate was pushed to the ground as he crossed the goal line. Every time something like this happens, this stuffy antique of a scribe hopes for a tackle or, better yet, a fumble.
Why, oh why, do so many coaches — presumably the same people who keep emphasizing the importance of ball security — condone the pre-touchdown antics? Across the NFL and CFL, players routinely begin celebrations before actually scoring the six points, waving around the football and being careless.
The simple message should be this: Do whatever you want, within the bounds of good taste, when you reach the end zone. But get there first.
Every team should be shown video of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Bakari Grant showboating before he reached the goal line during a 2017 game. Grant ended up losing a fumble. But, alas, nothing ever changes.
In October against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Roughriders’ Shaq Evans held the ball in the air for the final 10 yards en route to scoring a 61-yard TD. Just tuck the ball away!
In one 1977 game, the Ottawa Rough Riders’ Tony Gabriel started running backwards, only to be tackled shy of the goal line. The Hall of Fame tight end never repeated that mistake.
Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther made an excellent point after the CFL released its 2020 schedule. Via @brettlauther, he wondered: “How do you have an 18 game schedule with 3 bye weeks but you play 12 straight games?? #Playersafety.” It is ridiculous for the Riders, or any team, to devour two-thirds of its regular season between respites.
Only two of the CFL’S final 11 regular-season games are divisional contests — West versus West, in both cases. One such game is on Oct. 30, when the Riders visit Calgary. More should have been done to accentuate rivalries heading into the playoffs, as was the case last season when 15 of the final 16 games were East-east or West-west.
Fox’s NFL panel often turns into a gong show but, thankfully, Terry Bradshaw is around to save the day. Consider this line from Bradshaw Sunday: “537th career touchdown pass for Tom Brady, breaking my record of 212.”
You are cordially invited to Nicky’s Cafe & Catering Saturday for the 18th annual Coffee Day, in support of the Leader-post Christmas Cheer Fund. Employees and friends of my favourite newspaper will be pouring coffee from 8 a.m. to noon. My shift, certain to include some misadventures, is to begin at 11 a.m.
Nice people who deserve a plug: Everyone who has reached out following the passing of my mother last week. Naming everyone who has provided words of consolation and encouragement would consume the space allotted for a dozen columns. Sincere thanks to all the nice people who have gone above and beyond in support of my family.