Stage is set for Stamps’ Jorden to strut his stuff
Creative receiver figures to benefit most from new CFL rule on TD celebrations
Ja’Gared Davis acknowledges that it’s probably going to be a twohorse race for best celebration.
With the CFL announcing Thursday morning that it was relaxing its officiating standards for touchdown celebrations, the Calgary Stampeders receivers didn’t waste any time before they started brainstorming new ideas.
So who is going to come up with the most fun, most creative and most elaborate TD celebration?
There seem to be two frontrunners.
“It’s going to be definitely a close race out of (Marken Michel and Kamar Jorden),” Davis said. “Those are the two main ones I’ve got my money on. Me, personally, I’m going to have to lean to Marken just a little bit.”
The move by the CFL to loosen the rules on TD celebrations should lead to a renaissance in viral-video-worthy celebrations.
The new rules allow for props to be used in celebrations as long as they are not hidden in a player’s uniform or the goalpost assembly, they are not demeaning or discriminatory in any way, they do not simulate the firing of a weapons and they do not unduly delay the game, according to a press release from the league.
That’s going to open a whole lot of possibility for receivers like Michel and Jorden, who believe they’re likely going to be the guys who get the most creative among the Stamps receiving corps.
“I was just telling my boys, I had my touchdown celebration kind of ready to go, but when (head coach Dave Dickenson) told us that in the meetings today, it made me change everything,” Jorden said Thursday. “I’m not going to lie, today at practice, I was looking around the stadium trying to see what I could use for a celebration and if I could use any props.
“I ain’t gonna force it. It’s gotta be good, but if I think of something I’m definitely going to pull something out.”
Even Michel acknowledges that Jorden might be the man to beat in the celebrations, given the pedigree he’d already established before the new rules were announced.
If it’s a two-man race, Michel might have a little catching up to do.
“As soon as you asked, the first person I thought of was KJ,” Michel said. “KJ’s got some creative touchdown celebrations already, so I’m going to have to really think about it, because I want to come out with a band and, on top of that, we can use props. I’ve got to look around the field and see how I can make it interesting.”
To be clear, this is all just a little bit of fun.
The Stampeders definitely aren’t going to be giving anybody time in practice to work on their celebrations, but if the receivers — or anyone else who gets in the end zone — wants to put on a bit of a show, it doesn’t sound like the coaching staff is going to stop them.
“I’ll let them best themselves, but we have a certain standard,” Dickenson said. “I don’t personally think it has anything to do with the game, but if fans will come to the games and enjoy that and want to see that, then great.
“That’s my thought on it. I’m of the opinion that when you score or have a big play, act like you’ve been there before. Maybe that’s the 1990s or whatever. I don’t know. You have fun, but I think you celebrate with your teammates. We want to promote entertainment. We want people in the stands. If that’s what they want to see and they believe they’ll buy more tickets to come to the games, great.”
While there might be a little internal competition among the receivers, Dickenson’s suggestion that celebrations should be with other teammates doesn’t seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
“Honestly, I’m far ahead,” Jorden said laughing. “Eric (Rogers) doesn’t really want to do too much when he scores, (DaVaris Daniels) is all about business when he scores, Marken gets it. I want to bring them in more. When we score, we’ll do some team stuff. That’s the stuff that gets the crowd in.”
EXPECT HIM TO PLAY
The Stampeders aren’t confirming that Don Jackson will be starting at running back against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday at McMahon Stadium (1:30 p.m., TSN/CHQR 770), but it’s a pretty safe bet.
Jackson hasn’t played since Week 6 against the Montreal Alouettes, but he remains near the top of the leaderboard for rushing yards in the CFL.
He went hard at practice on Thursday, so is likely going to be starting against the Bombers.
“As long as he’s clean, comes in (Friday) and feels like he (did on Thursday), he should be good to go,” Dickenson said.
Jackson has been out of the lineup due to a pulled hamstring and likely would have played last weekend against the Saskatchewan Roughriders had it been later in the season or a playoff game.
STAMPEDERS NOTEBOOK
In terms of guys who were questionable heading into the week for Saturday’s game, most Stampeders participated on Thursday … DL Micah Johnson was back after missing Wednesday’s practice, while CB Tre Roberson seems certain to return to the lineup and OL Shane Bergman was heavily involved, as well … Obviously, the thoughts of everyone around McMahon Stadium are with Stamps defensive co-ordinator DeVone Claybrooks, who missed both of this week’s practices due to an illness and is getting tests done at a local hospital.