THE HUDDLE RANKINGS

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/08/2010 (5861 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One man’s totally subjective rankings after eight weeks of play (last week’s rank in parentheses):

 

1. (1) CALGARY STAMPEDERS (6-1) — A week off hasn’t changed their current standing as the CFL’s elite outfit.

2. (2) SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (5-2) — Healthy, happy and ready to make a push for first.

3. (3) MONTREAL ALOUETTES (6-2) — Could be without Anthony Calvillo for a stretch. Chris Leak to the rescue?

4. (5) HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (4-4) — Inching up the rankings. Big win in the Big Smoke against the Argos last week.

5. (4) TORONTO ARGONAUTS (5-3) — Solid outfit, but had some warts exposed in loss to Ticats.

6. (6) WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (2-6) — Will the bye week serve as a wake-up or just extend the summer slumber?

7. (7) B.C. LIONS (1-6) — Casey Printers back at the controls. Will it be enough to restore the Lions’ roar?

8. (8) EDMONTON ESKIMOS (1-6) — An assistant coach quits, one gets fired… and the soap opera continues in the Alberta capital.

 

JUICY NUMBERS

39,583 vs. 24,493

The crowds at back-to-back football games at Rogers Centre last week. The first the total for the Indianapolis Colts-Buffalo Bills contest; the second the Argos-vs. Hamilton.

 

FYI

An idea that gets two thumbs up, way up, from this corner: the CFL’s introduction of the Jake Gaudaur Veteran’s Trophy to be presented annually to the player ‘who best demonstrates the attributes shared by Canada’s veterans in times of war, military conflict and peace.’ Great idea… If only all CFL players, especially those on teams struggling, could see the big picture the same way as Stampeder D-lineman DeVone Claybrooks: "If we’re not getting it done, they’ll bring somebody else in to get it done," Claybrooks told the Calgary Herald. "We know this side of the business, that the door is never closed, so you can’t get too complacent and too confident in your game until you maintain that level."… And you thought the Bombers were awful out of the starting blocks: the Eskimos have been out-scored 98-25 in first quarter this year… A stat that is getting a lot of play lately: the last time both the Argos and Ticats qualified for the playoffs was in 2004. "It needs to be this way," Argos special teams co-ordinator Mike O’Shea told The National Post. "The last couple years it’s kind of been sickening when it hasn’t meant anything. The CFL needs this, Southern Ontario needs it and both franchises need this to be very vibrant."

 

SAY WHAT?!

"Sometimes you need a kick in the butt because you take things for granted and Wally has given me a kick in the butt. Yes, I need to hustle more, but I want to live up to my full potential and not what others think of my potential."

— New Lions O-lineman Joe McGrath, picked up after being released by Edmonton.

 

–Ed Tait