Some mighty big shoes to fill

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/02/2022 (1625 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The truth is, when Bob Irving revealed to CJOB 680 and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers that he was hanging up the headset as the club’s play-by-play man, it created a significant problem.

Irving is as good as it gets when it comes to running a CFL broadcast booth, he attained legendary status after nearly 50 years covering the Blue and Gold. And while they’ll likely never admit it — heck, maybe they would — trying to find a replacement for someone as beloved and talented as Irving is as close to Mission: Impossible as it comes.

So, when the news broke Wednesday that Derek Taylor, the former play-caller for the (gulp) Saskatchewan Roughriders, will be filling the XL-size void left by Irving, I’m not sure there could have been a better solution. For those unaware of Taylor, there’s no one in this business more passionate about the three-down game or who has dedicated more time to dissecting the CFL than him.

Even if he has some massive shoes to fill.

“That’s terrifying,” is what Taylor told me when I asked him about being the replacement for the Bob Irving, followed by his trademark laugh that fans will soon become accustomed to. “I’ve been reminded of that in my last couple of jobs, too.”

Taylor said when he first got the job with TSN as a host on Sportscentre years ago, he was reminded by a viewer than he was no Jay Onrait. Even when he took over for Rod Pedersen in Regina calling Roughriders games, it took a while for some to warm up to him.

That’s all part of the process when replacing someone who has kept the seat warm for such a long time. While Taylor might be feeling a bit of nerves, it’s overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of excitement for what he hopes to be a rewarding new chapter.

“Well, not having to keep it a secret anymore will be fantastic. I love that,” said Taylor, whose debut behind the mic will be a preseason game against the Roughriders on May 23. “For me, home is kind of Winnipeg, right?”

It was another busy week in the CFL, so let’s get into it in the latest edition of CFL Rundown.

1) Back to Taylor, the reason he calls Winnipeg his home is because of how much time he’s spent here. He grew up in Alberta, but has worked in several parts of the country, nowhere longer than the ‘Peg. He lived in Winnipeg for 14 years, nine of which were spent calling games for the Manitoba Bisons. It’s where he met his wife Fiona, who still has family here.

2) I had reported on the Bombers play-by-play search last week. At the time, the position hadn’t been filled, though Taylor felt like a shoo-in. Not only because he’s a talented broadcaster, but because you just know Bombers CEO and president Wade Miller loves taking things from the Riders.

3) Let the bargaining begin. The CFL Players’ Association announced Wednesday it has filed a written notice to start negotiations with the CFL and its nine member clubs for a new collective bargaining agreement. As per Canadian labour laws, a notice to bargain must be submitted to begin formal talks. The current CBA expires on May 14.

4) The existing CBA was ratified prior to the 2019 campaign and then amended ahead of ‘21 so the CFL could safely put on a season despite the threat of COVID-19 crippling the bottom line. The CFLPA noted in its release it is “prepared to officially begin working together, in good faith, towards a new and fair agreement.”

5) Buckle up, because if history suggests anything it’s that these negotiations will be tense. They were tense in 2019, and the relationship between the CFL and the CFLPA hasn’t exactly strengthened since then. The players believe they are owed for the concessions they made to play last season and won’t be looking to come out again with the short end of the stick. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss the issues at hand, as the drama has just begun.

6) When I watched The Rock give an awkward pep talk to the crowd ahead of the Super Bowl, I wondered why the NFL would invite a part owner of the competing XFL to take centre stage. The answer came earlier this week, with the NFL and XFL announcing they’ll be collaborating “on select innovation programs to further expand the game of football and create increased opportunities for player development both on and off the field.”

7) While there’s a lot to digest in that statement, one thing has become crystal clear. If the CFL and XFL are ever to get into bed again, it doesn’t seem likely they’ll be interested in adopting any Canadian rules. This is likely the end of any mutual talks in the foreseeable future.

8) The hope that QB Chris Streveler might make a return to the CFL took a major hit this week after the former Bombers pivot inked a contract with the Miami Dolphins. The plan for Streveler was to test out NFL opportunities until the spring and if there were no bites, he was willing to look north. That plan isn’t completely dead, as Streveler could be released at any moment. But what’s more likely is if the dynamic QB is to make a return to the CFL it won’t be until at least 2023.

9) The experiment between the Roughriders and former first-round NFL draft pick Paxton Lynch is officially over. Lynch was released by Saskatchewan earlier this week after spending the entire 2021 season on either the active roster or one-game injured list, meaning he was paid his full salary. Never once did the 27-year-old take a snap, making his dismissal rather curious.

10) It couldn’t have been solely his adjustment to the CFL, and more probable was his reluctance to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Lynch was added to the team’s suspension list prior to the 2021 playoffs for that very reason, as unvaccinated players were ineligible to travel. It’s an interesting thought, and Lynch won’t likely be the last player to be released over refusing to get jabbed. Furthermore, there’s a good chance the CFL will push to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations in the new CBA.

11) The USFL, the latest attempt at a professional spring football league, is having its inaugural draft this week. If you’re curious of the talent, the No. 1 pick, quarterback Shea Patterson, selected by the Michigan Panthers, was cut by the B.C. Lions last year.

12) Finally, I wrote about the Toronto Argonauts signing QB Chad Kelly, the nephew of NFL Hall-of-Fame QB Jim Kelly, despite a questionable past. Well, Kelly made headlines again this week when he went on a U.S.-based podcast produced by Ole Miss fans, the university Kelly starred at, to proclaim his goal of being “the starter and the face of the league.” He also said on TSN 1050 in Toronto he wanted to be the next Doug Flutie, throwing for at least 5,000 passing years within a couple years of playing in the league.

13) I’m all for showing confidence and wanting to help your team. But Kelly just comes off as naive, at best, and extremely arrogant, at worst. For someone who claimed after singing with the Argos that he wanted to prove how focused he was to get his life and football career back on track, he’s not off to a great start.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton