The most wonderful time of the year

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This article was published 16/11/2023 (663 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

That popular Christmas jingle has been playing on loop in my head all week. I’m not the type to celebrate Santa season early, but I have been feeling rather jolly as we enter the middle of Grey Cup week here in Hamilton.

It’s no secret one of my favourite times of the year is the lead up to the championship game, which this Sunday pins the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the Toro…scratch that, Montreal Alouettes in what will be the 110th edition of the Grey Cup. It’s also first time in the league’s 65-year history that these two clubs will face off for a league title.

It’s truly a great week. There’s just something about being among throngs of CFL fans from all corners of the country that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

While I enjoy many of the social activities, with parties seemingly happening at all hours of the day, what I get most out of the week is from working. More specifically, telling stories, and there is no shortage of great tales to share, with my colleague Taylor Allen and I working all hours to fill the sports pages with interesting and informative reads.

I feel fortunate the Free Press still invests in the CFL at a time several daily newspapers are drastically cutting their coverage. It’s my eighth consecutive Grey Cup and while the number of reporters dwindles each year, we know our readers want and expect us to be there and we thank you for your support.

Now, let’s dive even deeper into the week in the latest edition of CFL Rundown.

1 It was an awkward situation for Bombers GM Kyle Walters during his media availability this week, with reporters peppering him with questions about being on an expired contract. Many have assumed Walters will eventually ink a new deal because he wants one, and why not reward the man you’ve put in charge of the roster that’s now gone to four straight Grey Cups? Sounds easy, right?

2 It’s not, though, not with a dark cloud in the form of the non-football operations cap throwing a massive wrench into things. The cap, which was last reported to be just shy of $2.6 million, was brought in by the CFL’s board of governors to reel in what was becoming the fastest growing expenditure in the league. I wonder if Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller, who helped usher in the cap with the other league presidents, has any regrets now that he has to morph into an actuary to find a way to pay for all his talented staff, which also includes new deals for assistant GMs Ted Goveia and Danny McManus. I’m not sure anyone expected the cap would end up hurting successful teams, who now have to figure out a way to dish out deserved raises under a tight budget.

3 Congrats to Bombers running back Brady Oliveira for winning the most outstanding Canadian award after a stellar regular season. I feel he got shafted by not winning the most outstanding player as the West Division nominee, but I predict this won’t be his final crack at the CFL’s top award. I didn’t vote for league awards this year. As president of the Football Reporters of Canada, I’m the tiebreaker and therefore surrendered my vote. Had I voted, I would have picked Oliveira, who truly had a more outstanding season than Chad Kelly. I also can’t argue with giving it to the best player on the best team.

4 I had an interesting exchange with Oliveira this week about his future. He’s on an expiring contract and while he loves his time in Winnipeg and can’t imagine playing anywhere else in the CFL, his plan is to pursue the NFL next season. While that would be an awesome opportunity for Oliveira, what a loss that would be for Winnipeg, seeing how much he does for his home province both on and off the field.

5 Under crazy things I learned this week for $200, Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson has a twin brother. His name is Phillip and he coaches football in Texas.

6 With just two more days before the Grey Cup, it’s feeling like it will take a minor miracle for Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill to play on Sunday. He still hasn’t practised and is walking with a limp. I’d also consider all-star receiver Dalton Schoen as doubtful, but we should get a better idea of his progress when the Bombers hit the field for their final practice today. Receivers Nic Demski and Rasheed Bailey, as well as linebacker Kyrie Wilson have also yet to practise this week.

7 Kenny Lawler is not one to shy away from saying what’s on his mind. Asked Thursday what advice he’d give someone looking to test free agency, he summed his answer up in four words: Don’t go to Edmonton. Lawler spent last season with the Elks, where he was made the league’s highest paid receiver, only to return to Winnipeg this year on a team-friendly deal. Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener.

8 Argos QB Kelly was on the receiving end of some heavy criticism for skipping handshakes following the Toronto Argonauts shocking loss to the Alouettes in the East final. Turns out, the CFL’s most outstanding player wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, he was reeling from the effects of a concussion. In an interview with 3downnation this week, the CFL’s most outstanding player revealed he had suffered a head injury as early as the first quarter, adding there were times in the game he wasn’t “in the right mind at all calling a play.” That might explain why Kelly had five turnovers, including four interceptions, but it raises way more questions than answers. I’m told the CFL and Argos had no idea Kelly suffered a concussion, nor was anything spotted by the league’s injury spotter. To have that news revealed three days after the game, I can’t imagine the Argos are too thrilled about being kept in the dark. Hope Kelly has a speedy recovery.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.