FIRST AND GOAL

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/10/2010 (5807 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five storylines that jumped out while observing the past week of Canadian Football League action:

1 We may be a little late to the party here, but two thumbs up — way up — to Montreal Alouettes receiver Ben Cahoon for becoming the CFL’s all-time leader in catches last weekend.

Anyone who has watched the CFL during his 13 years has developed an appreciation for his ability to make catches in traffic, stay healthy and be as consistent as any receiver in history.

But here’s something else to consider today: Cahoon was actually drafted sixth overall in 1998, behind D-lineman Tim Fleiszer (Hamilton, 1st overall), kicker Dave Miller-Johnston (Toronto, 2nd), O-lineman Steve Hardin (B.C., 3rd), LB Marc Pilon (Calgary, 4th) and defensive back Phillipe Girard (Edmonton, 5th). Amazingly, in the same draft the Als also grabbed seven-time CFL all-star Scott Flory.

And here’s where it gets painful for local Bomber fans and, indirectly, is the perfect representation of why the Canadian talent has been such an issue here for more than a decade: This franchise traded its first-round pick to Toronto — the second overall choice — for import O-lineman Chris Perez and surrendered the third-rounder for Spencer McLennan. Montreal used that pick to select Flory.

Imagine, then — if it’s not too painful — how Cahoon and Flory might have looked in Blue and Gold…

2 Excuse B.C. Lions boss Wally Buono if he’s ready to blow a gasket in the wake of Monday’s meltdown loss to the Bombers in which his troops were flagged for 20 penalties totalling more than 200 yards.

After the fact, Buono spoke of the generation gap between his beliefs and those of his players. And his frustration with a team that has blown three games this year is about to boil over at any moment.

“The whole thing is sad,” he told The Province. “If there’s anger, then show me when it really counts. Don’t show it to me in the locker-room when it’s over. Who cares? Does losing hurt you more than the rest of us? If you care more, then you should do more. Throwing your helmet in the locker-room is garbage.

“We’ve got to do that garbage because if you don’t, you’re considered to be too old-school and no fun. It goes on both sides. My point is: See what it gets you?”

3 It’s not exactly a blockbuster, but the trade Edmonton GM Eric Tillman made this week — sending kicker Noel Prefontaine back to Toronto — is exactly the kind of deal that should have Eskimo fans believing the franchise rebuild is in good hands.

This is not to speak ill of Prefontaine. He’s a Canadian who punts and placekicks and his consistency is exactly what the Argos, built on defence and special teams, need as they head to the post-season.

But Prefontaine is 38 and in return Tillman landed Canadian D-tackle Etienne Legare, drafted second overall last year, to upgrade their homegrown talent as well as import linebacker Damaso Munoz. Edmonton also has a promising kicking replacement in Derek Schiavone — there are also some decent prospects in next year’s draft — and freed up cap space for next year.

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4 It was Toronto Argonauts coach Jim Barker who suggested it first. And who are we to argue? Barker told a Toronto radio station this weekend that special teams co-ordinator Mike O’Shea, the architect of some brilliant play by his foot soldiers all season — and two gutsy calls in the win over Saskatchewan — should be the CFL coach of the year.

Our favourite O’Shea magic? Seeing punter Jamie Boreham faking taking a knee in the end zone for a safety and instead doing a statue-of-liberty hand-off to Byron Parker who galloped for a first down.

5 And finally, a goofy unofficial stat that a few of us pressbox wags are convinced more than ever needs changing after Monday’s Bombers-Lions game: The CFL unofficially attaches wins and losses to a QB based on who starts the game, not the pivot that was at the controls when the winning points were scored. In other words, Alex Brink would get credit for Monday’s win over B.C., not Steven Jyles, and Travis Lulay would get the loss even though he handed the keys to Casey Printers with a 32-11 lead.

Doesn’t that just seem wrong?