By Elliotte Friedman,
CFL.ca
Boy, this is tough to write.
In this business, you’re taught to be objective. No preferential treatment, don’t play favourites, etc. Then you get out into the real world. Truth is, most of us play it pretty honestly. But it’s only natural to give the benefit of the doubt to those who make themselves available, those who return a phone call, those who don’t hide when they make a bad play or suffer a painful loss.
For me, Danny Barrett is one of those guys.
There are a few examples, but the one that stands out came after the Roughriders lost to Montreal in last season’s Scotiabank East Semi-Final. With a minute to go, I asked if Barrett would be available to come on live in the post-game. He not only agreed, but waited on-field as I finished two interviews with victorious Alouettes – all of this knowing I was going to ask if he was worried about being fired.
I have a better chance of getting Jessica Simpson’s phone number than finding 10 others who would have done the same.
Now, the Roughriders are the CFL’s most aggravating team. Look at that roster and explain how they’re 7-8. This is the same team that whacked British Columbia three times and massacred Hamilton so badly local prosecutors nearly filed charges. If Ricky Ray, Derrell Mitchell and Pat Woodcock figured out who was doing what in the last minute Monday afternoon, Saskatchewan wouldn’t even control its playoff destiny.
That’s what happens when you let the Argonauts beat you – at home – with their third-string quarterback; when you lose – at home – to an Eskimo team with zero road wins and pull a complete no-show in Montreal.
It’s not hard to see where this is going. With Roy Shivers out and Eric Tillman in, Barrett knows he needs some kind of playoff run to survive. And I don’t know how he can possibly believe it will happen with this group.
When someone is criticized for being too loyal, Kelly Hrudey always says this: “Boy, that’s a terrible thing to say about someone. They’re too loyal to people.” That’s true in life, but not in coaching. Barrett reminds me a lot of Pat Quinn during his Toronto Maple Leaf tenure. The only issue I had with Quinn was that he stubbornly stood by those who didn’t deserve it, loyal to a fault. There was no consequence for subpar play, or anything else detrimental to the team.
Greg Frers made a terrific point during Monday’s CFL on CBC broadcast. The Lions’ 11-4 record didn’t stop Wally Buono from cutting Antonio Warren and Aaron Lockett. In the past two seasons, Warren rushed for 2,119 yards while Lockett had four return touchdowns. Didn’t matter. They slipped, they were gone.
One province east, Tom Higgins demoted the reigning Defensive Player of the Year (John Grace) and cut George White from a close-knit linebacking corps. The moves were harsh, business at its most cutthroat, but both coaches improved their teams. The Lions and Stampeders are considered the league’s top two.
That really hasn’t happened in Saskatchewan. Barrett deserves blame for creating too comfortable an atmosphere. It’s clear that players aren’t afraid of losing jobs. But, you also want to see someone rewarded for standing by his players. Watching the Roughriders lurch around Montreal like a drunken Frankenstein was final proof that Barrett’s boys have let him down.
On paper, this team is good enough to win the Grey Cup. Buono certainly doesn’t want to see them again and Higgins probably prefers Edmonton in the West semi. Do Barrett’s players care enough to save him? They’d better. Chances are the next guy isn’t going to be as friendly.
Elliotte Friedman is the host of the CFL on CBC.
(The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of the Canadian Football League)
