By: Justin Boone
jboone@ticats.ca
Heading South In The Winter
With the recent string of warm January weather, global warming is making it’s presence felt in Southern Ontario.
And while temperatures might be rising (thanks to Al Gore’s documentary), there is a cold and inevitable truth that CFL teams must face this time of year.
As clubs look back at the 2007 season and evaluate their rosters, NFL teams are doing the same and looking to commit grand larceny on talent across the CFL. Players in their option year have until Feb 15 to sign an NFL contract, and several cross-border calls have already been made.
Bombers safety Kyries Hebert became the first player to pursue financially greener pastures this season, signing a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Reports have indicated that B.C. running back Joe Smith, who led the league in rushing yards, has attracted interest from the Chicago Bears and New York Jets. Two of his B.C. teammates Aaron Hunt and Korey Banks are allegedly fielding offers as well. That short list represents a host of CFLers being considered for work in the National Football League.
But it’s not like there’s an elephant in the room of every general manager’s office across the league. They’re well aware that around this time each year, players turn their eyes south to see if anyone is looking back at them. For all their hard work, scouts have a tendency to miss some prospects that fly under the radar for a variety of reasons.
There are some players coming out of college, whose body types make them a difficult fit in the NFL. Perhaps the most popular example, in every sense of the word, is a certain 5-foot-10, 180-pound quarterback, who bounced around the NFL even being moved to defensive back at one point, before coming to Canada and resurrecting his career as a signal caller. During his eight seasons in the CFL he was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player a record six times. He led his teams to three Grey Cup Championships and was the MVP of each of those games. Doug Flutie is proof that some players have winning in their blood and after becoming a dominant field general north of the border, he returned to the NFL to finish his career.
Although it’s tough to guess at it, another B.C. Lion may have NFL suitors in the future, the CFL Rookie of the Year Cameron Wake, whose 6-foot-3, 241-pound frame made him too small to play defensive end in the NFL, but Bob O’Billovich, during his time with B.C., saw in a him a perfect speed rusher for the edge of a CFL D-line.
So don’t fault your favourite players for accepting offers with NFL clubs, it’s no shot against the CFL, and let’s face it there’s bigger problems to worry about… like global warming.
How do you feel about players leaving the CFL for the NFL? E-mail me at jboone@ticats.ca
Easier Said Than Done
(Quote of the Week)
“Obviously in a three-down game the ball is going to be in the air quite a bit. So the whole game really centers around pass rush and pass coverage, from a defensive standpoint anyway… I have lists after lists of different ways we can pressure quarterbacks. You have to start somewhere, and start slow. Walk before you run. We have to put the fundamentals in first, get good at that, and then as we go we’ll add to the package, but there isn’t any question in my mind – pressure is the answer. So we’re gonna bring the heat when we can.”
Denny Creehan, the new Ticats defensive coordinator, giving his thoughts on the pass rush and how he plans to go after opposing QBs and improve on the Tabbies league low 32 sacks.
In Case You Blinked
(News from the Week)
Saskatchewan head coach Kent Austin will interview for the position of offensive coordinator at his alma mater Ole Miss, according to the Northeast Mississipi Daily Journal. Austin is coming off a Grey Cup Winning season, and is expected to win Coach of the Year honours. The Canadian Press named the Roughriders their Team of the Year at the end of December, a much-deserved honour for the men in green.
