Jack B. Bedell
CFL.ca
It’s hard to believe it’s been six weeks since the Grey Cup in Montreal. As much as I dread the long off-season, this year’s hot stove has kept things active enough to make time fly.
With Danny Maciocia moving upstairs, Richie Hall has taken over head-coaching duties in Edmonton. Mike Kelly also took over for Doug Berry in Winnipeg.
We’ve also seen some high profile veterans like the Alouettes’ Ben Cahoon, Bryan Chiu, and Scott Flory re-up for 2009, and several more like Kamau Peterson, Noel Prefontaine, Darian Durant, and the Als’ Jamel Richardson sign extensions. Not to mention Jason Clermont moving home to play for the Roughriders.
Over the next few weeks, we should get some word out of Toronto on their coaching search, teams will be filling out their coaching staffs, and there will be plenty of intrigue coming from option-year players testing NFL waters.
Don’t blink. The 2009 season will be here before we know it. In less than six weeks, we’ll be full-on into free agency. Then in pretty rapid succession it’ll be E-camp, the draft, and training camps firing up all over the league.
Before I get ahead of myself and start worrying about off-season evaluations and predictions, though, I thought I’d get with the spirit of the New Year and offer up a few resolutions to get myself going in the right direction for 2009.
1. I resolve to follow some advice B.C.’s Wally Buono passed out a few years ago after the Lions won the Grey Cup in Winnipeg. I’m going to spend more time praising teams for what they do well instead of nitpicking over their mistakes.
2. In honour of the Calgary Stampeders’ championship run last year, I promise never to use the words “Stampeders” and “potential” in the same sentence.
3. I resolve to appreciate the steady professionalism of players like Ricky Ray, Kamau Peterson, and Dario Romero more often, and not pay so much attention to highlight-reel plays.
4. Unlike last season when I promised to keep my expectations in check for the Hamilton Ti-Cats, this year I pledge to hold the Tabbies to high standards. It’s your time, guys.
5. I definitely hope to bring some of the discipline and attention to detail to my columns in 2009 as the Montreal Alouettes showed under Marc Trestman last season.
6. Under no circumstances do I want to mention broken bones in any reference to the Saskatchewan Roughriders this season.
7. I resolve to emulate the Argonauts’ Michael Clemons as often as possible this year, taking each day as an opportunity to smile.
8. Finally, I promise to avoid holding 2008 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when discussing the team’s prospects for 2009.
UP NEXT
With my resolutions in full effect, I’ll take a look at all the moves we’ve seen so far this off-season. I might even hazard a few grades to put things in perspective. I’ll also take a peek at the list of available free agents and offer my top-10 shopping list.
Until then, take care. And enjoy the quiet while it lasts.
Jack B. Bedell is a Professor of English at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana and has followed the CFL for nearly three decades.
