Tuesday Morning QB (CFL Week 13)
The preparations have begun for the addition to the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks joining the league next year. With the announcement of the Blue Bombers move to the West and the expansion draft becoming a bigger topic the CFL is ready for its 9th franchise. As the league hopes that this version of the Ottawa franchise is successful the future begins to creep into conversation. The league will be unbalanced for the next few years with four teams in the East and five teams in the West and so the talk of expansion arises again. The CFL is looking to add a 10th team eventually and they are actively looking for the next place to expand. They have already made this knowledge public as commissioner Mark Cohon has said that expansion is in the plans for the future. Of course the CFL is not looking to expand immediately as they hope to make sure that the new Ottawa franchise is stable before looking to move to a new city. Still the subject has come to light and the debate over what city the CFL should go to next has become a hot topic. It was especially true this week when the CFL would host their latest Touchdown Atlantic game in Moncton. The games started in 2005 when the CFL would host a preseason game in Halifax. The games became an annual occurrence and eventually would move to the regular season playing meaningful games in Moncton. The series of games would be considered by many as a way for the CFL to test the waters of an expansion team on the East Coast. It would be the perfect fit for what the CFL is trying to do as they hope to create a truly sea-to-sea league that stretches from one coast to the next. There is also a history there with a potential expansion team set up in 1982 called the Atlantic Schooners. The team would never get off of the ground failing to meet the deadlines for expansion and folding before they stepped onto the field. There was enough interest for the league to first consider the expansion but the organization of the team was not up to the standards of the CFL. The interest was there though and the CFL would go back to the East Coast to gauge the interest again. The Touchdown Atlantic games would be very popular showing that the east coast was a possibility for expansion. This year that attitude would change though as the Touchdown Atlantic game would not sell out and the interest would decrease. The lack of sales is a worrying factor for the CFL as they may see the interest wavering. If the sales of this game are any indication of the interest levels of the area the CFL may not want to go back. Touchdown Atlantic was not as successful as they used to be and this may mark the last year that the CFL goes to the East Coast. The test that was Touchdown Atlantic may have seen its last game and for expansion to the east that is a bad sign. If the CFL takes the lack of sales as a sign of the interest levels an expansion team will not be in the future. With other cities like Quebec City and Saskatoon getting mention the Atlantic may not be in the cards for expansion. The CFL is going to expand in the future and the Maritimes was always a solid option but the recent game was not the best showing for the east coast as the next place to expand. After it seemed like a sure thing that the Maritimes would get the next team that plan seems to be at risk. The CFL continues to prepare for their new franchise in 2014 and as they prepare they look to the future. This future has become more uncertain with the lack of interest in Touchdown Atlantic the future of expansion has fallen in doubt.
Fourth Down:
(Everything else about Week 13)
Rogers Centre’s Last Days
There was some good and bad news this week when the Toronto Argonauts signed a 7-year deal to remain in the Rogers Centre but the bigger part of the deal is that this is the last deal between the two groups meaning the Argos have to find a new place to play before the deal is up
Lions & Boatmen for Sale
The headlines wouldn’t stop in Toronto as Argos and Lions owner David Braley stated that he would like to sell both of his teams in the next three years meaning the ownership woes of the Argos will continue
Superman’s Quest
Geroy Simon continues to rack up the records as he remains one of the best receivers ever and he looks to another record as he would tie Ben Cahoon for most receptions as his next catch will get him that record
CFL Standings:
Eastern Division:
1. Toronto Argonauts (16)
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (12)
3. Montreal Alouettes (8)
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4)
Western Division:
1. x-Calgary Stampeders (18)
2. B.C. Lions (16)
3. Saskatchewan Roughriders (16)
4. Edmonton Eskimos (6)
x-Clinched Playoff spot
Scores:
Edmonton Eskimos 35 – 27 Winnipeg Blue Bombers
– The Bombers once again destroyed the chance to build up a winning streak as they would lose to the Eskimos who were desperately in need of a win and would get one as they cling on to the slim hope that they can make the playoffs
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28 – 26 Montreal Alouettes
– The Ti-Cats have always had trouble getting past the Alouettes but Montreal is not the same team as they used to be and the Ti-Cats are only getting better as they would take the win and continue their climb to the top of the East
Toronto Argonauts 33 – 27 Calgary Stampeders
– The Argos once again find a way to win as they would get revenge for their earlier loss against Calgary with a big win led by Zach Collaros as they won the battle of the two top teams in the CFL taking one for the East
B.C. Lions 24 – 22 Saskatchewan Roughriders
– The Riders continue to fall short of where they started as they continue to lose games and fall from the top of the West to third place after they lost to back up QB Thomas DeMarco and the Lions who took second place in the West
Next Week:
B.C. Lions vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Friday September 27th; 8:00 pm ET)
– The Lions may have to go into this game with their backup once again as they go after the top spot in the West taking on the Blue Bombers who continue to struggle to get any momentum this season
Calgary Stampeders vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Saturday September 28th; 6:00 pm ET)
– The Stampeders are trying to hold on to the top spot in the West as a bye is in sight but the Ti-Cats are looking for their own shot at a bye as they hope to keep winning and challenging the first place Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts vs. Edmonton Eskimos (Saturday September 28th; 9:00 pm ET)
– The Argos somehow keep finding ways to win behind the arm of Zach Collaros as they head to Edmonton for the final leg in their month-long road trip while the Eskimos are looking to make a comeback and put two wins together
Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Montreal Alouettes (Sunday September 29th; 1:00 pm ET)
– The Riders are in trouble as they continue to fall down the standings after a great start to their season as they take on the Montreal Alouettes who continue to fall short of expectations and continue to hold a playoff spot
The Sport Addiction 