Speculation has been running rampant
since November about whether the Riders would be able to retain both Emilus and
Schaefer-Baker this offseason. That speculation ramped up when the Riders made
Emilus the highest paid Canadian WR in the league. But to O’Day’s credit he
found a way to get it done, signing Baker to a 2 year extension.
There was likely a team willing to
pay more money to Baker. He’s an impact Canadian receiver after all. But Baker
has never been quiet about his love for this province and his desire to stay. So
he had to weigh whether the “more” he could make would be significant enough to
make it worth it to leave a great situation and place he loves. Obviously O’Day
found a number close enough to Baker’s ask that it was not worth testing free
agency. I have no doubt that presence of Mace and Harris is a damn good recruiting
tool.
Do I think Baker could have made
more money? Yes. Do I think it would have been a significant amount? No. Teams
don’t exactly back up trucks of money for players that have missed 26 of a
possible 54 regular season games over the past 3 seasons. Love Baker but
durability is a concern.
I am an unabashed Baker fan so I am
very happy that he will be staying. As iconic as this pose is, I didn’t want it
to be his last moment in green and white.
The Riders also extended Lake Korte-Moore.
Keeping our Canadian core is important and prior to his injury last season Korte-Moore
had been developing into an effective rotational pass rusher. They also
extended Jack Coan who they remain very high on as a QB prospect.
With both Stevens and Coan locked up
it brings into question whether Maier will be back. I think that decision is
entirely Maier’s. I believe O’Day has made him an offer to return as the
back-up and its up to him to see if he can find something better. I am not sure
he will. There are no starter jobs up for grabs, so you gotta ask yourself where
what the best back-up spot is. And honestly we have to top that list. Is there
any QB more likely to not make a full season than old man Harris? And is it
worth risking learning a whole new offense for a chance to maybe back-up someone
else?
Still some big names on O’Day’s to
do list like Carney, Reavis, Johnson, Ouelette and Allen. I think we will all be
pretty ok if that to-do list continues to not involve Lokombo and Fields.
Good news week for the Riders as they
announced contract extensions for two key members of the defense. Tevaughn
Campbell gets a one year extension. He was slated to be a free agent but based
on his own comments was more likely heading to retirement before being lured
back by the prospect of running it back. Jameer Thurman got one year added to
his deal and is now under contract through 2027.
These two contracts add to the growing
list of good moves O’Day has been making since the Grey Cup party dies down.
Harris, Hardrick, Stevens, Emilus, Sanders, Dalke, Ford and Hudon. While there
is still a lot of work to do, the roster is honestly in pretty good shape. With
a couple exceptions, if we were forced to start the season today I would feel
pretty good about the team. Now of course while “pretty good” may cut it for lesser
franchises like the Bombers and RedBlacks, the standard is much higher here.
With that in mind let’s take a look
at what I think the remaining priorities for O’Day are.
1 – Jorgen Hus
Hear me out on this. I know long snapper
is far from the highest profile position. They don’t make the highlight reel
and most of the time most of you probably even forget Hus is on the field. But
that’s the point. You do not want to notice your long snapper. If you do, it’s
a very bad thing. Hus has been here since 2015 and the only thing he has missed
less than games over that decade is snaps. Honesly ask yourself the last bad snap you remember. He is the best at what he does. At
36 he obviously can’t play forever but the prospect of not having an automatic
snapper is not something I want to deal with this year. Put some respect on Hus’
name. Much like Campbell I am sure he is contemplating retirement.
2 – Defensive Ends
This is the one position that we
currently have a hole at. Carney, Ray, Baldonado and Korte-Moore (pretty much
every End who has recorded a sack under Mace) remains pending free agents and
we don’t have anyone waiting in the wings. You can’t win without an impact
edge. Carney and Baldonado are obviously the primary targets but both will be looking
for significant raises. As a global player, I think Baldonado’s pay was so low
he may have been paying the CFL to play. I do expect at least one person to be
signed before free agency opens. I also expect Ray may be done here.
3 – AJ Allen
There are 3 keys to sustained
success in the CFL: QB play, strong play on both sides of the line and Canadian
depth. Allen worked his way up the hard way from 3rd round draft pick,
to token Canadian special teamer, to rotational defensive player to impact starter.
A true success story in terms of drafting and development. But success of
course means Allen wants to be paid like a starter not a special teamer (and
rightly so). This one will be interesting because you could in theory go back
to CJ Avery at that spot at a fraction of the price. But a team that wants to
have the option of an American safety or multiple American OLs needs Canadians
like Allen elsewhere. I want to keep him. He is such smart player, just always
in the right spot and often making impact plays.
4 – CJ Reavis
Speaking of impact defenders,
Reavis is one of the few remaining guys not yet locked up. His versatility is a
big asset in a Mace defense. He can play LB he can bump back to safety (where he
will spend half his time yelling at Fields for being out of position).
Obviously we want him back. But again we have other options. We could go back
to Canadian safety. Brooks can play the LB spot. While we want Reavis it won’t
be a blank cheque to get him back.
5 – The Sentimentals
I am thinking primarily of Baker and
Ouelette here. I am actually surprised Ouelette hasn’t signed yet (I assumed
him and Harris were a package deal). Either way these 2 players present
interesting conundrums for O’Day. These are heart and soul guys that you want
on your team. They are playmakers. It would kill me to see either in another
colour. But with finite financial resources, RB is the most replaceable position
in football and we have a lot of good Canadian WRs already so this is far from
a priority in terms of spending. I really hope O’Day can find a way to make the
numbers work. But if he doesn’t I understand.
We found out this past week that
Dohnte Myers will become the latest Roughrider to try his luck down south. He
signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. As with every Rider that heads to the NFL, he gets the customary “Happy for you but selfishly bummed to be losing you”.
But after a breakout year with over 1000 yards and the 4th most receiving
TDs in the CFL he is certainly deserving of the opportunity.
I hope he sticks as down there but
the reality is its tough for a receiver to make it. Most receivers can’t play on
special teams so they need to outright win a spot as a receiver. With the resurgence
of the kick return game in the NFL, Myers’ chances somewhat improve given that
he is a talented returner. For his sake I hope I am wriong but I could see him
back in the CFL come September. And honestly, while losing a player of his
calibre is never a good thing for team, there may be a slight silver lining in
this.
The Riders have a lot of work to do
to re-sign all their pending FAs. Myers was among many guys coming of rookie
deals and due a significant raise. We don’t have enough money to pay everyone. So
not having to pay him now and potentially (I stress potentially since he may
stick in the NFL and is an unrestricted free agent if he doesn’t) getting him for
the back half of the makes the economics of this all a little eaiser.
This got me thinking about the
Riders’ history with NFL signees. This has been a standard part of most
offseasons. We’ve seen guys like Keith, Dominguez, Fantuz, Dressler and Jordan
Sisco (for reasons that still defy explanation) sign deals. Some guys get a cup of coffee
and are back with the team come Labour Day (think Ajou recently). Some guys
stick for a year or two before eventually coming back. And some guys never look
back (think Jerrell Freeman who remains one of the most talented players I have
ever seen in Green and White).
Here's a look at the 10 years worth
of Riders trying the NFL.
2015 –
Ben Heenan (Indy – ended up retiring to farm after his time in Indy), Brian Peters (Houston – Had a 3
year career in the NFL and never came back north)
2017 – Jeff
Knox (TB), Otha Foster (Baltimore) – both were back in the CFL that same season
2018 –
Jeff Knox (TB, again was back in the CFL that same season), Kacy Rodgers (NYJ, didn’t
last more than one season but never came back north)
2019 –
Sam Eguavoen (Miami, proved he was a legit NFL talent and stuck permanently), Jordan
Williams-Lambert (Indy, returned to the CFL)
2020 – Derrick
Moncreif (LV, lasted the full season in the NFL before returning the next year)
2021 –
Dakota Shepley (San Fran, still down south doing his thing)
2022 –
Brayden Lenius (Atlanta, cup of coffee and back in the CFL by September)
2025 – Trevor Reid (Minnesota – did not make
the main roster but has yet to return to the CFL), Ajou Ajou (Indy, cup of
coffee and back to make plays on Labour Day)
How
Myers will fare remains to be seen. But I do take solace in having players that
are talented enough to catch the attention of the NFL. Note in the list above
that in 2016. 2023 and 2024 we had no one sign in the NFL… you may have
repressed the memories of those season but I assure you they were not so great.
I mean, the first Monday after the
holiday season is probably no exactly “happy” for you (unless you are happy to
get the kids out of the house and back to school). But fear not, the Prophet is
back to brighten your Mondays.
As we start a new year it got me
thinking about what my hope is for 2026. Now, obviously the only thing any of
us want is for the Riders to repeat as Grey Cup champs. This is a franchise
that has struggled to win singular championships, so in a world of beggars can’t
be chooser repeats are just not something we talk about. But with this coaching
staff and the players we have assembled we all think its definitely in the conversation.
But I won’t go as far as saying my
wish for 2026 is a repeat. Maybe its decades of emotional damage but I have decidedly
lower wishes. What I really want is the chance at a repeat to
still be a possibility come October. Here me out…
The last 2 times we won the Cup the
chances of a repeat were dashed before the leaves changed colours. And not just
dashed, completely scorched and the ashes pissed on and then they came back and
punched us in the junk as we lay there in agony for good measure.
In 2007 the confetti was barely
done falling before Kent Austin was on a plane to Ole Miss and reigning MOP Kerry
Joseph was shipped off to Toronto. And just in case we thought still had a
chance, by the time
August rolled around every important player had broken their fibula. And just in case that wasn’t
definitive enough, by Labour Day Michael Bishop was starting at QB. We were not
even at the halfway point of the season and the chances of a repeat were dead.
Following the 2013 season things
went decidedly better… at first. The Riders started the season 7-2. I know
there are no guarantees and there were other good teams that season but you
will not convince me that 2014 was not destined to repeat. They were that good.
But of course, we know that as Rider fans happiness is just the precursor to devastating
heartbreak. In the Banjo Bowl that year, our chances of a repeat were ended on
a play that didn’t happen. Durant blew his elbow and once again the dreams of a
repeat died. This time Michael Bishop did not arrive to put the final nails in
the coffin but Tino Sunseri/Seth Doege played so well that even I thought
Bishop would have been an upgrade.
Two Grey Cup wins, two dreams of a
repeat that didn’t even last until the mid-point of September. So when I say what
I really want this season is for the dream of a repeat to at least last until October
I mean it. At least get me to the playoffs before crushing my hope. I don’t
know what the 2026 equivalent of Michael Bishop is (Bethel-Thompson? Streveler?)
but don’t do that to me. I know the odds of a repeat are small… but dammit let
me have my hope not matter how improbable.
This will be my last post in what
has been a glorious 2025. A year that saw the Riders win the Grey Cup. We will
be celebrating that one for a long time… mainly because history tells us we may
need to wait another decade to enjoy this again.
So as you sip on your nog and
whatever you choose to covertly spike it with look back fondly on this season:
-The Alford return TD in the Argo game
-An actual Nelson Lokombo pick… I think it may have
even been on purpose.
-Winning Labour Day AND the Banjo Bowl
-Not having a gust of wind ruin our chance of first place
-Despite all his struggles, Brett Lauther still clearly
not being the worst kicker on the Riders
-The ridiculous series of events that led to the West
Final victory including kicking a FG when we should not have, punting when we definitely
should not have and a magical pass to Nield to seal it.
-People getting mad that Corey Mace curses.
What were your notable moments from
this season?
From the whole Rider Prophet family
we wishing you all a a
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwazy Kwanza, a tip-top Tet and a solemn,
dignified Ramadan.
Sorry about not posting last week. I
hope you have recovered from the emotional damage of my brief absence. I went
down to Minnesota last weekend for a T-Wolves and Vikings game.
The trip was great… at least for me
as a Vikings fan. They were so inspired by my presence that they won 31-0. My travelling
companion who is a big Commanders fan has a very different view of the game. He
spent a lot of money to see Jayden Daniels get hurt and not see a solitary point.
Learned a few things while I was down there. First the Vikes have a “raffle” not
a 50/50. The reason its not called a 50/50 is because it is in fact a 60/40
with the winner getting 40. The way economy is going an actual Hundo/Nundo may
occur in my lifetime.
Also the Timberwolves have an outstanding in-game
promo called Bricken’ For Chicken. If an opposing player misses back to back
free throws the whole crowd wins a chicken sandwich. Man did that crowd get
amped up for those free throws. We actually saw Bricken’ for Chicken hit as a
Clipper missed 2 free throws. The building erupted. It got me thinking that the
Riders need an equivalent promo. Maybe Missin’ for Mission where missed FGs win
you ski passes to Mission Ridge. Or Doinkin’ for Donuts.
On to Rider news…
In what was the least surprising occurrence
since the Command Centre getting a call wrong, Trevor Harris is coming back for
one more. It was pretty clear in the days following the Grey Cup that he was
not done playing. Coming off a season where he stayed mostly healthy and had a great year both statistically and in terms of accomplishment why not? We were in some
trouble at QB if he didn’t come back so this is great news. As an added bonus
Tommy Time is coming back as well. We know he is a stud is short yardage. I
will be curious to see if he gets a legit chance to compete for #2. Question
will be if Maier also comes back. He owes it to himself to see what else is out
there in free agency but honestly with no starting jobs open he may opt to stay
in a pretty good situation here backing up an old man.
With QB secured the question becomes,
what’s next? Championship teams have 2 key elements: they are strong in the
trenches and have great Canadian depth. So that makes OL, DL and Canadians like
Emilus and, Campbell Allen priorities.
On the O-line we are currently sitting
pretty good. With Hardrick back we have both starting tackles and our Centre
locked up. We also have Fry and Johnson as well as our draft pick from last season who was just the top lineman in U-Sports.
D-line will be interesting. Individually
I love all our original starters (Carney, Micah, Rose, Ray) but they are all old.
And the risk with “running it back” is getting old. Colonel Sanders is a big
one for me. Him and Saad can be a strong interior if we want to go younger.
Dhonte Myers has had 3 NFL workouts
so far (Minnesota, Chicago, Denver). As much as I don’t want him to go, it would
not be the worst thing for him to go down to an NFL camp and come back in September.
Less of a hit to sign him for half a season than now.
That’s it for today. Your homework is
tomake suggestions for our Bricken’ for
Chicken equivalent.
As
we do every season, we end the year by presenting the infamous Rider Prophet
Awards. Recognizing all that is hilarious, awful and otherwise noteworthy in
the CFL. Longtime readers will note some changes to the awards. I have sun-setted
a few of the old awards and brought in some new ones. It’s an overt attempt to
try and freshen things up akin to a sitcom adding a new character.
This
year’s award winners will receive a congratulatory pat on the back... I blew all the prize budget in Vegas.
Let’s
get to the awards.
Defensive Player of the Year
This
new award will actually jointly honour a pair of players. Collectively these 2
did more to boost defensive statistics and big plays in the CFL than all defensive
coordinators combined. I am talking of course about Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler.
These two threw a combined 27 interceptions and at one point during the season, somehow
managed to rank #1 and #2 in the league in interceptions. For their perseverance
and hard work, Collaros and Streveler as your inaugural Rider Prophet Defensive
Players of the Year.
Offensive Player of the Year
In
a year where pretty much every story coming out of Riderville was positive, one
player stood alone. Kosi Oneyka.
Details
have been hard to come by but somehow he did something so offensive to the team
that he was released outright. Do you know how bad it has to be for a Canadian
player to be released from a team that at the time was dealing with a rash of
injuries to Canadians and desperate for anyone with the right passport?
Whatever Kosi did… I hope it was worth it, because he picked a bad year to get
kicked off the Riders.
Quote of the Year
Following
a loss in June Argo Coach Ryan Dinwiddie gave a press conference for the ages.
You can rewatch it in all its glory below. The best part of it was when a reporter
served up a softball question about the Argo defense making an interception to put
them on the one yard line. Dinwiddie instead chose violence and responded “I thought
new got beat up front. We got one of our guards at 280 pounds, I don’t know
what he did all offseason”
Previous Winners: Ben Major,Craig Dickenson x2, Tom
Velessi,Cody Fajardo, Dave Dickenson,Kavis
Reed/Jacques Chapdelaine, Greg Quick,Solomon Elimimian, Ed Hervey,
Joe Mack, Henry Burris, Eddie Johnson, Jason Clermont, Mike Abou-Mechrek x2
Play of the Year
I
watch a lot of football so its rare when I see something that completely
surprises me, or I haven’t seen before. In week 17 Trevor Harris accomplished
such a feat. While Harris has received awards for his great play, I will be
awarding him for a for more dubious reason. He gets my play of the year for
managing to throw 2 interceptions in the same drive. That is not a typo.
On his third pass of the game he threw a pick. The defender ended up fumbling
to ball back to us. Two plays later Harris gave it right back.
Never
seen that before.
Most Insulted Sports Figure
Nelson
Lokomobo was trending to win this award for a second year in a row until he got
hurt. For the first time in ages, my most insulted sports figure was not a
Rider... just a former Rider.
I
dolled out a lot of insults at the expense of Zach Collaros, almost as many insults
as he dolled out INTs (but try as I may, I could not keep pace). I actually
like Collaros and respect his accomplishments but the super petty part of me is
happy to see Winnipeg finally get a dose of the Collaros that the Riders had.
Previous Winners: Nelson Lokombo, Craig Dickenson, Riders O-line, Riders
Offensive Tackles, John Ryan, Brandon Bridge, Steve McAdoo, The Riders
Secondary, Any Rider QB not named Durant, Pat Neufeld, Chris Getzlaf, Ryan
Dinwiddie, Jim Daley, Michael Bishop x 2, Marcel Bellefeuille
Botched Call of the Year
I
can’t even narrow this down to one play so I will just give this to everything
related to the Command Centre (making them back to back award winners in this
category). This is by far the worst aspect of CFL football today. There is no
rhyme or reason for when they do or do not intervene. There is less than a 50%
chance that if they do intervene they will get it right. It’s a sham and a
mockery… a shamockery if you will.
Fans’ Choice Douchebag of the Year
This
seems like the perfect segue from the previous award. You the fans have spoken once
again and with once of the narrowest margins we have had in a while, the CFL
Command Centre is your Fans’ Choice Douchebag of the Year. They received 37% of
the votes. A clear sign that you hate them as a much as me. A rare case of
democracy actually working.
I
would like to acknowledge that we had a record high number of write in votes
this year with the likes of: Stewart Johnson, Shawn Lemon, the Blue Bombers
(for signing Demario Houston), Bob Dyce, and “the guy four rows down from us
that was inebriated and shoving nearby fans, then refused to leave when
security was called and had to be frogmarched out of the stadium by the police”
Previous Winners: Chad Kelly, Craig Reynolds/Jeremy O’Day/Craig
Dickenson Garett Marino, Andrew
Harris, Simoni Lawrence, Jason Maas x2, Cory Chamblin, Chris Jones, Jon Cornish
x2, Henry Burris, Dwight Anderson, Mike Kelly, Jason Jimenez, Rob Murphy
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