2014: Grey Cup

[AngeloV]

You may be right. I just looked at Giguere's stats this season and they weren't that bad, especially as I believe he plays that Z receiver position that gets the fewest throws. My bad on this one. He had 41 catches for 520 yards and a TD this season.

I found the Cats offence to be way more dangerous when Giguere lined up at slot for an injured Fantuz. Like Fantuz, he has good size, but he has speed that makes him way more dangerous. In the one game at the dome, when they ran the throw back screen which he scored on, he looked to me like a guy that can be a huge difference maker.

I was talking pure receiver talent wise and Fantuz has been injured / nicked a lot of this season, but Tasker couldn\t hold Fantuz's jockstrap in terms of receiver skills; son of hall of famer Tasker is a middling to mediocre CFL receiver talent who gets tons of passes thrown his way because he is one of Kenty's boys

You're entitled to your opinion, but I think it's totally based on bias. The reason Tasker gets more balls thrown to him is because he makes more plays. To say that Tasker gets more balls thrown his way because he's "Kent's boy", is ridiculous. Kent won a Grey Cup with Fantuz as one of his prime targets, but that was 7 years ago. Fantuz, granted because of wear and tear, is not the same receiver he used to be. He used to beat teams deep, he can't anymore. It's almost the 2nd coming of Jason Clermont.

I have no reason to cheer for Tasker. In fact, Rod Black kind of makes you want to cheer against him, but I've seen him play live a few times now, and he is a very good football player.

[OV Argo]

Yep- we're entitled to our individual opinions on individual football players.

Receiver production wise FYI - Fantuz has a CFL best season of 87 catches for 1380 yards; he also has 4 other seasons of either 60 plus catches or 850 plus yards. We shall see if son of HOFer Tasker puts up those kinds of CFL receiving seasons in his career - and I expect huge seasons out of a CFL receiver who is the #1 target in an offence with tons of passes thrown his way - and not just decent hands; Fantuz just has shown so much more in pro receiver skills - particularly great hands and excellent route running that gets him open deep some for not a fast receiver, but he has the size to win battles for passes; maybe he has lost a step or two and can\t get open deep anymore but speed was never a main asset for him as a receiver anyways.

Giguere may be a fast, physical speciman but he has played several CFL seasons now and just has not risen above an average receiver talent - not great hands or route running skills and not enough big play, YAC yards or circus/tough catch ability - kind of like Tasker IMO.

[ArgofanIan]

Really lookin forward to the game.... will be interesting to see how the young quarterbacks react on both teams... how John Cornish will do.... How special teams on Hamilton does..... to see which defense rises to the occasion .... I think Calgary wants the win more to get the monkey of their back...... but I don't think Hamilton is looking for a second straight grey cup loss.... I really enjoyed the last part of the season.... especially here in the east....should be a great game.....go ARRRGOOOOS 2015 !!!!

[Fumblitis]

Really lookin forward to the game.... will be interesting to see how the young quarterbacks react on both teams... how John Cornish will do.... How special teams on Hamilton does..... to see which defense rises to the occasion .... I think Calgary wants the win more to get the monkey of their back...... but I don't think Hamilton is looking for a second straight grey cup loss.... I really enjoyed the last part of the season.... especially here in the east....should be a great game.....go ARRRGOOOOS 2015 !!!!

Me too. I remember a few weeks ago when the Riders lost I remember telling everyone I could that I didn't care anymore because the Riders were out. As much as I tried to focus on the NFL during the division finals, I couldn't stay away from the division finals. As much as I tell myself my focus is the NFL (which I love just as much as the CFL), I have to admit I will be getting my errands done during NFL Sunday so I can watch the Grey Cup (and I hate the Stampeders with a passion). There's just something special about our home grown game. Long live the CFL!

[Neely2005]

Finally the pregame show is starting.

[Argo57]

Pre game show rumours according to Naylor and Lawless include:
1. Major assistant coaching shakeup in Saskatchewan (Cortez and Hall out)
2. Steinauer and LaPolice up for the B.C head coaching job.
3. Quarterbacks clinic in the spring featuring Dieter Brock, Doug Flutie and other CFL legendary QB's coaching the current QB's to improve play at the position. (Pretty bizarre move IMO).
4. Jason Maas leaving the 16 time World Champion Toronto Argonauts to become OC in Ottawa.
Chime in if I have forgotten any points discussed.

[ArgoRavi]

Pre game show rumours according to Naylor and Lawless include:
1. Major assistant coaching shakeup in Saskatchewan (Cortez and Hall out)
2. Steinauer and LaPolice up for the B.C head coaching job.
3. Quarterbacks clinic in the spring featuring Dieter Brock, Doug Flutie and other CFL legendary QB's coaching the current QB's to improve play at the position. (Pretty bizarre move IMO).
4. Jason Maas leaving the 16 time World Champion Toronto Argonauts to become OC in Ottawa.
Chime in if I have forgotten any points discussed.

Tom Anselmi, formerly a bigwig at MLSE, is one of the candidates for commissioner.

[AngeloV]

Tom Anselmi, formerly a bigwig at MLSE, is one of the candidates for commissioner.

Wasn't he the most vocal of all of MLSE's brass for wanting to keep BMO as a soccer only stadium?

[gilthethrill]

What do the players on the winning side/losing side get payed today?

[jerrym]

Hamiltion's plugging the middle to stop Cornish has given Calgary to often go outside and deep successfully. It will be interesting to see if Hamilton adjusts at halftime and if Calgary gives Cornish more rushes if the Ticats do that.

[jerrym]

It drives me nuts that the CFL cannot feature Canadian talent at the halftime show, in what is the biggest Canadian entertainment show of the year, especially when they seem so derivative. Just last night I saw a Canadian group that could play everything with flare from oldies to new age rock to current hits with a couple of rap songs thrown in.

[Bleeds Double Blue]

Is it just me or do they have a lot more TV commercial time outs today? It must be quite frustrating for the people at the game.

[Fumblitis]

Nice pick, Breaux!

[Neely2005]

That's an unsportsmanlike penalty?

[ArgoGabe22]

Should Taylor Reed be worried of manure being thrown on his lawn?

[Bleeds Double Blue]

Congratulations to the Calgary Stampeders and hats off to the Tiger Cats. I really though the Stamps would blow them out but Hamilton hung in right to the end.

[LLB997]

What do the players on the winning side/losing side get payed today?

stamps players get 16 grand, and ticats players 8 grand. not bad for 3 hours work

congrats stamps, and ticats....................1999 XD

[gilthethrill]

I imagine Ticats fans were wondering why Banks was not on the field for the final drive, I know I am. All in all a very good weekend for Canadian Football. Although Hamilton went winless in both Championship games, their teams played very well and provided great entertainment for football fans in Canada.

[ArgoGabe22]

I imagine Ticats fans were wondering why Banks was not on the field for the final drive, I know I am. All in all a very good weekend for Canadian Football.

Banks was too upset to play. Can't believe he reacted the way he did. After the game sure but with 35 seconds left... come on man.

[OV Argo]

Congrats to the Stamps, but kudos to Pussycats for hanging and making a game of it = gotta love a close championship game that goes down to the wire.

Stamps offence with Mitchell looked good in the first half with some good passing and Cornish either shut down or else just a decoy; but i said to myself at half - they will be in trouble if they abandon their run game and a great weapon like Cornish when they need it most; was pulling for the Stumps, but almost wish the Ticats could have pulled it off to make Huff and his coaches pay for such an incredibly stupid coaching decision: you have a 4 point lead late in the game and you choose to punt it straight to the most dangerous weapon the Ticats have - and Banks almost made them pay for it (obvious clip on McCartney - the top Stamps gunner) - they got lucky - guess they deserved to win though, but not an overly impressive performance or smart coaching IMO.