“Absolutely, we would love nothing more. That’s the goal,” Jacobs told Sportsnet. “When you start to gain a little bit of success in curling, you want to see how far you can take it and see if it’s possible to make it a full-time career. It doesn’t come without corporate sponsorship and maintaining a high-level standard of play and being near the top all the time.”

In some countries that are trying to grow the game, a select team is paid strictly to curl. In Canada, however, the sport is still dominated by individuals who play part-time because there isn’t enough guaranteed income. Jacobs has taken a leave of absence from his job as an accounts manager to try to make that transition.

“Because we’re going to try to pursue curling full-time and with the demands that come with a gold medal, it really wouldn’t be fair to my employer,” he said. “I think at the pace I was going I may have burned out. You may have to talk to each individual curler separately on that one.”

“Working and curling and having a family and all that stuff, it’s difficult. It’s not easy,” Jacobs added. “Everyone (who plays the sport at an elite level in Canada) does it and everyone handles that stuff differently. It’s a sacrifice you make for coming out on the (World Curling Tour) and wanting to possibly be the best team in the world. It’s a sacrifice everyone takes.”

Jacobs’s team, which includes lead Ryan Harnden, second E.J. Harnden and vice-skip Ryan Fry, wouldn’t mind aligning with a company that promotes physical fitness, which is a daily part of the champion Soo curlers.

“Since curling has been introduced into the Olympics (as a full-medal sport in 1998), everyone who curls has been trying to get into better shape and be as physically fit as they can,” Jacobs said. “I definitely think that’s the way curling is going. It’s the way curling needs to go at this point if we want to attract more youthful fans into the sport and really attract youth in general. We’re athletes first, curlers second.”

The Jacobs foursome will be playing in Fort McMurray, Alberta this week in the $100,000 Syncrude National, the third of the four 2013-14 Grand Slam of Curling events. It begins Wednesday at MacDonald Island Park and runs through to Sunday.

Jacobs said he and his teammates are keen to win the National.

“Even though we won a gold medal, we’re a very hungry team,” Jacobs said. “Every event we play in we want to win. That’s just a guarantee. We’re looking forward to getting out and playing again. It will be a lot of fun and a different challenge. This will be our first Grand Slam of the season as well. That’s going to be awesome to play in the Grand Slams again.”

Jacobs’s team has yet to win a Slam event. The rink’s best finish so far is playing in the final of the 2012 Canadian Open, losing 3-1 to Glenn Howard’s team from Coldwater, Ontario.

“When you come up against the teams you play all the time, everyone wants to beat each other so badly no matter what’s on the line,” Jacobs said. “We’re to the point now where we can block the prize out and you’re just going out there and playing. We love to compete against the top teams and try to bring our best game to the ice each and every time.

“It would be awesome to win a Grand Slam event. The Grand Slam events are the toughest to win, in my opinion. You’ve got your top 18 teams in the world. They are definitely the toughest events to win. To win one of those would mean a lot to us.”

Jacobs and his teammates will be bringing their medals with them going forward in the next month or two. It allows fans to literally feel what the team has accomplished.

The lineup for the National is scheduled to include: defending champion Jeff Stoughton of Winnipeg; 2014 Brier winner Kevin Koe of Calgary; Howard; Edmonton’s Kevin Martin; Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen; St. John’s Brad Gushue; Toronto’s Travis Fanset; Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock; Halifax’s Mark Dacey; Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher; and Regina’s Brock Virtue. The field will also feature international squads that include Sweden’s Niklas Edin and Oskar Eriksson; Switzerland’s Sven Michel and Pascal Hess; Japan’s Yusuke Morozumi; and Korea’s Soo-Hyuk Kim.

Howard won the Masters of Curling, the first of the four GSOC events, in Abbotsford in November, followed by Koe winning the second leg, the Canadian Open, in Medicine Hat later in the month.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the first event, The Masters of Curling, which runs from Oct. 30-Nov. 4 in Abbotsford, B.C.

The Maters will feature many of the teams that have already qualified for the Olympics or will be competing for the right to represent their country. Six of the eight Canadian men’s and women’s teams that will battle in the Roar of the Rings Curling Trials in Winnipeg, December 1-8, are participating in the Masters. The other two teams in Olympic qualifying will come out of the pre-trials event the week after The Masters in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Live coverage of The Masters of Curling begins on Sportsnet Thursday at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT. | Schedules, Scores & Standings

All of the Grand Slam events have purses of $100,000, plus added bonus money for wins. In addition to the Masters, the men’s Grand Slam events include the Canadian Open (November 13-17 in Medicine Hat), the National (March 12-16 in Fort McMurray) and the Players’ Championship (April 15-20 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island).

The women’s Slams events are the Masters and the Players’ Championship. Though the Slams began in 2001, it was only last year when Rogers came aboard that women were given a chance to play in the Masters.

For the second consecutive year, Sportsnet is offering a $1-million bonus for any men’s team that sweeps all four Slams. If there is no sweep, the team with the most points collects a $50,000 bonus, the runnerup $30,000 and third-place team $20,000. If a women’s team sweeps the Masters and Players’ Championship it will collect $100,000. If there is no sweep, the top team will collect a $12,500 bonus, the runnerup $7,500 and the third-place finisher $5,000.

Last year, Kevin Koe of Alberta won the opening tournament, but Ontario’s Glenn Howard prevailed as the overall champion, winning the Canadian Open and the Players’ Championship. Howard defeated Manitoba’s Mike McEwen 4-3 in the final of the Players’, collecting the $50,000 bonus and $26,000 in tournament prize money.

Ottawa’s Rachel Homan won the Masters, a key stepping stone en route to winning the Scottie’s National women’s championship. But Scotland’s Eve Muirhead, who won the World’s, capped off a great season winning the Players’ and the bonus, in addition to $23,000 in purse earnings. Muirhead defeated Sweden’s Margaretha Sigfridsson in a repeat of the final of the world championship. Muirhead’s team became the first from Europe to win a Grand Slam tournament. The Players’ brings together the top 15 men’s and women’s teams in the world.

The Grand Slam has a greater group of teams overall than the Brier national men’s championship and the Scotties national women’s championship, which bring together representatives from their respective provinces or Territories. It is the reason the strong curling provinces such as Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. have collectively dominated those tournaments. Five weeks before each of the other Slams, the top 18 men’s teams based on their rankings on the World Curling Tour are granted invitations to play. If any of the teams can’t participate based on other commitments, the ones ranked immediately below are granted invitations. The entry fees are $1,000, but can be won back with a single win.

The Players’ brings together the top 15 men’s and women’s teams based on points accumulated on the World Curling Tour during the current season.

The Slams feature many international teams that don’t have to be pooled specifically based on provincial residence or even the same country. Last year, Alberta’s David Nedohin joined the Norwegian team skipped by Thomas Ulsrud, whose foursome stands out because of their funny (some would describe it as funky) pants that are becoming more prevalent in other sports.

Because of the proximity to the Olympics, the Masters takes on added importance beyond just the money, the fact it’s the first of the Slams and immediately will make the men’s and women’s winners eligible for the bonuses. For teams looking for prime competition, the Masters of Curling is a great opportunity. Some of the squads have already been selected by their country’s federation to represent them in the OIympics. The format of this year’s Masters gives curlers the opportunity to play other countries and their representatives for the Olympics.

One team that will be noticeably absent from the Masters is skipped by reigning Canadian men’s champion Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie. He is playing in the final qualifying event for the Trials, taking place in Kitchener the day after the Masters.

Teams that won’t be in the Masters will not have a chance to qualify for the bonus for sweeping all four events, but will still be eligible for the other bonuses based on overall points.

The Grand Slam events began nine years after the start of the World Curling Tour, which was created in 1992 to give men’s players a chance to compete for prize money through a season-long series of tournaments independent of the national championship. Through the evolution of the Tour, teams could showcase individual sponsors on their apparel without the restrictions that apply to provincial, national and world competitions. Essentially, the WCT put the game back into the players’ hands. Some of the high-profile teams elected not to play in provincial playdowns — and effectively forfeited the chance to qualify for the Brier — if it conflicted with a Grand Slam event as a means of showing solidarity for the World Curling Tour. Following conciliation between the Canadian Curling Association and the WCT players, all the issues were resolved to create a resolution that allowed players to support the cashspiel circuit and play in the playdowns.

Through the involvement of Sportsnet and a sublicensing agreement with the CBC, the Grand Slam events receive blanket television coverage and support on multiple platforms. When the Slams faced an uncertain future, Rogers entered into a partnership with the World Competitive Curlers Association in August 2012 to own and operate the tournaments and provide a greater commitment, both in terms of money and overall multi-platform production.

Knowing the challenges his son Duron has faced—sharing both a last name and a position with his Pro Football Hall of Famer father, as well as overcoming academic issues in university that came close to ruining his pro career—it’s easy to understand the joy Cris Carter is feeling. His son is a survivor.

Since his first game with the Als on August 22, Duron Carter has displayed some of the same qualities his father routinely demonstrated in his brilliant, 16-year NFL career.

In six CFL games, Duron has posted 29 catches for 529 yards, averaging 15.2 yards per reception, and four touchdowns. Two games ago against Hamilton he caught nine passes for 112 yards. Last week against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he hauled in six for 152, including one catch in which he leaped high above two defenders and held on to the ball through hard contact with the ground. It was the kind of highlight-reel play that helped establish his father as one of the greatest pass-catchers in NFL history.

Duron Carter looked to be a clone of his father in high school, recording 14 touchdown catches as a senior and receiving scholarship offers from the top universities. He chose Ohio State, where his father starred en route to the NFL. But that’s where the similarities between father and son end.

Duron cracked the roster as a true freshman, dressing for 12 games and catching 13 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown. He missed the team’s Rose Bowl game because of academic reasons, which would become a recurring theme through the next three years of his university and college career. He transferred to a community college in Kansas in his sophomore season and the following year transferred to the University of Alabama. He practiced but did not play for the powerhouse as they won the national championship, then transferred again the following year to Florida Atlantic University, a smaller school without much of a profile. He struggled academically at every stop.

The NCAA did not bend over to accommodate Carter despite his petitions. It did not care about his lineage nor did it make exceptions. Duron Carter was a kid with a pedigree and tons of talent, but with an uncertain future.

A couple of NFL tryouts didn’t yield any significant interest, so he came to Canada because the Alouettes’ general manager, Jim Popp, had been tracking the youngster for years. When the Als offered Duron a multi-year deal, his father advised him to go north.

“I thought it was the best thing for him,” the elder Carter said this week. “I knew he couldn’t sit out another year without playing. It’s been three years since he played in a game and getting some experience was going to be the key to keep his dream alive.”

The Als had a veteran receiving corps, so Duron began the season on the practice roster. Five games into the campaign, Popp fired rookie head coach Dan Hawkins and replaced him on an interim basis. Injuries to the receiving corps provided an opportunity for Duron to play and he’s made the most of it.

“They were able to see the type of ability that he had,” Cris said. “It’s not like it was a fluke. He has that type of ability and he’s still very young. It’s a very odd situation. It’s not the way you would draw it up, but if you stick with it, you keep persevering and you get the right opportunity.

“Over the last couple years he’s made poor decisions and it led to him not being able to play football. Right now he’s doing the right things. He’s missed out on some big games, great opportunities and he realizes that, but he really loves football. To see him out there doing something he loves to do…that’s the thing that probably gives me the most amount of pleasure.”

The son’s success comes in a year in which his father co-authored a book—Going Deep: How Wide Receivers Became the Most Compelling Figures in Pro Sports—and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Carter interviewed some of the greatest receivers, both retired and still active, to explain how the combination of personality and talent—as well as the evolution of the passing game in the NFL over the past two decades—have made receivers so intriguing.

He did not include anything about his son in the book, but what Duron has accomplished could provide interesting material for an added chapter, one about overcoming the burden of sharing a name with a legend.

“It’s not really fair to even think that someone should have to follow in someone else’s footsteps,” he said. “We think about it in sports, but in other walks of life do we put that on someone to follow their parents, whether they are a lawyer, a doctor, a painter? In sports we think automatically a person should be a great athlete because their parents were great athletes. If you choose the same sport and the same position, it’s probably the hardest. You’re not getting a fair shot or opportunity just because of your name compared to your ability.”

In Montreal and in the CFL, Duron Carter is making a name for himself beyond just being Cris Carter’s son.

The Toronto Argonauts made Canadian Football League history Saturday in Edmonton, beating the Eskimos 34-22 to set a club record with their sixth consecutive road victory.

And in each game they mounted fourth-quarter comebacks, all the while with a backup quarterback, Zach Collaros, who is creating quite a reputation for himself. Ricky Ray should be ready to return to the lineup soon, but in the meantime Collaros is playing with poise far beyond his years — and also giving the Ottawa RedBlacks plenty of videotape for December, when they’ll pick two quarterbacks in the expansion draft.

1. Toronto (9-4): Remember the Argo bounce? It was there in the win over Edmonton. The Argos clinched a playoff spot and are close to clinching first place in the East. Head coach Scott Milanovich deserves credit for keeping the team focused. Defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones is pushing all the right buttons.

2. Calgary (10-3): The defence took control of the game against Hamilton, producing turnovers that the offence turned into points. Makes you wonder if the Tiger-Cats ever realized what they did dumping quarterback Kevin Glenn. All he does is win, in particular against Hamilton.

3. B.C. (9-4): The Lions’ defence was even more impressive than the Stamps’. Did the Bombers invite the Stamps defence into the huddle? Young quarterback Thomas DeMarco looks very poised-he’s another potential candidate for the RedBlacks…or maybe for the Bombers.

4. Hamilton (6-7): The Tiger-Cats seemed to have corrected their field-goal kicking, but apparently not. That said, quarterback Henry Burris can’t continue to make turnovers. Head coach Kent Austin shouldered the blame, saying he has to do a better job.

5. Montreal (5-8): The Als stepped up. The defence — Chip Cox in particular — is so underrated. Cox will likely be headed for Defensive Player of the Year honours in the East, facing Charleston Hughes in the West. Rookie receiver Duron Carter is starting to show signs of his father’s athleticism.

6. Saskatchewan (8-5): Four defeats in a row and the Roughriders continue to look lost. The only positive from the loss to Montreal was Geroy Simon’s league record for career catches. The return of running back Kory Sheets can’t happen soon enough. Can the Riders coaching staff put in some packages for backup Drew Willy, please?

7. Edmonton (3-10): Well, the euphoria is over. Coughed up a huge lead against Toronto and lost quarterback Mike Reilly indefinitely with a concussion. Of all the losses the Eskimos have suffered this year, this will surely be the most painful and the most costly.

8. Winnipeg (2-11): There’s talk of firing head coach Tim Burke, but does it really matter at this point? Look, his decisions are curious at the best of times, so we’ll not even consider the logic of pulling the starter for the second half. The fact that his replacement threw a pick on his first pass speaks for itself.

Last week, Peerless took the Eskimos to cover by 2 ½ against the woeful Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who managed to throw away a huge lead at home and lost by eight points in overtime. Peerless thought it was a gift from the handicapping Gods.

The next day he watched in disbelief as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats looked to be home and cooled out late in their game, in position to cover the eight-point spread over Montreal. But late in the game Montreal scored a touchdown. The Als still lost—but so did Peerless.

Peerless went against Calgary by seven to take the Argos and the points. Toronto won outright. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were favoured by five, and Peerless picked them to cover against the B.C. Lions, but it was not to be.

So Peerless viewed week 13 with a curious eye, knowing the end result could have been worse. Hey, he could have been Bombers’ head coach Tim Burke, who keeps inventing new ways to lose. There’s been some crazy stuff happening, but that’s the CFL for better and for worse.

B.C. (8-4) at Winnipeg (2-10)

Friday, 8 p.m. Investors Group Field

Why B.C. can win: They are on a magnificent high after beating the Roughriders on the road and are now tied with the Riders in the standings. Thomas DeMarco played magnificently in his debut as the interim quarterback. He was poised and efficient. The Lions protected the ball and that was the difference. That said, they could have been better in the score zone. But here’s the thing: they play their second road game in six days and will be missing some key players due to a rash of injuries. Can DeMarco duplicate his first outing? Most of the young quarterbacks have come back down to earth in their second starts.

Why Winnipeg can win: Who knows if they can after last week’s debacle. But what kind of character is on this team? We’ll find out against the Lions. Mad Max Hall is back in as starter and played decently last week. All he and the offence need to do is find a way to get off to a good start and get the crowd involved. It happened last week until the game dramatically turned. If the defence can somehow play a full 60 minutes—and isn’t this the problem with the Bombers, who come frazzled far too often due to coaching in my opinion – there is some hope.

The spread: B.C. -6
The pick is: Bombers and the points.

Calgary (9-3) at Hamilton (6-6)

Saturday, 6 p.m. at Guelph Alumni Field

Why Calgary can win: The Stamps lost at home to the Argos last week and simply looked lost at times, particularly in the second half. Running back Jon Cornish needs to get more touches. The Ticats are good against the run, but Cornish is a good receiver, too. Kevin Glenn is likely to start again at quarterback and who knows what happens now with Bo Levi Mitchell? Receiver Mo Price is sidelined, so that’s a key player out of the lineup. The offensive line needs to be better and this is an area the Ticats will undoubtedly attack. The defensive line needs to pressure Ti-Cat quarterback Henry Burris into making mistakes.

Why Hamilton can win: The Ti-Cats are complex—it’s tough to tell whether or not they’re improving. It’s like the conversation about Henry Burris, is he Good Hank of Bad Hank? The running game has really improved, but overall the offence can be so much better. Rookie receiver Greg Ellingson will likely not play and that means the Stamps may double up on Andy Fantuz, so Bakari Grant figures to see the ball more. The Ti-Cats’ return game is ineffective while the Stamps’ is among the best in the league.

The spread: Hamilton -2 ½.
The pick is: Stamps and the points.

Toronto (8-4) at Edmonton (3-9)

Saturday, 9 p.m. Commonwealth Stadium

Why Toronto can win: Three wins in a row, all on the road, the last two against Saskatchewan and Calgary. Good teams find ways to win and the Argos have won in different ways in all three games. The Argos are playing like a team moving in the right direction, even without their regulars. They are facing an Esks team full of confidence, but the Argos are feeling pretty good, too. They were vulnerable against the run earlier in the season, but Edmonton is primarily a passing team. The Argos will try to get physical and force Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly to throw quickly with hitches and hot reads. If Reilly chooses to run, the Argos have the speed to stop him. After the last few weeks, the Argos are playing with house money on this elongated road trip.

Why Edmonton can win: This is really a test of the Eskimos’ mettle. Beating Winnipeg in back-to-back games is one thing; beating Toronto is quite another. Running back Hugh Charles returned last week and did okay after missing three games, but didn’t appear to be 100%. Receiver Fred Stamps is always dangerous, but the Argos have the capability to stop him. Adarius Bowman is really the one to watch as a secondary target. He has looked good since coming back from injury. The Eskies ended an eight-game losing streak last week that was the longest in several decades. The test now is building off that win.

The spread: Edmonton -1.
The pick is: Argonauts and the point.

Saskatchewan (8-4) at Montreal (4-8)

Sunday, 1 p.m. Molson Stadium

Why Saskatchewan can win: The Roughriders are probably glad to be on the road, if only to get some distance from what’s been happening at home. With three losses in a row, including the last two on their field, and four defeats in their last seven games, things are getting ugly. Geroy Simon needs only one reception to set a CFL record for all-time catches, but that’s just a small part of the bigger story, which is the stunning fall of the Riders. Heck, they can’t even convert field goals without the ball hitting the uprights. How bad is that? The running game may pick up with Chris Garrett in his second start. He was clearly not totally familiar with the playbook last week in his debut. But the Riders need to find a way to move the pocket. Darian Durant is not a pocket passer, and with no surefire running attack the Als can tee off on him.

Why Montreal can win: Josh Neiswander looked okay last week when placed back in as the starter. He has the weapons and made use of them, including breakout star Duron Carter. The receiving crew was already good, albeit not nearly as potent with pivot Anthony Calvillo sidelined. I still maintain Jerome Messam needs to get more touches because he is capable of wearing down the defence. The other aspect of this team is that their defence isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s underrated. Playing at home hasn’t been great for the Als, who usually are a lock to win at Molson Stadium. The Als have lost three in a row and might extend that to four. The pressure is really on the Riders.

The spread: Saskatchewan -3½.
The pick is: Als and the points.

With Senator David Braley, who owns the Lions and Argos, publicly indicating he is looking to divest one or both of his franchises within the next three years, the CFL is moving into a critical time period. Braley’s desire to gracefully exit the CFL by the time he is 75 in three years is hardly the earth-shaking news it became last week. It’s been known for some time to anyone with a radar for CFL business. But this is his grand exit plan, similar to putting a ‘For Sale’ sign on the property instead of the information filtering out by word of mouth.

Now comes the task of finding buyers for the Braley Bunch—the biggest challenge the league has faced in years, and far more important than planting a team in Atlantic Canada.

Braley has been the financial lifeline for the CFL in B.C. since 1996 and Toronto in 2010, although he had been privately helping to finance the Argos as a silent partner with the previous ownership that rescued the franchise after the 2003 season.

When Braley bought the Lions in 1996, the club was in fragile financial shape. Although based in Burlington, Braley financed the team through its struggles and regularly made trips out west to oversee the organization. He was and still is the saviour of the Lions.

Braley did what he felt needed to be done because no one inside the province wanted anything to do with the team. He stepped up as a financier because he believed in the CFL, which was about to go into a freefall that found it teetering on the brink of bankruptcy in 1997. Braley made some astute hires, notably former general manager Bobby Ackles as president and CEO in 2002, which began the team’s turnaround. Ackles’ sudden death in 2008 left the team without its figurehead in the community, but by that time the team had become far sturdier.

And what of the Argos? The team has signed a new five-year lease with the Rogers Centre, but there is an option to leave before then. Without an alternate stadium for football, the Argos are in flux, which means selling the team is a far more acute problem than selling the Lions. The Lions are drawing an average of 27,000 fans through the first six home games this year—but the Argos have drawn an average of only 20,000. Despite winning the Grey Cup last year at home in the 100th anniversary of the game, and leading the East division this season, interest in the team has dropped.

Is there another Braley looming on the horizon to buy one or both of the franchises? The likelihood is no. The fact the CFL has one person owning two teams is a wart that has been cleverly covered.

So ask yourself: Why is there all this talk about expansion? The CFL played its third game in four years in Atlantic Canada last weekend and it drew lukewarm support. The only way the CFL can commit to a permanent franchise in the region is by building a proper stadium. But building one for just 10 games per year is foolish, no matter how wealthy a prospective owner may be. A stadium surrounded by an infrastructure consisting of other sources of revenue such as a commercial or housing complex is the way to go. But is there a need for something like this in either Halifax or Moncton?

Ottawa will enter the CFL for the third time in 2014, complete with a new stadium and owners with deep pockets. But these owners only had interest in a team provided the city would approve a plan to build a housing and commercial development in addition to the stadium. This model has become the norm, particularly with the federal government wanting no part of subsidizing the cost of stadiums.

Hamilton will play in a new stadium next year through provincial, municipal and private funding. But were it not for the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, the province would have had no interest in providing a financial helping hand. This was a gift from two levels of government. Team owner Bob Young has lost millions since buying the team after the 2003 season, but he has a commitment to the city. Any sane individual would have bailed on this bottomless financial pit by now, but Young is determined to restore the Ti-Cats to glory. The day Young decides he simply can’t stomach losing any more and the responsibility of taking care of the team is simply not worth it will pose the same question that looms over Braley’s clubs: Will anyone else want to buy this club?

The biggest source of income for the CFL is television money. Companies are not exactly lining up to attach their name or product to the CFL. Marketing the league is a constant grind that requires a stellar sales pitch, because in addition to attracting new sponsors there is also the task of convincing the current sponsors to extend their deals. Every team has to hustle to sell tickets and sponsorships.

Despite this, some clubs have done incredibly well, notably Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, which back in the mid-90s were bleeding badly. Saskatchewan has been printing money annually from sold-out games and robust licensing and merchandizing sales since winning the Cup in 2007. The Riders play host to the Cup this year and it looks like they will profit significantly. The Bombers have been a disaster on the field both last year and this year, but still have benefitted from solid ticket sales due to a new stadium. The stadium had been scheduled to open in 2012, but delays forced a postponement to 2013. However, Bombers fans were so excited about leaving the team’s old stadium that season tickets were scooped up with glee. The fact the team played in the 2011 Grey Cup also helped sales. It was the perfect storm of opportunity. It’s not one that’s likely to be easily recreated.

The CFL might feel good about itself based on the relative success of the past few years, but the muddy ownership situations in Toronto, B.C., and to a lesser extent Hamilton, provide the league with no certainty. As much as expansion seems like a possibility, ensuring all of the current teams are on solid ground is the bigger issue. The day Braley divests himself of ownership is the day the CFL has lost its biggest and most trusted investor. There may never be another one like him.

The Argos are receiving tremendous production from interim quarterback Zach Collaros, while starter Ricky Ray recovers from a shoulder injury. All-purpose player Chad Owens, voted  CFL’s Most Outstanding Player last season, has missed the last two games with bruised ribs. Winning without these premier players has allowed the Argos to build confidence and trust in one another while leading the East Division.

The Argos have recorded three consecutive wins away from home, including wins in Montreal, Saskatchewan and Calgary. Their latest win, 33-27 over the Stampeders, was a rematch of last year’s Grey Cup, which the Argos won. The Stamps hadn’t lost at home in five previous starts this season.

Meanwhile in Saskatchewan the Roughriders, who started out 5-0, have suffered three consecutive defeats and are 3-4 in their last seven. They have suffered two-heartbreaking defeats at home in their last two games.

All told, week 13 in the CFL Power Rankings has created some shuffling at the top.

1. Toronto (8-4): What the Argos are doing is phenomenal and you have to credit a lot of this to good coaching and quality recruiting. The Argos are beating quality teams in hostile stadiums without their best players. Ray and Owens should be returning to the lineup in another two games.

2. Calgary (9-3): Running back Jon Cornish has been limited to less than 100 rushing yards in the Stamps’ last two games, and he is a huge part of their offence. You have to wonder if there is a starting quarterback controversy brewing veteran Kevin Glenn and splendid sophomore Bo Levi Mitchell.

3. B.C. (8-4): Second-year quarterback Thomas DeMarco showed a lot of poise against Saskatchewan in his first start, particularly late in the game and in front of a noisy crowd. Winning on the road has not been difficult for the Lions, so give them credit. B.C. is tied with Saskatchewan for second in the West but look a lot sounder.

4. Saskatchewan (8-4): The Riders are imploding in all three phases of the game and creating far too many turnovers. Receiver Geroy Simon said after the latest loss the veterans need to step up their accountability. Head coach Corey Chamblin may need to start backup quarterback Drew Willy because starter Darian Durant is struggling and taking far too many hits.

5. Hamilton (6-6): Shored up their field-goal kicking woes beating Montreal 28-26, but it’s hard to get a true read on this team. Henry Burris’ quarterback rating has dropped significantly in the last two games and he’s turning over the ball too much. The Good Hank/Bad Hank personalities directly influence how this team plays.

6. Montreal (4-8): Lost their third in a row without injured starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo, but Josh Neiswander at least showed some consistency reclaiming the interim starting job. The defence continues to play hard. The Als are perilously clinging to the final playoff spot and need to produce an improved run game.

7. Edmonton (3-9): Back-to-back wins over Winnipeg have pumped life into the Eskimos, but they still have lot of problems. Let’s see how they fare at home this week against the red-hot Argos before declaring they have recovered from the dead.

8. Winnipeg (2-10): It isn’t bad enough that the Bombers blow another game, but head coach Tim Burke blows off some steam afterward by criticizing one of his own players. Simply a brutal team, although the Winnipeg media is saying there is still hope. Don’t believe it.

For the longest time, UFC president Dana White has talked about a super fight. On Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre, he got it.

American Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and Sweden’s Alexander ‘The Mauler’ Gustafsson, a pair of 26-year-olds with similar size and reach, put on a show for the ages. Both young warriors gave every ounce, shedding blood and sweat and suffering enough damage to require that hospital visit in a bout that went the full 25 minutes. Jones won by unanimous decision, breaking Tito Ortiz’s light heavyweight record with his sixth successful title defence — but Gustafsson accounted himself well in defeat. In the bigger picture, both men came away beaten and broken and at least somewhat triumphant.

“This is one of those fights that you remember why you’re a fight fan; why you love going to fights so much,” White said. “I love being a part of things like this.”

Too often White has become defensive when the crowd boos its displeasure or there is criticism on social media. For one night, that wasn’t a problem. He could bask in the glow of a card that grew in intensity as the night approach its climax. There have been other cards that have fizzled in the the main event. This one lived up to its billing.

Jones, a native of Endicott, New York, has called Toronto a home-field advantage for him, so he walked to the cage to the music of Diddy’s Coming Home. The last time he fought in Toronto, he walked out to Bob Marley’s Could You Be Loved, sending a subtle message to the crowd, some of whom came to boo him because of his polarizing personality. This was his other challenge on Saturday night: Could he make them love him once again?

Many cheered him en route to the cage Saturday night, but there were also boos when the decision was announced. Those weren’t personal, though-in the minds of many, Gustafsson had done enough to win, taking down Jones for the first time in his career and hitting him with enough significant strikes to be declared the victor.

“This is one of those fights where you’re going to have people divided,” said White, “(Some) saying Gustafsson got screwed and other people thinking Jones won and it was the right decision. But it was close.”

Close enough that neither man is feeling very good this morning. Jones suffered damage to his right eye in the first round, and blood started to flow like a stream in the fourth round as Gustafsson pounded away at the injury. According to White, the ringside physician seriously considering stopping the fight after the fourth but Jones pleaded to be allowed to continue. Jones ramped up his intensity in the fifth round, knowing he might be in danger of losing. Both fighters looked spent as the match ticked to a close.

“Both guys felt like they were going to die,” White said. “It’s why you’ve got to respect what happened here (Saturday) so much.”

In his last three fights, Jones has injured an elbow, broken a toe and the full extent of what happened to him Saturday night will be revealed over the next few days. Jones continues to impress with his resilience, absorbing increasingly severe beatings as the quality of his opponents increase.

Gustafsson, meanwhile, suffered damage to his nose and forehead, but his real scars may be below the surface-he is the face of Mixed Martial Arts in Sweden, and he came so close to claiming the belt he coveted for himself and his country. Gustafsson came into the fight confident he would win and-in a way-he did. There is already talk of a rematch. Gustafsson proved he could stand up to a truly elite fighter, made sure that more than just serious MMA fans will learn his name and has likely increased his earning potential significantly.

This is the real victory hidden in Gustafsson’s loss-the arrival of a new ‘elite’ fighter in the consciousness of the causal UFC fan. Jones came into the fight wearing black shorts with Nike and Gatorade logos, while Gustafsson’s shorts featured just an MMA gear manufacturer. It would not be unreasonable to think he’ll find himself with a bigger name on them soon.

Hey, how was he to know Marsh Madness would turn into Marsh Badness? Or that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would find winning just a little too much to handle?

This season is truly turning out to be one of the weirdest in several years because starting quarterbacks are falling like chopped trees—and composure is falling apart too, particularly in the fourth quarter.

But each week presents more opportunities to climb back above .500.

The big stories this weekend are Saskatchewan receiver Geroy Simon facing his former team in B.C.—needing only six catches to set the Canadian Football League record for career receptions—and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats playing the Montreal Alouettes in a neutral site game in Moncton.

And, oh yes, the second half of the Toilet Bowl Series between Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Edmonton (2-9) at Winnipeg (2-9)

Friday, 8:00 p.m. Investors Group Field

Why Edmonton can win: The Eskimos put it all together last week to finally win at home and snap a lengthy losing streak. The key was quarterback Mike Reilly, who was a one-man machine throwing and running the ball, destroying the Bombers’ blitz that had worked so well the week before against Saskatchewan.

Running back Hugh Charles had some impact in his return to the lineup after missing three games with an injury. Expect him to be more active in the return game.

The offensive line allowed three sacks, but that’s considerably better than in recent weeks. Facing a struggling backup quarterback, the Eskimos defence can afford to take some chances.

Why Winnipeg can win: The Bombers are back at home and coming off a huge win.

Mad Max Hall gets the start, even though he has shown little to be excited about so far. Justin Boltus is penciled in as the backup.

The big challenge facing offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefeuille is finding ways to make it easier for his young quarterback—likely by running the ball more often.

The defence should have learned from the last game what to do to avoid the same mistake, which means they should be spying the quarterback.

The spread: Edmonton -2 ½
The pick is: Edmonton to cover

Montreal (4-7) at Hamilton (5-6)

Saturday, 4:05 p.m. Moncton Stadium

Why Montreal can win: The Als are starting a struggling quarterback, Josh Neiswander, who replaces another struggling pivot, Tanner Marsh.

Montreal must maintain a dedicated ground game with Jerome Messam—he’s played well at points since his return, but has been a disappointment overall.

I wonder how much playing time Troy Smith will get and the effect he will have on the game. The offence hasn’t been successful, even with some great receivers, but the defence did a good job stopping the Stamps’ run game last week.

Why Hamilton can win: The Ti-Cats imploded against Calgary, but some of that was due to quarterback Henry Burris making some poor decisions. He should correct that.

This game appears to be easy pickings for Hamilton, particularly if the Ti-Cats’ defence can get to Neiswander early.

The spread: Hamilton -8
The pick is: Ti-Cats to cover

Toronto (7-4) at Calgary (9-2)

Saturday, 7:35 McMahon Stadium

Why Toronto can win: The Argos have rallied for back-to-back wins on the road.

Quarterback Zach Collaros is doing some good things—particularly moving in the pocket—and his receiving corps has been solid.

The game will be won or lost at the point of attack. The Stamps’ defensive front four is the best in the league and found ways to get untracked against Hamilton after some initial struggles, so the Argos’ offensive line has to be steady.

The Argos have proven to be a good road team, which is a point in their favour.

Why Calgary can win: The Stamps are unbeaten at home and showed some gumption when it mattered most last week against the Ti-Cats.

The Stamps already have the best record in the league and you know they will want to keep that steady play going.

The Argos have had some troubles against the run, so it will be a steady diet of running back Jon Cornish, who was held in check last week.

The spread: Calgary -7
The pick is: Argonauts and the points

B.C. (7-4) at Saskatchewan (8-3)

Sunday, 4:35 Mosaic Stadium

Why B.C. can win: Whether it is Buck Pierce or Thomas DeMarco, the Lions will be playing with a backup quarterback Sunday replacing the injured Travis Lulay.

The Lions are a weak road team, so that’s another issue.

But running back Andrew Harris woke up in the last game when he was given more touches, so that will be the Lions’ game plan.

Why Saskatchewan can win: They should have a sense of urgency—the Riders are 3-3 in their last six and have fallen to second in the West.

Quarterback Darian Durant has some injury issues but is expected to play through them. If he doesn’t, Drew Willy is capable as a replacement.

Geroy Simon should be motivated against his former team in his former home.

The big issue for the Riders is the loss of running back Kory Sheets. He is a huge part of their offence, so that will require a greater commitment to pass protection and a big effort from Sheets’ replacement.

The Riders’ defence has to be better. Facing an inexperienced quarterback is a chance to step up their recent poor play.

The spread: Saskatchewan -5
The pick is: Riders to cover

Record last week: 1-3
Record this season: 20-22-1

In fact, Gustafsson is following a similar path of countryman Ingemar Johansson, who became heavyweight champion of the world when he beat Floyd Patterson in 1959, becoming only the fifth fighter born outside the U.S. to win a boxing title. But boxing was banned in Sweden from 1970-2007.

So Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Gustafsson will attempt make history by laying claim to a UFC belt, something few outside of the U.S. and Brazil have done.

Watch the UFC 165 preliminary card Saturday with four fights on sportsnet.ca starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT then four additional bouts on Sportsnet 360 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT – Broadcast Schedule

Johansson was 26 when he won the belt. Gustafsson is 26. Johansson went into his fight against Patterson as a 5-1 underdog. Gustafsson is fluctuating between a 6-1 and 7-1 underdog.

“What he did was legendary and it will stay like that,” Gustafsson told me at a media event on Thursday. “This is a whole other type of fight and we’re (creating) some new history here… It means a lot (to represent Sweden). I’m doing what I love and having that support from home it’s great.”

There is a fairly large Swedish media contingent covering the card because it’s not every day someone from that country has a chance to win a world title. Sweden is well represented in world sports such as golf, hockey, curling and soccer, but it is only starting to develop in MMA. That is why this fight has the potential to take Swedish MMA to another level. There is no other Swedish fighter with an imminent chance to battle for a UFC title.

Ida Bjornstav of TV4 Sport in Sweden said MMA is not a huge sport in Sweden, but there is an awareness of Gustafsson’s popularity in North America and that’s why the Swedish media is in attendance for the fight.

“We know we had a really good fighter, but not how good and who is he really,” she said.

“We’ve been doing a lot of interviews for this. It’s a really big thing even if it’s not a big sport in Sweden. The Swedish people don’t see this as big as the world championship in ice hockey or soccer. That’s the biggest sports we have, but the media will definitely (make) it into a really big thing. It’s going to be huge if he wins this. We have to make people in Sweden understand that is a really big thing. I think he’s a big idol there for a lot of people doing this sport.”

Ryan O’Leary, an American who has helped grow the sport in Sweden through his site MMAViking.com, said the championship bout has ramped up coverage and awareness of what it means to be a cage fighter.

“It’s integrated into less of a lifestyle sport and more of a sports story,” he said. “Alex being a from small town and being a very humble guy, this is an opportunity for him to be the People’s Champion and show the world that when it comes to combat sports Swedes can fight.

“He’s the face of MMA in the Nordic countries. He’s the one guy pushing the sport forward. The one thing I’m worried about it is I don’t think the Swedish media realize how good Jon Jones is and what type of upset this would be. It’s hard for the general public in Sweden to put this in perspective if he were to pull this off. TV stations here from Sweden really shows this is a big story.”

Gustafsson was slated to fight back in April in the main event of the UFC’s second card in Sweden, but an eye injury and a decision by the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation forced his withdrawal four days beforehand.

As devastating as that was, Gustafsson looked at it philosophically: “(When) there’s rain comes sun and I’m now here. I’m having a great time.”

Jones has a chance to set a record with six title defences if he beats Gustafsson. The big Swede, who stands an inch taller than the 6-foot-4 Jones, is determined not to let that happen.

“He’s not going to reach his record at all. I’m taking that belt,” Gustafsson said. “I’ll beat him wherever the fight goes. When I win the belt I’m going to have it around my waist for a month. I’m not going to let it go at all. I’m just maybe going to have a Sweden tour, who knows?”

That’s about as brash as Gustafsson is because it is not the Nordic way to talk trash, something which is a way of life in pro sports, in particular the combat variety because it’s a chance for one opponent to try to psychologically destroy another.

“I would say we don’t like to trash talk in Sweden…I don’t,” he said. “We don’t have that type of thing there. I like to do my talking when I perform in the cage, so I’m not a fan of trash talking.”

For a long time, Swedes battle a stereotype of being chicken in North American pro sports.

Back in the ’70s, two Swedish hockey players, Borje Salming and Inge Hammarstrom, came to North America to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. Opposing players challenged their manhood calling them Chicken Swedes and using their sticks and fists to intimidate them. The owner of the Maple Leafs at the time, Harold Ballard, once claimed that Hammarstrom could go into the corner with a dozen eggs in his pocket and not break any of them. Hammarstrom had trouble adapting to the physical style and lasted only six seasons. Salming played 17 seasons and was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Gustafsson dispelled the idea that Swedes aren’t tough.

“We have good sports traditions up there,” he said. “We have good hockey, we have good fighting. We have a really good sports culture up there and we are all tough.”

Gustafsson will be put to the test on Saturday in the biggest fight of his young life. Winning would mean everything to him and his country.

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. lived up to his nickname "Money" in his fight against Saul (Canelo) Alvarez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which drew a crowd that included UFC president Dana White. The card reportedly drew more than two million pay-per-views, although the exact numbers haven’t been revealed, and there was speculation going into it of a possible record. The Mayweather/Oscar De La Hoya fight in 2007 drew a record 2.4 million PPV buys for a boxing card.

Watch the UFC 165 preliminary card Saturday with four fights on sportsnet.ca starting at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT then four additional bouts on Sportsnet 360 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT – Broadcast Schedule

The UFC has never had anything close to that, although its landmark UFC 100 show in July 2009 had 1.6 million PPVs. The card featured two title fights, including welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre defeating Thiago Alves, and Brock Lesnar beating Frank Mir in a heavyweight unification bout.

As popular and decorated as St-Pierre is as the top attraction in the UFC, the cards in which he has headlined have not reached 1 million PPV buys. He has averaged between 800,000 and 900,000 in his last few fights. Lesnar, who brought a lot of eyeballs with him from World Wrestling Entertainment, exceeded 1 million PPV buys in several cards in which he fought in the main event.

White praised Golden Boy Promotions, headed up by De La Hoya, and Mayweather in advance of last Saturday’s card and afterward. White created somewhat of a stir for a remark he made when asked in a Google+ Hangout chat if there would come a day when someone from the UFC’s roster would receive the $40 million Mayweather was guaranteed for the fight against Alvarez.

“We paid a guy $5 million for a fight before, (but) we didn’t start making money until 2007,” he replied. “That was six years ago. So boxing’s been around for a 100 years. They’ve been doing big events since way back when. Pretty amazing what we have done in (a) short amount of time. I don’t think a lot of people look at that way and break it down for what it really is.”

White didn’t reveal which UFC fighter received the $5 million, although St-Pierre, Lesnar and Chuck Liddell were speculated as being one of the recipients.

The greats of the sport such as Liddell, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, BJ Penn, Matt Hughes, Rampage Jackson and Ken Shamrock, to name a few, became the blocks upon which the UFC built its empire. For some, the paydays didn’t match their accomplishments because of the financial instability of the company under previous ownership. The business has been growing in recent years because of partnerships and strategic alliances that have helped the new stars and the ones who developed in the last five to 10 years to profit far better than their predecessors.

Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones headlines UFC 165 this Saturday in Toronto against challenger Alexander Gustafsson. Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history when he defeated Mauricio Rua for the belt two and a half years ago. If he beats Gustafsson, it will be a UFC record six title defences in the light heavyweight division. Jones has the kind of exceptional skills that could take him to the highest heights in UFC history. Many feel his talent truly hasn’t even been tapped to this point.

But Jones marketability/bankability hasn’t raised concurrent with his talent. He has averaged about 500,000 PPV buys since becoming champion, the exception being the 700,000 that paid to watch him fight former training partner Rashad Evans last April in UFC 145. The fight had been marketed as two former friends/training partners turned enemies in a bout full of bitterness and anger.

For all he has done, Jones can’t seem to win over the MMA world, many of which view him as being smarmy, phony and generally dislikeable. He is truly a marvel to watch because of his freakish moves, but his polarizing personality has reduced the attraction he has as a fighter people will pay to see win or conversely get a sound beating.

It will be interesting to see the type of business Jones produces in terms of ticket sales and PPV buys this Saturday. This is his third fight in Toronto and the excitement level isn’t anywhere close to the first. It’s a combination of the UFC levelling off from a crowd record 55,724 and a PPV audience of more than 800,000 for the company’s debut show in Toronto in April, 2011. Some of it is also Gustafsson, Jones’ tallest opponent to date but the lanky Swede is just a little too saccharine. He comes across as a really nice guy – not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Jones espouses wholesome family values and Christianity, but some critics don’t believe it and literally aren’t buying into it. Compared to Mayweather, Jones is a saint. He has not served time in jail, although he was charged with driving under influence of alcohol and pled guilty to it.

St-Pierre has been the model for talent, personality, professionalism and longevity, which has made him the UFC’s top attraction. He has been compared in some ways to Mayweather because of his ability to defend himself and his belt by protecting himself from physical damage for the most part while dissecting his opponents, even if the fights go the full distance.

But St-Pierre is in the twilight of his career, and it would seem the only chance of significantly spiking his PPV numbers will come through a super-fight. He headlines UFC 167, which is the company’s 20th anniversary card, in November against Johny Hendricks. Right now, that card is packed with several promising fights and clearly the UFC will be hoping for PPV numbers anything close to the 1.6 million PPV numbers from UFC 100. So much will be put into that show in terms of marketing to make it must-see entertainment, but if GSP loss it wouldn’t be bad for business because it would create hype for a rematch.

White has long talked about a super-fight, but for various reasons it hasn’t happened. Jones mentioned a few days ago that if Silva beats Chris Weidman in their rematch at UFC 168 on December 28, it could set up the possibility for a super-fight with Silva some time in 2014. Silva’s stunning loss to Weidman at UFC 162 in July has made the rematch compelling. This will be a chance to see if the Brazilian great can avenge his loss to his younger, American opponent or whether the victory was not a fluke. The rematch will be a fight people will pay to see because Silva embarrassed himself in defeat by underestimating his opponent and clowning around in the cage. Silva devalued all that he accomplished and some people were cheering that he received a comeuppance.

White has said people will pay for the right fight and the Silva/Weidman bout should prove that. It has the potential to become the most-hyped PPV event in UFC history.

White is always looking for a way to move the needle on his promotion. Seeing what he saw last Saturday should whet his appetite for the future. There’s nothing like a super-fight. Boxing has proven that time again. At some point, it will happen in the UFC, potentially with the Silva-Weidman rematch. Maybe a Jones-Silva fight. Maybe Silva-St. Pierre.

The Stamps have the best record in the league and are being led by third-string quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and making do with a depleted receiving corps, but the Argos are holding together without injured pivot Ricky Ray, all-purpose player Chad Owens and running back Chad Kackert, who suffered an injury in his first game back after a lengthy stay on the IR.

At this point, the two teams that played one another in the Grey Cup last year appear headed for another showdown. Yes, there are still many games to be played, but consistency matters.

The dramatic decline of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has suddenly made the West Division more of a guessing game. The B.C. Lions, who are undefeated at home but average on the road, have a chance to make a run for second in the West if the Riders continue to fall.

1. Calgary (9-2)
Continued to show winning ways at home, coming from behind to beat the Ticats. The defence, notably the front four, is scary. Hamilton tried to contain the defensive line but simply couldn’t do it for a full 60 minutes.

2. Toronto (7-4)
Two consecutive wins on the road and backup quarterback Zach Collaros continues to provide reason for the Ottawa RedBlacks to consider him in the expansion draft.

3. B.C. (7-4)
Didn’t look all that great beating the Als — in fact, quarterback Travis Lulay looked terrible — but at least feature running back Andrew Harris was involved more in the game plan. They’re starting to close ground on Saskatchewan in the standings.

4. Saskatchewan (8-3)
Falling fast with a record of 3-3 in their last six and two consecutive losses. Losing Kory Sheets to injury leaves a gaping hole in the lineup.

5. Hamilton (5-6)
This is a team that self-destructs far too often. Too many losses come down to penalties, turnovers or an inability to finish off drives.

6. Montreal (4-7)
Defence is having to do too much because the offence is lame. None of the quarterbacks auditioning for the starting job are making a case for themselves. Marsh Madness turned into Marsh Badness. Is it too soon to start Troy Smith?

7. Edmonton (2-9)
Won the first half of the Toilet Bowl Series with an authoritative performance against Winnipeg. For at least one week the Eskimos have silenced their critics. Will it last?

8. Winnipeg (2-9)
Perhaps the euphoria of winning one game was just too much for the Blue Bumblers. Quarterback Justin Goltz has squandered whatever opportunity to stake his claim for the starting job. But Mad Max Hall isn’t any better.

To wit: they have lost three of their last six games and they are turning the ball over frequently whereas they didn’t commit any in their first five games. Their starting quarterback, Darian Durant, is starting to take a pounding and they have lost their starting running back, Kory Sheets, who was on pace to set a CFL record for most rushing yards in a single season, with a knee sprain. As a result, their pristine home record is no more following a 31-29 loss to the Toronto Argonauts Saturday night and they have fallen to second in the West Division.

And, then there’s the issue of three players, including two high-profile stars, who have been charged with aggravated assault following an incident in Regina last month.

As is the case with the team’s followers known as Rider Nation, this is truly a time of concern, even more so because the team plays host to the Grey Cup in November. The B.C. Lions won the Grey Cup two years ago when it hosted the game and the Argos repeated that last year. Early in the season, it appeared the Riders would follow that trend. Maybe that will still happen, but the Riders’ current state of affairs would suggest this team is in serious trouble unless it finds a way to turn things around.

It will be up to general manager Brendan Taman and head coach Corey Chamblin to assess the damages and decide what to do. This is a team in a free fall and it’s not as easy as simply pointing to one area and putting a patch on it.

Turnovers are the kinds of things that will kill any team, but it hadn’t been a problem when the Riders’ ball security had been the envy of the league. Some leaky pass protection has clearly resulted in Durant getting sacked and hurrying his throws. In his first seven starts – missing one because of an injury – he had 17 touchdown passes and no interceptions. In his last three starts, he has tossed seven TDs and five picks. That’s not terrible, but two of those games were against the lowly Winnipeg Blue Bombers, whose problems make the Riders’ seem a pittance by comparison. Durant has had his share of critics and once again they have resurfaced, questioning his ability to lead the team.

On a critical two-point conversion attempt late in the Argos game with a chance to tie, Durant couldn’t throw a pass because the Boatman converged and sacked him. By that point, he had already been beat up significantly.

Sheets, who became the fastest player in CFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards, totaled more than 100 yards in seven of the Riders’ first eight games. He has been held to a total of 164 in the last three. Granted he only had four carries for eight yards in the loss to the Argos before being sidelined, however in his previous two games he had been held to 156 yards on 35 carries. Sheets keyed the Riders’ offence, running the ball routinely on first down when the opposition’s defence fully knew what was coming. Without him for however long, the Riders’ are vulnerable. They can continue with the same approach, but Sheets is a special player and will not be easily replaceable. Before his injury, he had been the West Division’s top player and, possibly, the best player in the league.

The Calgary Stampeders moved into first place in the West on Friday night beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and you have to believe they smell blood. The two teams have played twice so far, winning one game apiece. They play against one another for the final time this season in the penultimate game of the season in Calgary. The Stamps handed the Riders their first loss of the year, a game that saw Saskatchewan fumble three times and turn it over twice and give up four sacks while producing only one.

And hanging over all of this is the ongoing situation with the players charged with assault stemming from an incident almost a month ago at a bar in Regina. This is huge news in a city which fawns over its beloved Riders and follows their every move. The fan base has been divided by the incident with some claiming the players are innocent until proven guilty and deserve their day in court (the next hearing is Oct. 8). But others are morally outraged and believe the players should be suspended indefinitely, if not outright released.

This is an organization that has dealt with off-field incidents of their players before, which led to the introduction of a code of conduct. It was tested to the fullest when the team’s one-time general manager, Eric Tillman, who was hired in 2006 to essentially clean up the image of the team and take it to the next level, was suspended with pay following an arrest for sexual assault in August of 2008. Tillman guided the Riders to a Grey Cup win in 2007 but his crime had the teams fans split on the issue.

The Riders’ organization put Tillman on a paid administrative leave in February, 2009. When he pled guilty the following January and was given an absolute discharge, some fans thought he should be reinstated, while others believed the team needed to purge him to make a statement about the value and integrity of the code of conduct. The entire province seemed to have mixed feelings because the story drew national attention. Tillman was of the belief the organization would bring him back if he pled guilty, but a meeting with key members of the organization led to him resigning and the Riders moved on with their business.

Now the Riders’ code of conduct is at issue again. Two of the three players, cornerback Dwight Anderson and receiver Taj Smith, are significant contributors. Anderson has a reputation for being a hothead who takes needless penalties, including a costly one against the Argos, but that is not an issue insofar as the charge of assault. Nor does it matter that Smith has made some highlight-reel catches and made a key block late in the game to help set up the late touchdown. The character of the players on the field has no bearing on what happened off the field as it will be up to the courts to decide their innocence or guilt.

But this is only one issue of many for a team that could do virtually no wrong at one point this season. Now they are literally living up to there own name while they go through a rough ride. In the ebb and flow of a season, so much can happen that can test the fibre of a team and cause it to pull closer together or split apart. Right now the Riders and their fans are truly going through some troubling times. How quickly it has all changed from what was turning out to be a perfect season.

Such is life handicapping the Canadian Football League.

Peerless thought the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were good as a longshot and they not only covered the spread, they won, beating the league-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders quite handily.

But the Montreal Alouettes blew a huge lead and lost to the Toronto Argonauts. Peerless had the Als to cover.

Peerless had a 2-2 record overall, which wasn’t too bad, all things considered.

He was concerned his boss, Mellow Gary, was going to call him out like Ed Hervey did with Simeon Rottier. Honest Ed now knows the troubles of his Edmonton Eskimos run far deeper than just the Rottweiler. That was another rookie mistake by Hervey.

And speaking of the Blue Bombers, they will go back into the West Division next season now that Ottawa is coming back into the fold. Winnipeg is routinely on the move to the East in the CFL, even if its geographic landscape is in the West.

If the Maritime BlackReds are ever granted a franchise, they will be in the East.

But we get far too ahead of ourselves. We’re still trying to understand how the Hamilton Tiger-Cats ended up in Guelph, which used to be the site for the Argos’ training camp when Peerless first began covering the CFL.

The GM of the Argos at the time was Bob O’Billovich and the starting quarterback Kent Austin. Well, midway through that season, Obie canned rookie head coach Mike Faragalli and took over the dual role.

Obie retired from the CFL after last season in which he served as the Ticats’ GM. His replacement as GM/head coach became Austin.

And that’s enough of Down Memory Lane with Peerless.

Hamilton (5-5) at Calgary (8-2)

Friday, 9:00 p.m. McMahon Stadium

Why Hamilton can win: Starting to put it together in almost all phases. The offence is balanced with a strong running game and an aerial attack that is getting better and healthier.

The run stopping is good, which is a must against Calgary, and have to figure the blitz level will be persistent against Bo Levi Mitchell, who is likely to start.
The one area the team is weak in is the return game.

Hamilton has been inconsistent on the road, facing a team that is unbeaten at home and is playing at a high level.

Just not really sure how to read the Ticats, particularly when the crowd will work against them.

Why Calgary can win: Unbeaten at home and against East Division teams. Mitchell made plays on the ground last week and that is imperative against the Ticats’ pressure defence.

Receiver Mo Price could be the difference with his speed should the plays change on the fly. Of course the accent will be on running back Jon Cornish, who piled up huge yards on the ground in the last game.

The Stamps’ D Line is tough to handle.

The spread: Calgary -6

The pick is: Calgary to cover.

Winnipeg (2-8) at Edmonton (1-9)

Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Commonwealth Stadium

Why Winnipeg can win: The Bombers put it together last Sunday against Saskatchewan with the upset of the season. Winnipeg blitzed like crazy and made things miserable for Riders’ quarterback Darian Durant.

Playing a young quarterback with a terrible offensive line, you have to figure the game plan won’t be much different. The Bombers defence was finally rewarded for its hard work. So all the offence has to do is avoid mistakes.

With some consistency at quarterback and the continued work with Marcel Bellefeuille there are signs of improvement. If the Bombers can establish some momentum, the crowd will turn on the Eskimos.

Why Edmonton can win: They have yet to win at home this year, but they beat themselves last Friday with missed field goals and an inability to finish drives in the score zone.

The Eskimos simply have to provide better protection. They also have to play error-free, meaning no dropped balls.

With eight consecutive losses, the Eskimos have tied a franchise futility going back to 1971. Really hard to make a case for Edmonton with what’s been happening on and off the field.

The spread: Edmonton -5

The pick is: Bombers and the points.

Toronto (6-4) at Saskatchewan (8-2)

Saturday, 9:35 Mosaic Stadium

Why Toronto can win: Bursting with confidence after beating Montreal in a come-from-behind win. Quarterback Zach Collaros did okay in the second half when the Argos moved the pocket. The kid plays well making plays on the run.

The Argos receivers could pose threats for the Riders’ secondary. If I’m the Argos, I go after cornerback Dwight Anderson early to try to get him upset.

Punter/kicker Swayze Waters is slated to return from a long layoff due to injury and he could be crucial to what has been problems converting field goals.

The Riders beat the Argonauts by 11 in Toronto with Ricky Ray early in the schedule with the Argos’ secondary blowing some coverages. The Riders aren’t the same team now as then.

Why Saskatchewan can win: The Roughriders are 2-2 in their last four and there are signs of concern.

Some people in Rider Nation are all over quarterback Darian Durant, who has thrown picks in his last two games and the team as a whole is making far too many turnovers.

Riders gave up more sacks in their last game than all previous games this season. The Argos are capable of playing the same type of pressure defence.

Saskatchewan needs to get better production out of running back Kory Sheets, whose numbers are starting to drop. He’s been held under 100 yards in three of the last four contests. That’s a huge stat.

With all the problems on the field and news this week that two starters have been charged with assault, this is a time for concern for head coach Corey Chamblin, who is facing his first real crisis this season.

The spread: Saskatchewan -8

The pick is: Argonauts and the points

Montreal (4-6) at B.C. (6-4)

Sunday, 4:35 B.C. Place

Why Montreal can win: Als had a modest two-game win streak before losing last week by blowing a big-time lead. Some questionable decisions by quarterback Tanner Marsh played a role but he wasn’t alone. In his third start, he may improve because it’s not uncommon for a dropoff after a great opening start.

I’d like to see the Als pound the ball with running back Jerome Messam, who is averaging almost five yards a carry. With Brandon Whitaker out for the season, this is Messam’s time to make a statement.

The Alouettes’ defence has to do better than it did in the second half last week against Toronto.

Why B.C. can win: The Lions are 5-0 at home. Quarterback Travis Lulay has seven touchdowns and only one pick in his last three games. He’s also taken a beating, which is why B.C. traded for Buck Pierce, who knows all about getting pounded.

The running game has disappeared. Andrew Harris has been a non-factor in the last five games and this has to be a concern. There are issues with the receivers, too.

One characteristic of the Lions is they don’t blow away opponents at home, winning by an average of eight and quite often don’t cover.

The spread: B.C. -9

The pick is: Alouettes and the points.

Record last week: 2-2

Record this season: 19-19-1

As indomitable and tough as Rousey is as a competitor, she is winless as a coach, suffering a shocking defeat with her first fighter on Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter. She watched helplessly as Shayna (The Queen of Spades) Baszler suffered a surprising loss to unheralded Julianna Pena in the second episode of TUF 18 Wednesday.

Watch The Ultimate Fighter 18 every Wednesday on Sportsnet 360 and get weekly episode recaps on sportsnet.ca

Pena took almost as much pleasure in breaking Rousey’s spirit as she did submitting Baszler by a rear-naked choke in the second – and final – round of their fight.

“I made Ronda Rousey cry and I love it,” Pena said.

On paper, the odds appeared heavily stacked in Baszler’s favour because she is ranked in the top-10 in the world in the women’s bantamweight division, but inside the cage anything can happen otherwise there would be no point in fighting.

Pena came out swinging at the start of the first round and Baszler responded by tying her up by the fence and beginning the first of several takedowns but couldn’t force her scrappy opponent to tap out. Before the start of the second round, Baszler was breathing heavily and once again Pena applied the same strategy and Baszler failed to force a submission while absorbing some elbows and fist that bloodied her. The turning point came when Pena scrambled to gain Baszler’s back and used the choke to force the submission.

This is not what Rousey, the women’s bantamweight champion in the UFC and one of most marketable stars in the promotion, expected. She came into the fight with what seemed like brilliant strategy to counter Pena’s coach, Miesha Tate.

Rousey defeated Tate in March, 2012 for the Strikeforce bantamweight title and they will renew hostilities on Dec. 28 in the co-main event of UFC 168.

Tate used the first selection in this season’s series to pick Pena, whom she had trained with in the past and knew her strengths. She also knew the skill level of Baszler, a veteran with considerably more experience than Pena.

So Rousey, ever the psychologist, pounced on the opportunity to pick Baszler. It looked like Tate, who was psychologically beaten before her fight against Rousey because she allowed her opponent to mess with her mind, had made a mistake. Rousey had the choice for first fight and knew winning the first bout would set the tone for the rest of the tournament, so she literally took her best shot to send a clear message to Tate, who seems bent on smiling throughout this series to counter Rousey’s scowl.

So much was built up leading into this series because it represented the first time women would compete. They have become quite popular since the UFC created a division for them and anointed Rousey the champion based on her reign in Strikeforce. So there needs to be a greater pool of women’s talent, hence the decision to include the ladies in TUF, while also keeping the men involved in a separate tournament that runs concurrently.

Rousey’s opposing coach was supposed to be Cat Zingano, who raised her record to 8-0 after beating Tate in April. Zingano suffered a knee injury in training and was replaced by Tate. You couldn’t have scripted a better scenario. When Rousey saw Tate for the first time when she walked into the arena where the series is taking place, she couldn’t believe it.

“Nice to see you again,” Tate said to Rousey while shaking hands with a smirk.

Rousey walked out, but returned and was told by UFC president Dana White that Zingano had blown out her knee and was undergoing surgery at that exact moment.

So the rivalry that seemed to have been extinguished because Rousey had continued her mastery of the division while Tate had seemingly gone backward suddenly found a way to be linked together again. The Battle of The Beauties, as it had been promoted for their first fight, now had a rematch, as unlikely as it seemed.

And in the absence of Zingano, TUF 18 had a Cat fight of a different kind – perhaps even better from a story line perspective.

“For some reason we were meant to be rivals,” Tate said.

“I was meant to retain this belt and I’m going to retire undefeated,” Rousey replied.

Their fight created a dramatic shift in women’s MMA because Rousey refused to take the traditional route to the top, preferring to talk her way into a title without any regard for tradition or protocol. It pissed off Tate – and many of her ilk – and Rousey did everything to psychologically destroy her, utilizing some of the mental toughness taught to her by her mother, who had a doctorate in educational psychology.

Rousey, a bronze medallist for the U.S. in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, says she learned her signature armbar submission from her mother, who used the arm manoeuvre to rouse her out of bed in the morning to get to school.

Rousey’s self promotion has filtered throughout the MMA world. Some are trying to use it to advance their careers, but few can do it like Rousey (notwithstanding Chael Sonnen). But it seems that whether or not Tate even matches up to Rousey in talent, she is bent on breaking her with Cheshire disposition. She was angry throughout the time leading up to her match against Rousey, but now seems to have decided to smile as a tactic.

When they meet, it will have considerably more fanfare than the first time because now they have a history and the TUF series will expand that. The UFC with its mighty marketing machine will make full use of the opportunity.

In the midst of all of this, the Queen of Spades has been dealt out of the picture. Baszler, incredulous that she had been passed over for a UFC contract despite her ranking, gave Pena little respect.

“She doesn’t deserve to be in the ring with me,” Baszler said. “There’s a part of me that says I shouldn’t have to dance this dance.”

Pena’s teammates were hoping she could lay a beating on Baszler to make it easier for the rest of them.

That’s no longer a concern. Tate scored round one of TUF Season 18 and walked out of the arena with a spring in her step and a huge grin. Rousey’s “best friend,” as White sarcastically referenced Tate in the opening segment of the series, won a minor battle and quickly put together an interesting strategy for the next segment, pitting one of her male fighters against one of Rousey’s who has strong punching power but is battling a hand injury.

No wonder Tate is laughing. Through the crazy machinations of the MMA world, she is back in the limelight, poised to hopefully reclaim her belt against the person who took it away from her and sticking it to her ever so slightly with a sinister plan that can’t be defended with an armbar.

Rousey has gone from sad to mad. The war has heated up again between her and Tate, and it’s more interesting than the first time.

Simmons and Paul Stanley are the front men for the rock group KISS and they understand the importance of branding. Beyond just their ability as musicians, Simmons and Stanley know how to package and merchandise a product and sustain it through repurposing across various platforms. You don’t last 40 years in the vicious game of rock and roll without knowing there is more to it than just playing music.

The KISS logo has been plastered on everything imaginable, including condoms, which has resulted in Simmons and Stanley netting hundreds of millions of dollars in income. They are putting some of that money into use as part of the ownership group of the Arena Football League’s Los Angeles KISS, which debuts in 2014 but is already creating hype because of a three-year, multi-million dollar offer extended to Tebow. It has already generated tons of publicity.

Tebow would be an absolute fool to pass up this opportunity. He could play quarterback, which doesn’t seem to be an option in the National Football League. He has had limited stints on the rosters of the Denver Broncos and New York Jets and had a recent tryout with the New England Patriots but was cut before the start of the season. The Canadian Football League is an option, but neither Tebow nor his agent has expressed any desire at this point to come north.

There is the belief that the Arena Football League’s field size would be more conducive to Tebow’s talents and lessen his limitations (i.e. arm strength). The field is about 66 yards long (including the end zones), compared to 120 in the NFL and 150 in the CFL. The width is about 28 yards compared to 65 yards in the CFL and 53½ in the NFL. Only eight players line up on both sides of the ball and there are limited rules about blitzing.

Kurt Warner advanced his career by playing in the Arena Football League and went on to become an effective starter in the NFL, which had been lukewarm to his talents after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa. Warner has been referenced by the KISS ownership as an example of what Tebow could do playing indoors in an arena. Beyond just offering a contract to Tebow the KISS ownership has been effusive in its praise, something which was in short supply in his time in New York, at least when head coach Rex Ryan was talking.

Tebow can sit around for an NFL team willing to sign him, but the Arena Football League offer will give him the opportunity to play without all the politics and criticisms he is currently facing. It seems like a perfect fit.

There is also another element to all of this: Pro football is absent in Los Angeles, so the Arena Football League will fill that void, although it’s already tried and failed once before under a different ownership group. Simmons and Stanley will do whatever it takes to create a buzz and fill the Honda Centre in Anaheim simply because that’s what they do best. The novelty of the product and the added values of, say a KISS concert before or after games and the presence of Simmons, Stanley and their galaxy of stars in the entertainment business should be worth the cost of admission alone. To be sure, this will be a hot ticket in the beginning. How long that lasts will be dependent on the success of the team and the ability of the ownership to keep the crowd engaged.

Tebow could be to this team what Wayne Gretzky became to the Los Angeles Kings. The addition of the greatest player in the game at that point created a totally different dimension to hockey in Los Angeles, which had been struggling to attract crowds but suddenly became must-see entertainment.

This is why Tebow is the right person at the right time for this expansion franchise in that market. Look what Donald Trump did when he signed Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie of Boston College to play for the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League in 1985. The NFL wanted no part of Flutie because of his diminutive size, but Trump understood the excitement of signing the player famous for his Hail Mary pass. This was a Hail Mary signing and it wasn’t ridiculous for a franchise seeking some marquee talent.

Tinseltown could be Tebowtown – if he wants it. To borrow a KISS song, he should lick it up.

The Blue Bombers’ stunning 25-13 win over the league-leading Roughriders felt like something more than just a victory because it represented the first win at the new Investors Group Field. So let the Bombers and their fans rejoice. The Bombers didn’t just beat the Roughriders, they embarrassed them.

The Riders are now tied with the Calgary Stampeders for first overall in the West Division and there is some angst in Rider Nation. Some of the fans want to see Darian Durant replaced as the starting quarterback.

I think that’s a little too critical, particularly when Durant hadn’t yielded too many turnovers going into the game, but the level of expectations in Riderville are huge. That said, I have maintained for some time
Durant’s backup, Drew Willy, is capable of starting for another team.

At the end of this season, he just might be claimed by the Ottawa RedBlacks in the expansion draft. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.

You can’t throw Durant under the bus just yet, but give the Bombers’ defence, which has had to carry the weight of a weak offence all season, some credit for stepping up with a full 60-minute effort.

The Stamps did just enough to beat the Eskimos to sweep the Labour Day Series. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell didn’t light it up in his second start unlike his debut earlier in the season but running back Jon Cornish is still the big horse in the Stamps’ offence.

Could the Blue Bombers’ win over Saskatchewan start an incredible run that could lead to a playoff berth? Stranger things have happened in the CFL and the Bombers play back-to-back games against Edmonton.

Anything is possible.

1. Calgary (8-2)

The Stamps did just enough to beat the Eskimos to sweep the Labour Day Series. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell didn’t light it up in his second start unlike his debut earlier in the season but running back Jon Cornish is still the big horse in the Stamps’ offence.

2. Saskatchewan (8-2)

The Riders turned the ball over far too many times and that more than anything is the issue. For the first time this season, head coach Corey Chamblin will have to rally his team together and put a crushing loss behind them.

3. Toronto (6-4)

Depleted with injuries to quarterback Ricky Ray and all-purpose receiver Chad Owens, the Argos showed their heart to rally from behind to beat Montreal. Backup quarterback Zach rebounded with a second-half effort.

4. Hamilton (5-5)

Hamilton reversed their loss against B.C. last week with a win in Guelph, giving them three victories in their last four games. Yeah, it was a little too close but the Cats are coming together.

5. B.C. (6-4)

Quarterback Travis Lulay practically left his body on the field in a valiant effort in defeat. The Lions are simply an ordinary team on the road. The addition of Buck Pierce, acquired from Winnipeg, provides some support at quarterback.

6. Montreal (4-6)

The Als fell asleep in the second half against Toronto and ended a modest two-game win streak. Quarterback Tanner Marsh didn’t play with the same poise as in his first start, making several questionable decisions.

7. Winnipeg (2-8)

Could the Blue Bombers’ win over Saskatchewan start an incredible run that could lead to a playoff berth? Stranger things have happened in the CFL and the Bombers play back-to-back games against Edmonton. Anything is possible.

8. Edmonton (1-9)

It’s one thing after another with the Eskimos, who are on an eight-game winless slide, the longest since 1971. We now know the problems on the offensive line aren’t simply because of Simeon Rottier. There has to be consequences!

The Edmonton Eskimos rookie general manager, who earlier in the week publicly stood up and ripped his team for its ineptitude, clearly faces some key decisions going forward. If his unprecedented public evaluation/rip job of his team was designed to create some immediate, positive change it backfired.

Friday night at home at Commonwealth Stadium, the Eskimos lost 22-12 to the Calgary Stampeders, who won the back-to-back games in the Battle of Alberta Labour Day series. The Eskimos are 1-9, currently with the worst record in the Canadian Football League. The woeful Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who have played one game less, are idol until tomorrow. The Bombers play the league-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders, so the Eskimos’ current dubious record for infamy will almost certainly be matched sometime on Sunday.

The Eskimos’ loss against Calgary featured several low points:

*It extended the Eskimos’ losing streak to eight games, the most since 1971.

*Quarterback Mike Reilly was sacked seven times, and this time benched guard Simeon Rottier, whom Hervey singled out for his poor play, was not to blame.

*Recently-signed kicker Hugh O’Neill missed two easy field-goal attempts, and this aspect of the team has already contributed to one loss this year and two last year, both in the Labour Day series.

*Running back John White dropped an easy pass inside the 10-yard line that should have produced a touchdown but resulted in only a field goal.

*Receiver Cary Koch bobbled a punt return early in the game and Calgary scored on the ensuing series.

*Koch was injured on the play and did not return to the lineup, effectively costing the Eskimos d dual-purpose player. That forced Edmonton to use receiver Adarius Bowman for more than the original game plan because he was returning to the lineup for the first time after missing nine games with an injury. Bowman played well.

*League-leading receiver Fred Stamps was limited to only two catches for 41 yards. That amounted to only four catches for 81 yards in the last two games.

When you factor in the two missed field goals and dropped pass that would have resulted in a touchdown, it is eight points. These were egregious misses that happen to a freefalling team.

Hervey was promoted from the role of head scout after last season, which saw general manager Eric Tillman fired before the one playoff game the Eskimos played and lost. The timing of the dismissal seemed odd and showed a team that was clearly dysfunctional. The Eskimos had a revolving door of quarterbacks, the offensive co-ordinator had been relieved of his role when the team started to slide and the duties handed over to Reed, who never had any experience in that area.

This season has been equally complexing, going back to the off-season when the Eskimos were guilty of violating some rules such as conducting a secret training camp in Florida and announcing the signing of Saskatchewan free-agent rush end Odell Willis a mere four minutes after free-agent began. It clearly showed signs of tampering and the CFL fined the Eskimos.

Aside from restructuring the team’s salary-cap issues, Hervey made a major move acquiring Reilly from B.C. before free agency began. Nichols has been solid in his first season. He was supposed to battle incumbent Matt Nichols for the starting quarterback job, but that plan ended when Nichols suffered a season-ending knee injury in a pre-season game.

Early in the season, Hervey extended the contract of Reed, whose deal was expiring. Hervey did not indicate the length of the extension, only that it provided stability. Reed has come under extreme scrutiny this season – actually it’s a continuation of what happened last year when the team finished last in the West with a 7-11 record.

Earlier this season when talking to the media after a loss in which his team took numerous undisciplined penalties, an exasperated Reed uttered the expression “there has to be consequences” several times. It created a Youtube sensation.

Reed’s shelf life appears to have reached its limit – although he has not made any excuses – but Hervey said the head coach will continue through the rest of the season.

The Eskimos’ next two games are back-to-back against the Bombers. From the Labour Day Series, the Eskimos will play the Toilet Bowl Series for two teams who have basically flushed away their seasons. The Bombers’ struggles cost the jobs of the team’s chief executive officer, general manager and offensive co-ordinator. The Bombers have started three different quarterbacks. It has been nothing short of a mess, not unlike what happened in Edmonton last year. Now the Eskimos seem to doing it all over again. Hervey criticized the team’s offensive co-ordinator in his rant and indicated that role will change with Reed taking a greater role. It was evident Friday night in a series near the goal line in which Reilly was not replaced.

Eskimos’ chief executive officer Len Rhodes came under criticism for firing Tillman before the start of the playoffs without clearly explaining why. When he hired Hervey, Rhodes praised him effusively.

Hervey, a longtime, respected player with the team, talked of restoring the so-called Eskimo Way which speaks of tradition, culture, success and, most of all, winning. It has not worked out that way so far.

So now it’s back to Mr. Ed.

He reversed his fortunes in week 10 sweeping all four games after going winless the week before.

To quote the immortal philosopher Nuke LaLush, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes it rains.”

He thought the spread that had Calgary favoured by eight over Edmonton was far too generous. It looked good for anyone playing the Stamps, until the fourth quarter when the Eskimos made a game off it and rallied from 30 points behind after three quarter to score 27 points. That was wild.

The favourites won only one of four games, that being Saskatchewan covering the 14-point spread. It was close for awhile, but the hapless Winnipeg Blue Bombers simply came undone in the second half.

This week features the second half of back-to-back games. Will the favourites falter again? They won with a ridiculous amount in the first half of the schedule, which is what happens when some of the teams are so dominant. The second half may prove to be different because of injuries to key players, notably the starting quarterbacks in Toronto and Montreal, which may give Hamilton a chance to make hay.

Calgary (7-2) against Edmonton (1-8)

Friday, 9:00 p.m. Commonwealth Stadium

Why Calgary can win: Look, the Stamps are in a different class level than the Eskimos. But they have to be concerned about the fourth-quarter collapse on Monday. They also are playing a team that has just been read the riot act and reportedly the offensive playcalling will be changed with head coach Kavis Reed getting involved. Does this sound like last year all over again? Bo Levi Mitchell is expected to start and he’s done well in that role before, but there is always the possibility he could throw a clunker. For evidence consider Zach Collaros. Running back Jon Cornish had an average game in his first game back after missing a start. I would expect he will be fed the ball early and often. The Stamps almost fumbled away the game last Monday. They don’t do too well as the favourite in the return second half of the Labour Day rematch in Edmonton.

Why Edmonton can win: Why Edmonton can win: The Eskimos have been close all season but simply take too long to get in gear. Rookie general manager Ed Hervey boldly stepped forward and did an inventory, chewing out offensive lineman Simeon Rottier so clearly protection is a huge issue or changing the schemes to allow QB Mike Reilly more time to throw the ball. How about using Calvin McCarty as a tight end or added blocker? The guy is so underrated. Throwing the ball to Fred Stamps with some quick hitches will help. Adarius Bowman comes back and he’ll bring size to the slot position and maybe some pass protection. This is a wakeup call for the Eskimos, who are almost as dysfunctional as Winnipeg.

The spread: Calgary -3.5

The pick is: Edmonton and the points.

B.C. (6-3) at Hamilton (4-5)

Saturday, 4:00 p.m. Alumni Stadium in Guelph

Why B.C. can win: Lions’ quarterback Travis Lulay should have confidence following last Friday’s win. He seemed dialed in, playing his best game in some time. If he duplicates that effort, he is among the best in the league. The problem is B.C. has been weak on the road. The running game has been ground to a halt of late and Hamilton is strong against the run.

Why Hamilton can win: Losing by three points to B.C. at B.C. Place is hardly a disgrace because the Lions are tough at home. It ended a three-game win streak against the dregs of the league, so the Ticats have to prove they can beat a team with a .500 or better record. Quarterback Henry Burris is lighting up the passing game and is getting more healthy bodies back to throw to. The run game keeps getting better. The front four is coming together, which has allowed the defence to play with more pressure. Lulay didn’t have a problem with it last week. As I noted last week, the Ticats made a solid run after a tough loss in B.C. in the third game of last season. They should show the same signs of making a positive move again.

The spread: Hamilton -1

The pick is: Hamilton to cover.

Toronto (5-4) at Montreal (4-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. Molson Stadium

Why Toronto can win: The Argos were physically beaten up by the Als last Saturday in Toronto. This was a case of one team dominating the other. Without sidelined quarterback Ricky Ray and with Chad Owens hurting and possibly missing this game, the Argos are vulnerable. They have no run game, so that will allow Montreal to go heavy after Collaros, who has come down to earth. The Argos were able to beat Montreal earlier this season, but with Ray in the lineup.

Why Montreal can win: The Als’ defence is playing better in the last two games than in recent years. Linebacker Chip Cox is the top defensive player in the league. The Als may have discovered a new quarterback in Tanner Marsh, who did well in his first start, stepping up in the pocket and making plays, notably big ones. The Als have developed a run game to provide balance and the Argos are weak against the rush.

The spread: Montreal -2.5.

The pick is: Als to cover (best bet of the week).

Saskatchewan (8-1) at Winnipeg (1-8)

Sunday, 4:00 p.m. Investors Group Field< Why Saskatchewan can win: Simply the best in the league and playing at a top level. They were slow in getting started last week then blew it open. Now they go into Winnipeg for the Banjo Bowl. The crowd will be bonkers, including some from Saskatchewan. There’s little reason to think they will lose, it’s just whether they cover the spread.

Why Winnipeg can win: They were beaten 52-0 last year against the Riders in the first half of this series, but made a game of it in the return in Winnipeg. They have yet to win at home and I don’t think that will change, but it’s the Banjo Bowl and the place will be jacked. Maybe, just maybe, the offence will do something to give the defence a break and keep it close. This is the Lefko longshot pick of the season.

The spread: Saskatchewan -8.5

The pick is: Bombers and the points.

Record last week: 4-0

Record this season: 17-17-1.