The Argos aren't dead, but they're mostly dead.
Maybe Theory of a Deadman, the headline band for the Grey Cup halftime show, can offer a theory on what has happened to the Argos this year.
With three games to go, the Argos are still mathematically alive, but they'd have to win out and Winnipeg would have to lose its last three.
As one clever person on a website noted the Argos aren't dead, they're mostly dead - a line which comes from the great movie The Princess Bride.
As an aside, don't know if either the Sam Roberts Band or Arcade Fire were available, but either one would have been ideal for the Grey Cup given that they're from Montreal, where the game will be played.
One site suggested Anne Murray, given that the CFL wanted to go Canadian.
I seem to remember Annie singing at the Grey Cup during the Trudeau years. As Canadian as she is, the fans the CFL are targeting are more of the Avril Lavigne generation. Then again, Avril sold out, but I digress.
THE JESSE FACTOR: Running back Jesse Lumsden finally returned to the Ticats lineup after missing several games with a wonky shoulder, but one play against the Montreal Alouettes may have indicated his future in Hamilton. On a third-and-one play, Lumsden stood on the sidelines after sitting out the second down and appeared anxious and keen to go back on the field for a straight run up the gut. But interim head coach/offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefeuille opted to keep Lumsden on the sideline and had quarter Quinton Porter line up in a shotgun formation with reserve running back John Williams beside him.
Porter faked a handoff to Williams and did a bootleg and easily moved the chains.
These are the types of play in which Lumsden excelled, using his size and power to run over the opposition.
Apparently not anymore.
Lumsden has indicated he doesn't want to talk about free agency until after the season. Don't ignore all that speculation about Lumsden testing the free agency market. He is a feature back when he's healthy and there doesn't appear to be enough room in the backfield next season with Lumsden and the recently-signed Kenton Keith.
PERRY'S POWER RANKINGS:
(1) Calgary. Totally dominated Saskatchewan and unlike game the week before against the Roughriders the Stamps avoided giving the game away with turnovers. (2) Edmonton. On a bit of a roll. How quarterback Ricky Ray avoided some sure sacks with some unbelievable throws against B.C. is mindboggling. When Ray is on his game, he's tough to beat. (3) Montreal. Used the embarrassing loss against Hamilton to come back the following week and put the boots to the Ticats. (4) Saskatchewan. Just too inconsistent. Held on to beat the Stamps last week with a solid job by quarterback Michael Bishop, then came undone in the rematch with three picks by Bishop, a dropped ball on a sure touchdown and too many mistakes on punt returns. (5) B.C. Completely overmatched at home by Edmonton with a variety of mistakes. Quarterback Buck Pierce had a game he'd like to forget, but he wasn't alone in his forgettable performance. (6) Winnipeg. Two wins over Toronto doesn't make the Blue Bombers a force, but a win is a win. The double-pronged running attack of Fred Reid and Joe Smith comes in handy when quarterback Kevin Glenn is struggling. (7) Toronto. Had the Bombers on the ropes, but couldn't put them away. The missed field goal was the turning point. (8) Hamilton. The clock struck midnight on Ticats' Cinderella week.
THIS AND THAT: For what it's worth, I thought B.C.'s Rob Murphy deserved a one-game suspension for pinning down Edmonton's Jason Goss. If that doesn't fall under the new category of player safety standards, I don't know what does. I've seen similar pin-jobs in the WWE by The Big Show…Great job by Calgary Stampeders' defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones to negate Michael Bishop's ability to make plays on the run. Jones' body of work this season has been impressive. He joined the team this year from Montreal, where he worked for several seasons and is a disciple of Don Matthews, and implemented a somewhat complex defence. Moreover, he started the season with 10 new starters from the defensive unit that finished last season…Now that the Tiger-Cats have officially been eliminated from qualifying for the playoffs, how many people will take advantage of the 25% discount on season tickets for next year? That was the premium the Ticats' business operations offered up, never fully expecting to have give out the discount because of the overwhelming feeling the team would qualify for post-season play…Unbelievable one-handed catch by Saskatchewan's Weston Dressler against Calgary, which will likely be used if the team sends out highlight packages to prop up the receiver for Rookie of the Year honours. He's legit…The Stamps have to be feeling good about their two first-year offensive linemen - Dmitri Tsoumpas and Jesse Newman - both of whom have done well as starters. These guys are the foundation for future success…Under the category of quality offensive linemen is Dan Goodspeed. He laid a licking on the Argos…Montreal's Anthony Calvillo and the Stamps' Henry Burris are the two best players in their respective conferences. But one thing to consider: Calvillo has racked up his yards in an infinitely weaker conference. That said, both players had to adapt to new coaches this year and new systems…That silence you heard was the Roughriders' fans inability to chant "Henry, Henry, Henry" on Thanksgiving in Calgary. The week before, the chant was heard as often as the cowbell in Tampa Bay because Burris left Regina several seasons ago for Calgary and immediately became public enemy number one. There should be a contest to see who makes more noise: Roughriders fans booing Burris or Hamilton fans booing Mike O'Shea.
