In one game a pair of players made outstanding cases to be considered for the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Player Award, while two others may have dropped out of contention.
Montreal's Anthony Calvillo has been the pro tempore leader in this category -- in both divisions -- all season. His absence for one full game and half of another may explain why the Montreal Alouettes showed signs off a chink in its armour. But with his return from a wonky ankle, Calvillo stated the obvious: As he goes, so goes the Als.
He completed almost 75 per cent of his passes in the Als' 48-13 rout over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Out West, where there is no single player who is as dominant as Calvillo is in the East, Calgary's Joffrey Reynolds certainly made a great case for himself in the Stamps' 28-26 win over the B.C. Lions. He proved pivotal on the final drive and totaled 102 yards on 14 carries in the game. He is leading the league in rushing yardage and has been solid in the stretch drive.
In the Stamps-Lions game, Jeremaine Copeland, who had been Calgary's top offensive player for most of the season, extended his streak to five games without a touchdown catch and has gone seven games without totaling 100 receiving yards in a game. In his last two games, he has totaled only six catches for 71 yards. In his last three games, he has only 12 catches for 142 yards.
Meanwhile, in Saskatchewan's stunning 24-6 loss to Hamilton, quarterback Darian Durant had his worst game of the season, fumbling twice and throwing one interception before he was mercifully pulled. Prior to that game I would have selected Durant as the Roughriders' MOP candidate. It will be interesting to see who the Regina chapter of the Football Reporters of Canada selects.
The finalists will be announced this week.
MOUNT KELLY ERUPTS AGAIN: After blowing up on Winnipeg play-by-play radio announcer Bob Irving over questions dealing with the team's focus, Bombers' coach Mike Kelly issued a lengthy apology through the team's media relations staff. Kelly said considerably more in the apology than he did after bailing on Irving after only two questions. Kelly had been quiet in recent weeks, letting his team do the talking on the field, but you have to wonder now about his temperament heading into the team's pivotal game this week at home against Hamilton? If the Bombers' lose, will there be cries for his firing among the media and fans?
MIGHTY CASEY AGAIN: The B.C. Lions have an interesting dilemma: Keep Casey Printers as the starting quarterback heading into the final - and most important - game of the season or go back to Buck Pierce, who began the season as the starter?
The oft-injured Pierce is back and healthy; logic would suggest Lions general manager/head coach Wally Buono will return to Pierce. This is what Buono has done throughout his career. Buono has always surrounded himself with multiple quarterbacks and is a big reason why he is the winningest head coach in CFL history. Buono doesn't believe a quarterback should lose his job through injury. Go back to what he did in 2004, when he replaced Printers as the starter in the Grey Cup despite winning the MOP Award during the regular season, choosing Dave Dickenson, who had returned from an injury (Buono) also had concerns about Printers' physical health).
Is there a quarterback in the CFL with better mobility and escapability? Moreover, does anyone throw a more technically perfect ball? Clearly, he has responded to the coaching in B.C.
HOT AND COLD: It took 17 games, but the wait was worth it purely from an entertainment point of view to see Calgary's Nik Lewis score his first touchdown of the season. Watching him react as if he was surprised that he scored a touchdown and then running wildly to Calgary's sideline was way too funny.
SPEAKING OF FUNNY: Loved the celebrations of kicker Sandro DeAngelis after he kicked the game-winning field goal twice against B.C. He pretends to be rocking a baby to silence the crowd after the first kick, only to have to do kick again because of a procedure call, then puts a finger to his mouth after the second kick to really quite the disappointed B.C. fans.
... THEN THERE'S ARLAND: Give Hamilton's Arland Bruce credit, he celebrated his touchdown by wearing a Barack Obama mask in his team's dugout. Absolutely no way the league can fine him for that.
QUARTERBACKS TAKE A POUNDING: Best hits of the week came courtesy of defensive players on quarterbacks: Printers took a real wallop from Calgary's Brandon Browne, but regained his feet. Toronto's Stephen Reaves got cranked by Edmonton's Maurice Lloyd after an interception and had to leave the game with an injury. Lastly, B.C.'s Aaron Hunt rocked Henry Burris.
BEST ANGRY FIT: Stamps head coach John Hufnagel blowing up on the sideline. No one does it better than Hufnagel.
BEST REPLACEMENT PLAYER: Edmonton kicker Derek Schiavone, subbing for Noel Prefontaine.
BEST HALFTIME SHOW: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' version of Thriller, choreographed by Lesley Stewart, starring as Ola Ray, and the team mascot playing the role of Michael Jackson.
BEST STORY LINE FOR THIS WEEK: Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn returning to Winnipeg, where he was cut by the current management after five seasons with the Blue Bombers.
