Quarterbacks have returned to the forefront and a few questions from around the CFL.
Make what you will of the Canadian Football League and the sudden shift to a running game, but in the final week of the regular season the storyline reverted back to the quarterbacks.
In Winnipeg, Kevin Glenn returned to the city that essentially booed and booted him out of town and led the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a road victory and their first home playoff game in eight years. Conversely, Michael Bishop, who was equally good and bad as the Bombers' starter when signed in mid-season, sputtered badly.
In Saskatchewan, Darian Durant shook off a terrible game the week before in Hamilton and helped the Roughriders beat the Calgary Stampeders to clinch the West Division title for the first time in 33 years. He completed 66 percent of his passes, had two touchdowns and no interceptions. His counterpart, Henry Burris, completed 60 percent of his passes and had no touchdowns and one interception.
In B.C., the Lions played the second half with their third-stringer and fifth on the depth chart after the starting two quarterbacks are injured and are walloped 45-13 by Edmonton. Eskimos' starter, Ricky Ray, who has struggled all season with his consistency, throws a touchdown and an interception.
And in Toronto, Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who is a lock to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award for the second straight year, doesn't play one down, nor does the Argos' Kerry Joseph - albeit for two completely different reasons. Calvillo had the game to give his backup some playing time should the Als need to go that route for whatever reason in the East Final and beyond. Joseph is not allowed to play because the team wants to give Stephen Reaves a good look. Reaves, who didn't dress for most of the games this season because the Argos only employed two quarterbacks, completes only slightly more than 50 percent of his passes and tosses four interceptions. Surely Joseph didn't deserve that.
LET THE QUESTIONS BEGIN: (1) Who will B.C. employ at quarterback when they cross over to the East and play Hamilton on Sunday? Casey Printers has a bum thumb. Buck Pierce has a wonky shoulder. Travis Lulay and Jarious Jackson didn't dress because of injuries in the last game. Only Zac Champion, No. 5 on the depth chart, is actually physically healthy. (2) Will Mike Kelly continue as the head coach in Winnipeg after the Bombers lost a chance to play a home game and knocked themselves right out of the playoffs? (3) Will Bishop be brought back and given a whole off-season to prepare for training camp? (4) Will Bart Andrus continue as head coach of the Argos after a 3-15 year? If he doesn't, who replaces him? (5) Will Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon continue as the Argos' owners for a seventh season next year or will the persistent rumours of their exit because of business reasons result in a change at the top? (6) What will become of the Argos' quarterbacking situation?
BEST TOUCHDOWN CELEBRATION: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' defence jumping into the boat at the back of the end zone on two successive interceptions that resulted in majors. Surely, Arland Bruce would be proud.
BEST SIGN: "That's what I'm talking about Willis" in reference to Bombers' defensive lineman Odell Willis and, for you historians, the show Good Times.
BEST NICKNAME: Hamilton's new punter, Jeremy Ito, who is known as Judge.
THE WHITLOCK FACTOR: He started off poorly with some costly fumbles in his first game and dropped passes, but Arkee Whitlock totaled 395 rushing yards in the team's last four games. With 20 carries for 165 yards in his last game, Whitlock really carried the load. He is easily the CFL's rookie of the year.
QUOTE UNQUOTE: "I think I've got a blender in my stomach is the best way to describe it." - Kelly commenting on the Bombers' post-game radio show how he feels after the team's dramatic loss.
"You guys don't need me to tell you what's the problem right now." - Bombers' veteran Canadian defensive lineman Doug Brown responding on the same show what's wrong with the team.
