The Saskatchewan Roughriders dropped another close game while the Calgary Stampeders won another close one. Such is life in the early goings of the wide-open, highly discussable 2015 CFL season.
In this week’s roundtable, featuring members of Sportsnet.ca’s CFL panel on three hot-button issues, we discuss the resurgent Travis Lulay of the 2-1 BC Lions as well as player fines for Week 3 incidents.
1. Is Travis Lulay back to his pre-injury form?
Donnovan Bennett: Physically he looks all there, but he doesn’t seem as comfortable in the pocket. That’s more to do with learning Jeff Tedford’s new offence after years in Jacques Chapdelaine’s system than it is overcoming his injury history.
Justin Dunk: Lulay’s right shoulder seems to be fully healed as he’s been throwing the football to all areas of the field. And it appears that he’s not even worried about taking a hit—no happy feet in the pocket. BC’s red-headed quarterback is back to burning defences with his arm and legs, a sign the Lions’ franchise pivot just might be ascending to his 2011 CFL MOP level.
2. What impact will Michael Copeland becoming CEO and president of the Toronto Argos in 2016 have?
Bennett: Not sure how the other member clubs will appreciate having someone with intel on league business operating the league’s oldest franchise. Copeland has a financial background and figuring out how the Argos can be fiscally solvent in a market with competition for corporate sponsorship and disposable entertainment dollars will be his biggest challenge.
Dunk: It could be a sizeable one—if the Argos give him the proper means (and dollars) to put ideas into action. Copeland is a bright CFL executive who worked quietly and diligently behind the scenes at the league office while Mark Cohon was commissioner. That said, Toronto is far from a CFL-crazed town and making the Argos matter in the biggest market in Canada will be one of his toughest tasks.
3. Your reaction to the five players being fined by the league after Week 3 incidents was _____?
Bennett: Incomplete. A good start but suspensions can truly act as a deterrent only if you know how much the fine is. The league’s policy of not announcing suspension amounts seems archaic in a day and age when fans and media are looking for talking points to discuss.
Dunk: Somewhat surprised. In a normal week one or two players get fined, so five is a lot—especially in a nine-team league. Good on the CFL for trying to clean up its game.