Just off the VR list!

Back in the huddle we are, having just completed a two week stint on the V R (Vacation Relief List)

Interesting to note that while we were incommunicado with our computer the BC Lions put together a wonderful little winning streak. The Lions can be found rocketing up to the top of the CFL West. The Hamilton Tiger cats on the other hand after much promise early on, began the free fall to the basement that everyone predicted at the start of the season.

The Alouettes continued to make Don Matthews the most despised yet most successful coach in the CFL, while the Edmonton Eskimos until their game with Winnipeg Thursday night, appeared to be back on the winning track.

Speaking of Winnipeg, the long anticipated public execution of Dave Ritchie finally took place and judging by the comments of Bomber place kicker Troy Westwood, it couldn’t have happened too soon! Such is the fates of the what have you done for us lately crowd.

The Argonauts have been bringing back the crowds to the Skydome and making their owners very very happy, averaging very close to 25,000 butts in 25,000 seats per game; one wonders if they really want a new downtown stadium with only 25,000 seats now? If they keep reigniting their relationship with Toronto Sports fans, the Skydome may actually be filled once again. It’s going to be hard to convince the accountants that 25,000 tickets will be better than 40 or 50 thousand. Once again it’s proof that if you put a product worth watching on the field, the crowds will come out (of course you also need your co-tenant in the form of the Blue Jays to drop off the radar in Toronto!)

The Ottawa Renegades continue to play pretty decent football even with a second stringer at the controls. But it wouldn’t be the CFL without whispers of financial troubles, rumours that the ownership group in Ottawa have been quick to dismiss.

Saskatchewan can’t seem to make up its mind if it is going to make a charge this year or slip back into disappointment. And over in Calgary they’re pretty excited about Mr. Jones with his efforts in last weeks win over Winnipeg, the game that sealed the fate for the unfortunate Mr. Ritchie. Matt Dunigan having fired his offensive co-coordinator suddenly found out that his team actually had an offence.

With the always popular Labour Day wars only a few weeks away, the CFL as always has been giving us some pretty entertaining football. Injuries are starting to make their presence felt, the teams that have coped well with the setbacks seem to be the one’s well placed to make the run for Earl Grey’s mug.

The Lions without Dave Dickenson have been the most impressive as Casey Printers stepped up to move the Lions attack. Saskatchewan has stumbled since Nealon Green was injured and the Ti-Cats fate has seemed to suffer with every Danny Mac concussion. The Renegades miss Kerry Joseph but continue to keep in the hunt. How will Edmonton fare with Jason Maas on the sidelines? We're at the stage of the season where one player goes out and the entire playoff picture could change.

The big question now will be the status of Damon Allen, the 41 year old Argo QB was knocked out of Thursday’s game with the Als, by the end of the third quarter he was seen on the sidelines on crutches with a leg wrapped in ice. The three most feared letters in the CFL were being bounced around the TSN panel, ACL, the term that can have head coaches reach for the Gaviscon quicker than the Gatorade. With an MRI scheduled in Toronto on Friday, the Argos will hold their breath and hope for a sliver of good news. Though if Pinball Clemon's face was any indication, things are not looking too good for the Argo QB.

Allen has suffered major injuries before and bounced back quickly, one wonders if his 41 year old body has one more miracle in it. If not the Quarterback of the future Michael Bishop, becomes the Quarterback of the present. But expect the Argos to be quick to the phone (hello Marcus Crandell!!) should Allen’s season be finished. With the return of the fans to Skydome the Argos will want to keep interest high, look for a name QB to be in double blue if Allen can’t return to the lineup.

Lots to keep track of and we’re rested and ready to go here at the Twelve. Put us in coach, we’re ready to play!