Your First Grey Cup Highlight: A Punter Gets Lit Up

((HT: ESPN/TSN))

It's the 102nd Grey Cup in front of a not-sold out BC Place with Hamilton and Calgary.

This happened on a punt return with Stampeders punter Rob Maver trying to stop Hamilton Tiger-Cats kick returner Brandon Banks

Now, It's The CFL's Turn For Concussion Lawsuits

((HT: NextSportStar/Tysiak))

And it's coming from star receiver Arland Bruce...

He claims that he was allowed to play in the Western Conference Final in 2012 with symptoms and after continuous hits
((HT: CFL on TSN))


Bruce is suing CFL commissioner Mark Cohon, CFL Alumni Association executive director Leo Ezerins and every single CFL franchise for clearing him to play (sidebar: every team seems a bit of a stretch).

Bruce claims that he was knocked out after a hard tackle in a BC Lions-Saskatchewan Roughriders earlier in the season.

But his lawsuit focuses on the WCF:

“On November 18, 2012, the plaintiff was permitted to return to play in the CFL West Division Final against the Calgary Stampeders despite still suffering from the effects of concussion,”

“On November 18, 2012, the plaintiff, during the course of the CFL West Division Final, sustained multiple sub-concussion and concussive hits while playing the position of wide receiver. Further, despite the fact that the plaintiff was displaying the ongoing effects of concussion to medical professionals and coaching staff, he was permitted to return to play in the 2013 CFL season for the Montreal Alouettes.”

The Concussion Blog's Terry Ott has a copy of the claim hyah and says Bruce is alleging “Fraudulent Concealment” and “Negligent Misrepresentation” on all the named parties above.

The Scratching Post Blog has this video in their stacks of Commissioner Cohon addressing the concussion issue in his league


This looks far from over...

Because It's a Slow Morning: Chad Johnson Scores 1st CFL TD

Okay, yeah, we know...why would anyone care about a former NFL big mouth banished to the Canadian Football League.

Well, because it's the artist formerly known as "Ochocinco".

Chad Johnson, ex-Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots WR and purveyor of wacky and crazy touchdown dances, got to revisit his past glory Friday night.

Johnson, now playing for the Montreal Alouettes after sitting out of football last season, caught his 1st Canadian TD pass when his Alouettes played the Winnipeg Blue-Bombers.

The 46-yard catch was Johnson's only catch of the day and the Blue-Bombers ended up winning the game 34-33.

Here's your video and celebration. For Chad, yes, it was pretty tame...

Ocho-Cinco Now Quatre-Vingt-Cinq- Makes Als Debut

((HT: TSN/ESPN))

It was the debut where a certain receiver said it was like losing his virginity all over again...

And, for Chad Johnson, it was all about getting his timing down with the Montreal Alouettes QB Troy Smith. Since it's the beginning of the CFL exhibition season, the HQ is going to give the man a little slack.

He was rusty, and the Als were rusty as a group. They were taking on the newest franchise, the Ottawa Redblacks, in an exhibition game- and, to be honest, the HQ can't remember when the Als thought the pre-season actually meant something in terms of wins and losses.

Ottawa won... good for them...



Click here for a post-game 1-on-1 interview with Chad Johnson

Calvillo Retires After 20 Years

((HT: Sportsnet))

The most prolific passer in the history of the world retired today...

Montreal Alouettes QB Anthony Calvillo went from Las Vegas to Hamilton to Montreal and passed for almost 80,000 yards before his second concussion in a year led to him sitting out most of the 2013 season and, eventually, this day in Canadian football...

He won three Grey Cup titles with the Als and presents one of the largest questions in the history of the league...

What now for Montreal...???

And THAT is a huge question for them and the league as they move forward...

Bobcat and Brunt discuss his legacy... which is a big one...
He's a couple of credits short for his degree at Utah State, so he's going to pursue that. Afterwards, he'll take an internship with the Alouettes and look into coaching the team in some capacity...

OSG CFL: Fantastic Finish In Montreal

((HT: CFL on TSN))

It's been a long year for the Alouettes...

A lot of injuries- including a neck injury to legendary QB Anthony Calvillo that has kept him out and given the likes of Josh Neiswander and Arkansas Tech's Tanner Marsh- with Troy Smith waiting in the wings...

The Als were 2-5 heading into a game against the BC Lions and it took this kind of ending to get a win at home...


The only thing missing was this intro...

Coach Hawk Gone After 5 Games In Montreal

It ain't Division I, brother...

According to Arash Madani at Sportsnet, the Dan Hawkins era is over after only five games into the 2013 CFL season...

Hawkins ties a record for a rookie #CFL head coach getting fired so quick. Tom Dimitroff also lasted 5 games in 1978 (1-3-1) w/ the #Ticats.

Owner Bob Wetenhall asked GM Jim Popp to step in- for the fourth time in his Montreal career as interim coach.

"Jim is the person most responsible for the success we have had over all these years," Wetenhall said in a statement. "I feel confident that he is the best person to coach our team at this time and I am very appreciative of him being willing to make this additional contribution to our franchise.

"He has the respect of our players as well as mine."

Here's Week 5's headache for the Als as they played Edmonton
((HT: CFL on TSN))


All was rosy when he was hired...
Evidence below...
((HT: Montreal Alouettes))


But now, expect the offensive coaching staff to be reorganized since the offense under hall of famer Anthony Calvillo has been very un-Calvillo-like...

FOSG John Lu of TSN caught up with Popp:

Popp on Hawkins' vision for team: "I recommended (to Hawkins) early on, don't change too much. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Guessing he tried to fix it...

Dan Hawkins Is The New Head Chef In Montreal

((HT: FoxSports))

The Montreal Alouettes have named Dan Hawkins their new head coach- replacing Marc Trestman, who is now coach for the Chicago Bears. All Trestman did was take the Als to back-to-back Grey Cup titles in 2009 and '10 and was named the CFL's coach of the year in '09.

Hawkins last coaching gig was at Colorado where he flamed out gloriously- going 19-39 after going 53-11 at Boise...

The Als announced it this way on their website:

Le propriétaire des Alouettes de Montréal Bob Wetenhall ainsi que le directeur général Jim Popp ont annoncé mardi que Dan Hawkins est devenu le 20e entraîneur-chef de l’histoire de la concession.

Or, in English from the team their own selves...

“During our selection process we have had extensive interviews with many fine candidates with an emphasis on candidates from Quebec, the rest of Canada and both the professional and college coaching ranks in the US,” continued the Alouettes owner (Bob Wetenhall).

"At the end of this process, it became clear to us that Dan was the best candidate at this time in the Alouettes history. We are looking ahead to his continuing the tradition of the Alouettes' success. Dan very well understands my three goals for the franchise, to institutionalize the Alouettes in Montreal, to make meaningful contributions to the community we serve and to win football games."

Here's our reminder for Hawkins about the C-NFL...


You have been warned...
So, meet Coach Hawk...
((HT: MontrealAlouettes))

Toronto Mayor Locks His Ankles Promoting Grey Cup

((HT: Sportsnet.ca))

At the worst of moments...

Rob Ford is trying to promote the centennial Grey cup Celebration...
So, of course, whaddya do...??? Ham it up behind center...

But, not like this...

Hey, it's an Argos home game for him...
Couldn't be better...