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Riders continue to share the wealth on offense

Riders continue to share the wealth on offense

CTV Newsa day ago
Regina Watch
Three different Saskatchewan Roughrider receivers caught a touchdown pass from Trevor Harris Saturday.
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TSN's Luke Willson rips CFL 'rats' for attempting to silence him, then removes post
TSN's Luke Willson rips CFL 'rats' for attempting to silence him, then removes post

The Province

time8 hours ago

  • The Province

TSN's Luke Willson rips CFL 'rats' for attempting to silence him, then removes post

TSN's CFL analyst Luke Willson on the sidelines before a game between the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Hamilton Stadium on June 27, 2025 in Hamilton. Photo by John E. Sokolowski / Getty Images When he was a Super Bowl-winning tight end with the Seattle Seahawks, Luke Willson never shied away from taking a big hit. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors As a prominent football analyst getting better with each set of downs, it seems, the Canadian isn't shy about the cheap shots coming his way for his work on TSN's CFL coverage. Even when they come with ridiculous consequences from those attempting to silence him. In fact, Willson is going on the offensive for those pushing back at his criticisms of the CFL, the type of commentary never before heard so pointedly and vocally on the network. 'I believe that the board of governors have rats within (the CFL), both on air and behind the scenes,' Willson said in a post on X on Saturday that quickly sizzled on the social media site among the league's observers. 'They want me gone. I am like a roach. Tough to kill.' While Willson didn't elaborate on those who would like to see him muted, the pushback has been strong, even if much of it is from league apologists. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And then, within hours on Saturday, it became real. It didn't take long for what appeared to be the enemy within to emerge, as by mid-Saturday afternoon Willson's post from X had been removed. The popular broadcaster posted a gif of a person getting his wrist slapped with a caption 'oops.' In a reply to that post, Willson acknowledged that he had been asked to delete his criticisms. It's all just silliness, really, and if, in fact, TSN made Willson remove his opinion, it's a terrible (if unsurprising) bit of censorship of a dude who has brought considerable attention — good and bad — to both the CFL and his network's coverage this season. And depending on how it all went down, it showed how deeply TSN and the CFL are in bed together. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The fact is that the LaSalle, Ont. native has been a fresh voice on the CFL shows, building on the terrific insight he brings to TSN's NFL coverage. The criticism has been predictable in that many of Willson's more vocal opposition centres on a belief that he has an NFL bias. Of course, those accusations just make Willson laugh. As they should as well to anyone who has listened to his full body of work on CFL coverage this season. What initially prompted Willson's latest social media tirade was news on Friday that both the Toronto Argos will be playing a significant portion of their 'home' schedule on the road in 2026 to make room for the World Cup that will see games played at BMO Field. 'The MLSE stuff with the schedule yesterday really put things into perspective for me,' Willson wrote. 'That bothers me to no end. Why would you not play the games in Ontario? (I would vote London.) Instead, it's screw the fans, screw the brand, make the quick buck, let's go to Regina, Winnipeg and your arch-rivals stadium. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'As I reflected on that, I need to realize that the CFL doesn't give one single damn about growing the game. It's evident in almost everything they do.' Willson echoed those comments in a Friday appearance on TSN Radio's Overdrive program. 'Under no circumstance am I surprised the World Cup is bumping anything,' Willson said. 'There are so many options that would be really cool.' Given the long and cozy rights partnership that the CFL has had with TSN, it's not a stretch to call Willson's comments explosive. And not that he's worried. Quite the opposite, in fact. In the past, Willson has been critical of some of the play in the league and attendance issues, particularly in Toronto and Edmonton. In his now deleted Saturday post, Willson inferred that fans in those cities are starting to get fed up. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'You now have a league that has minimal time in the facilities, a coaches salary cap, and extreme cheap labour,' Willson wrote on the now-removed post. 'It's the front office's dream. When they can achieve this, they don't really need in-person fans. They just need the TV deal. 'Many markets are starting to realize this, Edmonton, Toronto, I've been told Calgary as well (haven't been there.) The people are simply done supporting such grotesque behaviour towards them.' How this plays out will be fascinating given the abhorrence of rights-holders to have their personalities speak out about the property in such an unvarnished way.

World Cup means Toronto Argonauts will call Mosaic Stadium ‘home' for 1 game in 2026
World Cup means Toronto Argonauts will call Mosaic Stadium ‘home' for 1 game in 2026

CTV News

time12 hours ago

  • CTV News

World Cup means Toronto Argonauts will call Mosaic Stadium ‘home' for 1 game in 2026

Mosaic Stadium ahead of its grand opening in June of 2017. As Toronto prepares to welcome the 2026 FIFA World Cup to BMO Field, the usual home of the Toronto Argonauts – the CFL club will be playing a series of 'home' games across the country – including one at Mosaic Stadium. Although the CFL schedule for next season has not yet been released – the Argonauts announced Friday they'll play technical home games in Regina, Hamilton and Winnipeg in the first half of the 2026 season. 'These regular season 'home' games will be spread across the team's temporary homes until the FIFA World Cup concludes and BMO Field is retrofitted back to CFL standards,' a press release from the Argos said. The back half of the season will be weighted back to having more games in Toronto to help balance out the unusual circumstances. The CFL's full 2026 schedule will be released over the offseason. 'We are grateful for the support of the Canadian Football League and all Argos fans as the schedule is adjusted to accommodate the tournament and know that this exciting moment will be one that we can all be very proud of,' Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Vice President Chris Shewfelt said in a release. It's anticipated the B.C. Lions will need to make similar adjustments next season, with Vancouver's B.C. Place also slated to host World Cup games. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in Canada, the United States and Mexico from June 11 to July 26, 2026 with BMO Field hosting six games from June 12 to July 2. Further ticketing information will be released at a later date. The Argos announcement comes the same day the Riders confirmed a preseason game will be played in Saskatoon next year.

Jaxson Dart's strong preseason hasn't forced the Giants to get ahead of themselves
Jaxson Dart's strong preseason hasn't forced the Giants to get ahead of themselves

Globe and Mail

time14 hours ago

  • Globe and Mail

Jaxson Dart's strong preseason hasn't forced the Giants to get ahead of themselves

One play into the New York Giants' fourth possession of their second preseason game, Brian Daboll called in Jaxson Dart without warning. 'Serious?' Dart asked, before making a throw that turned into a 30-yard gain and jogging back to the sideline, with Russell Wilson returning. It was all about putting the rookie quarterback in a situation he could face sooner or later in the NFL. 'You don't know what's going to happen,' Daboll said. 'Just be ready to go when your number's called.' Dart passed that test and has made a strong first impression as a pro since the Giants traded back into the first round to draft him as their potential QB of the future. Completing 13 consecutive passes and 14 of 16 total on Saturday night against the Jets should give the organization and its fans plenty of optimism about what is to come, but it has not changed the plan for Wilson to start and Dart to wait in the wings. 'Russ is our starter, and we're going to keep developing Jaxson,' Daboll said. 'We have a plan. ... We just have to keep working with him and understand there's going to be a lot of downs. I know there's some ups right now, but there's going to be a lot of downs and we just got to keep growing and communicating, just keep getting better.' Daboll, who is going into his fourth season coaching the Giants after getting the gig in part because of his work in Buffalo to develop Josh Allen on the path to becoming league MVP, insists there's a roadmap being followed. He is not exactly forthright about what it looks like. In exhibition game No. 2, it included not just one snap but an entire drive for Dart with the first-team offence. Why? 'Because that was part of the plan,' Daboll deadpanned. Whatever the plan is, and whenever Dart gets his first NFL start, the 22-year-old Mississippi product seems to be on board. 'They've done it with so many other quarterbacks. I trust them in the process,' Dart said. 'I have great guys around me, great coaches who have won and done it at the highest level, so I just look forward to learning each and every day.' Wilson echoed the other side, saying he's willing to keep teaching Dart what he has stockpiled from playing more than a decade in the league, including winning the Super Bowl at what is now their home stadium in the Meadowlands. 'I'm never shy about giving information and talking about it,' Wilson, now 36, said after his own impressive preseason game that included an 80-yard pass play to undrafted free agent Beaux Collins. 'I think (Dart has) done a tremendous job. He definitely has worked at it every day. He works at it every day, and he asks the right questions. That's what I enjoy about him.' Daboll appears to enjoy working with Dart, clearly along with general manager Joe Schoen and college scouts seeing enough that they liked to give up assets to use the 25th pick on the 6-foot-2 righty signal-caller. His stance continues to be that the Giants are trying to 'help Jaxson be the best quarterback he can be,' without many details on what that entails. Part of it is tempering expectations. Barring injury, Wilson will lead New York's offence onto the field for the season opener Sept. 7 at Washington and keep that role for some time. The Giants are trying to exercise patience with Dart and play the long game. 'We spent a lot of time with him, have a lot of confidence in the young man,' Daboll said. 'He's done a good job for us since he's been here in every area you could do — off the field, on the field, leadership, moxie, intelligence — but it's early. We've played a couple preseason games against probably some vanilla looks but he's making strides every day and that's all you can ask of any other young player.'

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