The most important thing to come out of CFL Week... Well for me anyway...

Lord knows I tried to get her in Rider green, but she wasn’t having it. She came down the hallway in a black and blue dress, black leggings, a pink and purple puffy vest, “cowgirl” boots, and carrying her purse.

“Daddy I have to look pretty for our date, and you need to look handsome.”

I peeled off my Rider jersey and dug through my closet for clothes that would be suitable for a date with a headstrong 5-year-old. It was our “Daddy-versary” and the Thursday of CFL Week so we made a compromise, we would go see Warren Moon for me, then we would go to Menchies for her.

We weren’t even at the CFL Week venue when she was already asking if it was time for Menchies, so I resigned myself to the fact that this was going to be a short visit to CFL Week.

We then walked to the Main Stage where Mike Reilly, Anthony Calvillo, and Warren Moon had a large crowd hanging off every word. She asked who they were and I tried to explain who each player was and what they meant to the game. Then she just listened, which can be pretty hard for a 5-year-old sometimes.

After we got out of the way of the autograph seekers, we went display to display, booth to booth, and she completely forgot about the pending DIY frozen yoghurt. She would have done the mini drills they had set up all night if I would have let her. After I finally reminded her of dessert (Hey I like FroYo too) and we started heading out, she spotted the Grey Cup and asked if we could get a closer look.

When we get close to the cup a volunteer asks if she could take our picture, I pull out my phone and we get a picture of us. She grabbed the handle which was a no-no but she’s cute so we got away with it. If I would have grabbed the handle, we probably would have set off alarms everywhere.

The picture with the cup probably would have been the highlight of her night, if we didn’t run into Gainer the Gopher on the way out and got a big high five.

As we ate our frozen yoghurt she looks at me.

“Daddy, can we go to CFL Week on our next daddy-daughter date?”

I explained we couldn't but if it ever came back to Regina we would definitely go again.

"Oh... Can I play football like those girls were then?"

Want to guess who is signed up for flag football this spring?

There have been many things written about the first CFL Week abut the economic benefits, the player accessibility and getting the CFL to the forefront in March.

For myself, I met current players, CFL Legends, CFL reporters I respect, people I interact with about the league on twitter. But for me the first CFL week will always boil down to a little girl in a black and blue dress, high-stepping through tires in her cowgirl boots...  and you can’t put an economic assessment on that.

3 Things: Als release Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford… Or… "Oh Duron, You've Killed Kenny!"

Today the CFL world was shocked to discover that the Montreal Alouettes released “problem” receivers/prized off season signings, Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford. Both players announced on twitter that they were released which then was confirmed by the team. It was no secret that both players were butting heads with on again/off again starting Quarterback Rakeem Cato which made for a less than peaceful locker room.

So what 3 things can we learn from this fussin' and a feudin'.

1) Chapdelaine probably isn’t going anywhere, but Noel Thorpe most certainly is.

The Alouettes might as well removed the interim tag off Jacques Chapdelaine’s “Interim Head Coach” title, as it was widely reported that he spearheaded the move to remove the players. If Chapdelaine isn’t going to be with the Alouettes next year, why are Popp and Wettenhall allowing him to call the shots on roster moves?

Also both players were on deals that ended at the end of the season. So it wouldn’t be hard for Popp and Wettenhall to tell everyone to suck it up for the remaining three games and decide everyone’s fate then. But if they are looking at keep Chapdelaine in some fashion then the receivers, talented or not, had to go.

This situation is probably going to speed up another divorce between the Alouettes and Noel Thorpe. Poor Thorpe, he just wants to be Head Coach and can’t buy a break in Montreal. Thorpe already tried having his contract nulled last off season so he could get a fresh start elsewhere and it was blocked by the league. Can’t imagine he would want to stay after being passed over again.

2) Contracts after the trade deadline should be guaranteed.

It was also reported that despite Stafford having four years in the CFL, he doesn’t have enough games in to be considered a four-year veteran so his contract wasn’t guaranteed. Combine that with the fact that they were released after the trade deadline, while they can sign with a team, they are not allowed to play for that team till the 2017 season. So no team can pick up either player for a playoff run, essentially ending their seasons today. 

Make no mistake these two were probably released mainly on their attitudes and actions, but money was probably also a factor.  Alouettes beat reporter Herb Zurkowsky was reporting this week that he was hearing rumblings that the Als were on pace to be 300,000 over the salary cap. Which is entering the “losing multiple draft picks and big money fine” territory.

According to Looniecap.com, Carter’s 2016 contract was for $260,000, while Stafford’s was a much more affordable $52,000. If you average that out over the three remaining games, the Alouettes end up saving $52,000. It’s like Popp got Stafford’s 218 yards and 2 touchdowns for free.

While neither player was a great teammate it isn't a good look that a team can wait to drop a player after the trade deadline to keep him from earning an income despite not being on their roster. The CFLPA should probably look at closing this loop hole at the next CBA, even if can get a short signing window after the release happens. 

3) Talent doesn’t mean anything unless you are a pro.

Vince Lombardi said “Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” Unfortunately, for Carter and Stafford they missed this lesson and are now paying the hard price for it.

Carter’s antics were nothing new to the Alouettes, they had similar issues with him in 2014 when a team meeting almost came to blows because Carter supposedly disrespected a teammate. According to then Head Coach, Tom Higgins, there was actually a vote to decide whether or not they could go on with Carter on the roster. Then follow that up with his and Stafford’s run in’s with Cato at practise and the constant stories of locker room turmoil coming from Montreal it is painfully obvious that Carter is a “me” guy (or is it “moi” guy in Montreal) and not a real teammate.

I’m sure both Carter and Stafford will sit out the rest of the season and they will probably both check to see if there is any NFL interest.  If there isn’t any NFL interest I am sure there will be a CFL team or two kicking the tires on either one because they are definitely great athletes. 

But great athletes don't make great teammates... Just ask Duron Carter's old community college Quarterback.