Hidden Dragon

A few random notes from the end of the CFL week:

• Somewhat surprisingly, Eric Crouch got to take a meaningful snap in a CFL game when he was forced into the game following the injury to Spergon Wynn.

I'm partial to Crouch enjoying some level of success in the CFL. After all, Crouch is Big Red. Nebraska Heisman. The guy who did this, and this and then punked this guy.

He did himself well in his first action since 2001 and let's be real here, can the Argos be any worse off with Crouch in at QB than Wynn? Wynn has been entirely ineffective and has been way too slow in decision making and even if he is good to go next week, I'm not so sure he's necessarily the right choice. In fact, I know he isn't. When in doubt, never gloss over the Nebraska guy to get to someone who went to Southwest Texas State.

• So let's get this straight: Last week, CBC studio analyst Sean Millington steps up and speaks out on the CFL refereeing. CFL head ref — and resident "nothing is wrong" guy — George Black lashes back at Millington. Result? The CBC broadcast team practically falls over itself trying desperately not to say anything that could be deemed inflammatory during the Toronto-Saskatchewan game. In fact, colour man Darren Flutie set the all-time record for "the refs made a good call on that one" proclamations, shattering the previously untouchable mark shared by Glen Suitor and Leif Petterson. Pathetic.

Look, we know the CFL never wants anything negative to come out in public and we're well aware that Black will never, ever, EVER admit when his crews mess up, but openly capitulating on national television with all the backbone of a snitch whose getting squeezed by the Don was embarassing to watch.

Two instances. First, Millington's assertion during the halftime that the league needs to crack down on helmet-to-helmet hits. As Millington was in mid rant, Greg Frers butted in and said something akin to "hey this is a tough league and it's unfortunate when a guy gets hurt, but let's talk about Toronto's defence..."

Astonishing. Millington might as well have been castrated on sight or just had his mic cut by production control. It would have been less obvious.

Have a look at what led to Millington's speech:

Any question that this is a helmet-to-helmet hit? I'm not sure what's worse: The fact there was an official right there who didn't make the call (I guess his helmet shooting off his head wasn't enough of an indication) or the fact that no one on the CBC crew deemed it necessary to call it as it was. Sure, they dabbled in it, but the severity of that hit deserved more than a once-over.

For years broadcasters have shied away from lambasting poor officiating in this league, as if the hidden agreement between the league and networks is "we're trying to promote the league, don't call us out."

It's astonishing to me that someone can't step up and call the CFL officials what they are: At best, a 50-50 crap shoot. At worst, a gathering of low-paid full-time 9 to 5ers who are lucky to get the calls right.

• Tough on Ricky Williams. Have to get my sister in on this one to prognosticate the length of time out of action from a fractured forearm. I didn't want to see Ricky go out like that.

• How is Danny Barrett still employed? Ask Roy Shivers who insists on hanging with DB regardless of results: See sub-.500 record in eight seasons and nary a Grey Cup appearance in the mix. Shiv won't make a move to fire his boy even though the writing is on the wall that this organization is better off without the both of them.

• One last note on the officials, just because I want to: Kerry Joseph's touchdown in the second quarter was an example of why I was moderately against the league going to instant replay.

Despite the replay showing Joseph's foot touching out of bounds, they still awarded him the touchdown, just going to show that the only thing more infuriating than watching a CFL ref blow a call, is watching a CFL ref blow a call after he's had 90 seconds of replay time to watch it over and over.

Oh, and add this to my conspiracy theory list. The video review is being used to further the CFL's agenda that the refs get a large part of the calls right. The league has been quick to trumpet the percentages of calls that have been overturned vs. calls that have stayed as originally ruled on the field (largely in favour of the latter). You don't think it's in the best interest of the league to use this as their marketing tool?

"Look, you can't argue the refs are bad now, the stats show the rulings on the field are standing."

Please. The Internet doesn't provide me with enough space to adequately argue that.

• Tell me again, what is there to like about the Montreal Alouettes? Their coach is a puke, they have the dirtiest and most overrated player in the league (Ed Philion), the most obscenely atrocious uniforms in the league, their constantly being lauded for their sellout streak even though the place only seats 20 grand and their fans need those obnoxious thundersticks to generate noise. I don't believe I've ever hated a team like this.

I can think of only one thing good...

They once had a guy who went to Nebraska.

Go Big Red.