Rob Vanstone laments the incessant criticism of Cody Fajardo, who is vilified for throwing a game-winning TD pass on Saturday.
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Robberies…
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• The dissection of Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo has continued to a degree that is both saddening and grossly unfair. On Saturday, for example, Fajardo executed a game-winning touchdown drive against host Edmonton Elks in the fourth quarter. The chorus after the game? The traditional Fajardo bashing on phone shows, social media etc. He should have been applauded for shaking off some errors – while somehow surviving the Roughriders’ matador pass protection – and delivering at a crucial point. Instead, there has been an emphasis on its actual or perceived shortcomings. The game was won, but all perspective was lost.
• As a reminder, with 4:13 left, Fajardo found Duke Williams for a 24-yard score that gave the Roughriders a 28-23 lead. Saskatchewan added an insurance touchdown when Fajardo, who was playing with braces to protect an injured left knee, ran for his second goal of the night. How about praising Fajardo for a brave, resilient performance that propelled his team to a 34-23 win and a three-game losing streak? Surely the biggest fans in the world can rally behind their quarterback en masse instead of chronically criticizing him — especially after an ambush win.
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• Free, unsolicited advice for Roughriders offensive coordinator Jason Maas: Liven up the two-headed running attack with Jamal Morrow and Frankie Hickson.
• And no more quarterbacks on second-and-20, please.
• Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day has come under criticism, and rightly so, for failing to improve an offensive line in the off-season. At the same time, O’Day should be commended for putting together one of the best linebacking corps in franchise history. Darnell Sankey, Larry Dean and Derrick Moncrief are consistent differentiators.
• In another brilliant move, on July 3, O’Day acquired Mario Alford from the Montreal Alouettes for the low, low price of a sixth-round draft pick in 2023. Alford revived a previously dormant second game.
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• Notable Alfords in Roughriders history: Al Ford, Mario Alford, Jay Alford.
• Kudos to the Roughriders for starting their 2023 season ticket campaign much earlier than would have been the case had not the provincial government made an unfortunate decision to add the PST to the seating cost for all major live events, (in)valid from October 1st. Anyone who purchases or renews a Roughriders season ticket on or before September 30th will not be charged PST.
• Numeric Nugget: Roughriders receiver Kyran Moore has changed his uniform number from 85 to 4. “Moore in Four” was a famous quote from Muhammad Ali, who wrote this message on a blackboard before a fight with Archie Moore in 1962. In fact, Ali – then known as Cassius Clay – knocked out 47-year-old Moore in round 4.
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• The number four also applies to Moore, as he received just four under-1,000 yards in 2019.
• More numbers: The BC Lions, who will visit Mosaic Stadium on Friday, lead the league in completions for 40 or more yards (10, over eight games). Not only that, the Lions have only allowed one such degree.
• 60+ yard shots allowed: Saskatchewan 5; Edmonton 3; Ottawa Redblacks 2; Toronto Argonauts 1; Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1.
• Watching Connor Bedard score NHL goals for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships whets the appetite for the 2022-23 WHL season. Any opportunity to see him play for the Regina Pats as a 17-year-old should be seized and savored. By the time he’s 18, he’ll be in the NHL and people will be paying over hundreds of dollars for the privilege of seeing the most cheery rookie since Connor McDavid.
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• 2023 Stanley Cup winners Winnipeg Jets wisely hired Sara Orlesky as senior presenter/producer. A big win for the Jets is a loss for TSN and CFL fans, who have long admired Sara for her excellence as a reporter on the side. Nobody asks better questions. They are invariably concise, perfectly articulated, and pertinent. There’s none of the “talk about…” nonsense that’s so ubiquitous in the sports media. And talk about an exceptionally nice person! This is Sara Orlesky.
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Sara Orlesky (of course), Lisa LaFlamme, Herman Hulshof, Ken Miller, Maureen Miller, Dr. Tom Robinson, Dr. Mark Anderson, Pete Paczko, Weston Dressler, Jeff Fairholm, Rhett Dawson, Red Dawson, Pauline Relkey, Margaret Hryniuk, Clint Uhrich, Curtis Kleisinger, Blake Tiedeman, Jennifer Buchko, Jill Stroeder and my wife who is celebrating her birthday – Chryssoula Filippakopoulos. May the next 59 years spoil you (and me!).
The sports world is constantly changing, and so are the times. Supplement your regular sports coverage by subscribing to Regina Leader posts 306 sports fix Newsletter. Each week, Sports Editor Rob Vanstone will provide additional commentary on the Roughriders, Pats and other teams/sports of interest, along with a behind-the-scenes look. Click here to login.