Before we get into the Esks news, here’s this morning’s CFL happenings wrapped up in 66 concise words.
The Argos and Rogers Centre announced this morning that they’ve signed a new, likely final lease to keep the team in its current home through the 2017 season. This news comes on the heels of David Braley, the owner of the Argos and the B.C. Lions, telling the Hamilton Spectator that he plans to sell both of his teams in the next three years, before he turns 75.
It’s a very chilly nine-degree morning in Winnipeg, which is making for a stream of unhappy/slightly bundled faces on Portage Avenue and Smith Street. The only happy people here this morning might be the running backs for the Bombers and the Eskimos. Whether that weather translates into a run-heavy game for Hugh Charles or Jamal Miles for Edmonton will be determined tonight, as Esks coach Kavis Reed said yesterday that Charles would start, but was ambiguous about what the workload would be for either player.
The worst news about this cold weather is that it might limit plays like the one we saw on Saturday in Edmonton from Winnipeg slotback Terrence Edwards.
If you didn’t see it, check out CFL.ca’s Top 10 plays of the week (it’s No. 4).
In the third quarter, Max Hall led the Bombers on a threatening drive into Edmonton’s red zone. Along the way, just about every pass he made on the five-play drive was threatened by the Eskimos’ secondary. Hall’s first pass was a 24-yard heave down the sideline to Edwards, who was challenged by Eskimos’ halfback Chris Thompson. The seven-year vet got in front of the play and had the ball between his hands.
Screen grabs via CFL.ca
“I saw the ball and I knew it was going to be short, so I just tried to time it enough to steal it from him in the air but it was shorter than I expected,” Edwards told me yesterday.
By all appearances, Thompson had the interception. He went up and grabbed the ball away from Edwards. In the pic below he clearly has him beat, with Edwards’ hands behind Thompson’s head. But Edwards kept fighting.
“We all know if Chris gets his hands on the ball it’s usually going to be an interception so I just tried to break up the play,” Edwards said.
In the time that it took for both players to hit the ground, Edwards did the impossible. He wrestled the ball away from Thompson and popped the ball loose. When the players rolled onto the turf, the play had gone from an interception to a completed pass and a big first down.
I told Edwards that I’d watched and rewound the PVR multiple times and didn’t know how he made that play.
“I don’t either,” he said.
Thompson wondered the same thing.
“I said, ‘How’d you make that catch?’ Thompson told me about the play after the Esks had arrived in Winnipeg. “He said he didn’t know.
“That was a first, it was an acrobatic catch. I thought I had it and it rolled out and he took it. Hats off to him. It rolled out of my hands into his arms. It was a crazy play. I hope that doesn’t happen again in my life.”
“It’s a mutual respect,” Edwards said, “because Chris has been in the league for a long time and he’s a great player. Being able to take a ball from him, if he usually gets his hands on the ball it’s usually an interception.
“It was a big play for my team and that’s what I’m paid to do, is make big plays and I’ve been doing it for my whole career.”
By the game’s end, Thompson wasn’t overly concerned with Edwards’ miracle play. Four plays later, Thompson picked Hall off in the end zone and ran the ball out 31 yards for his third interception of the season.
“It was a good play, but I got him back a few plays later, so it’s all good,” Thompson said.
