Tag: Grey Cup

Montreal Alouettes win Grey Cup on late touchdown pass

The Montreal Alouettes won the Grey Cup over Winnipeg

The Grey Cup was a thriller on Sunday in Hamilton and the Montreal Alouettes came away with their first CFL championship since 2010.

The Alouettes toppled the favored Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 28-24, when Cody Fajardo found Tyson Philpot with a 19-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds left.

The Alouettes, who ended their season with eight straight wins, went 83 yards on their championship-winning march.

Fajardo was named the Grey Cup MVP. He threw for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns while completing 21 of 26 passes.

Per the Montreal Gazette:

A team that was without an owner until March and saw numerous free agents depart because of the franchise’s uncertainty, won its last eight games following a narrow mid-September defeat to Toronto. In the process, the Alouettes beat the best team in the East Division — the Argonauts in last weekend’s division final on the road — then stunned the Bombers, first in the West Division with a 14-4 record.

Those were Montreal’s only two victories against teams with winning records.

 

Doug Nussmeier officially named Chargers’ quarterbacks coach

Doug Nussmeier brings over 20 years of coaching experience into his new role as the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach.

The Chargers made several changes to their coaching staff on Monday, naming their new defensive coordinator, defensive quality control coach, and linebackers coach among other moves. But the only swap on the offensive side of the ball was Doug Nussmeier being tapped as the team’s next quarterbacks coach.

Nussmeier, a former NFL quarterback, was a fourth-round selection by the New Orleans Saints in the 1994 draft class. However, he found most of his success as a professional football player in Canada, where he was a Grey Cup champion with the BC Lions in 2000.

He has held various roles on coaching staffs in Canada, in the college ranks in the United States, and in the NFL since his playing days ended. Initially a quarterbacks coach for the BC Lions and Ottowa Renegades in the CFL in 2001 and 2002, Nussmeier eventually found his way to Michigan State in the same role in 2003 before landing his first gig as an NFL head coach with the St. Louis Rams in 2006.

Over the years, Nussmeier has held a variety of positions ranging from offensive coordinator to tight ends coach, and with his new position in Los Angeles should be primed to lend his exceptional experience to help bolster the Chargers’ offense in 2023.

Under his direction, quarterback Justin Herbert seems primed to take a step forward next season, and if the cards fall their way, Nussmeier could prove to be a key piece in Los Angeles’ quest to secure their first playoff win since 2018.

Chad Kelly, Toronto thwart Winnipeg’s bid for Grey Cup hat trick

The Toronto Argonauts are Grey Cup champions, dethroning the Blue Bombers

Grey Cup 109 had a bit of everything on Sunday.

And a name from a troubled time in college football and stint in the NFL winds up a hero.

Chad Kelly came off the bench for Toronto and led an Argonauts comeback that wound up in a 24-23 victory over Winnipeg.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson was injured and Kelly rallied the Argos, who denied the Bombers a third straight Grey Cup.

The Argonauts trailed 23-14 in the fourth quarter after a 102-yard punt return by Janorian Grant of Winnipeg.

However, Toronto scored the final 10 points.

Kelly was 4-of-6 passing for 43 yards and directed the team to the scores when it counted. He also had a 20-yard run.

The nephew of Buffalo Bills great Jim Kelly has a championship under the most unlikely of circumstances.

As time wound down in the tense contest, each team had a field goal blocked and Toronto managed to hold off Winnipeg.

 

Janarion Grant of Winnipeg with 102-yard punt return in Grey Cup

Janarion Grant with a 102-yard punt return for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup

Marcus Jones of the New England Patriots had a dramatic 84-yard punt return for a TD In the NFL on Sunday.

Janarion Grant of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers went him 16 yards better in the fourth quarter of the Grey Cup against the  Toronto Argonauts.

Toronto led 17-14 when it punted to Grant, who already had a total of 3 returns for TDs in 2022.

He picked up the ball and took off for the end zone, reaching it 102 yards later.

Grant had a short stint with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. He played college ball at Rutgers

Winnipeg missed the PAT and led 23-14.

The Bombers were looking for a Grey Cup hat trick, having won in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former Patriots, CFL offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais joins Saints practice squad

The Saints practice squad added another new face: former Patriots guard Drew Desjarlais, a CFL All-Star with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

There’s the final member of the New Orleans Saints practice squad. After initially filling 15 of the 16 vacancies on their reserve list, the Saints brought in Drew Desjarlais to round out the group. Desjarlais, 25, started all 27 games he played in college at Windsor (in Ontario), though he split his time at both left and right guard. He’s continued to do that in the NFL — the New England Patriots signed him this summer and tried him out at both spots throughout their preseason games, though it remains to be seen where the Saints want him to focus.

But before he made the move to the NFL, Desjarlais won back-to-back Grey Cup championships with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021 (the Canadian league suspended play for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic), earning all-star recognition as a guard with 37 pro starts north of the border, predominately at left guard.

We’ll have to wait and see if any practice squad players are let go, but for now Desjarlais rounds out a group that includes fellow interior linemen Josh Andrews and Nick Martin, who were two of the more-experienced centers available following Tuesday’s final wave of NFL roster cuts. Having all three of them in the building provides a lot of depth behind Erik McCoy, Andrus Peat, Cesar Ruiz, Calvin Throckmorton, and Tanner Owen on the 53-man roster.

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Winnipeg downs Hamilton in OT to repeat as Grey Cup champs

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are once again Grey Cup champions

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have won back-to-back Grey Cups.

They rallied and defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the second straight CFL championship, 33-25, in overtime Sunday. This was Grey Cup 108.

Zach Collaros found Darvin Adams in the end zone in overtime, which is called a “mini-game.” He then connected with Rasheed Bailey for the two-point conversion.

Winnipeg picked off Jeremiah Masoli of Hamilton to end the game. Kyrie Wilson made the interception on a second-down play.

This was the fourth time the Grey Cup went to overtime. Winnipeg became the first team to go back-to-back since Montreal in 2009-10.

The overtime “mini-game” saw each team start a drive from the opponent’s 35-yard line. If a team scored, it had to go for a two-point conversion.

The CFL season in 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19.

The Bombers beat the Ti-Cats in the 2019 Grey Cup, too.

Winnipeg trailed 22-10 in the fourth quarter but had a huge wind in its favor and went on a 15-0 run. to take the lead.

Sergio Castillo kicked a 45-yard field goal with 1:52 left and added another point when the wind-aided kickoff could not be returned.

Masoli, who came on for an injured Dane Evans, led the Ti-Cats on a desperate drive into the wind.

They moved 70 yards before being stopped at the Winnipeg 5 and settling for a field goal that tied the game and forced overtime.

CFL postpones start of 2020 season until at least September

The Canadian Football League has decided to postpone the start of its 2020 regular season until at least September due to the pandemic.

The Canadian Football League, whose season normally kicks off in June, has decided to postpone the start until at least this September due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The CFL issued a statement on Wednesday, which reads in part:

“It now appears the earliest the CFL might return to play – for a shortened but meaningful season – is this September.

Of course, a final decision on whether that will indeed happen will depend on what governments tell us is safe for our players and fans.

But barring some huge development, like a vaccine for COVID-19, it now seems clear we can rule out playing games this summer. There are several reasons, including the continuing restrictions on assemblies, travel and border crossings. Notably, several provinces and municipalities have already decided to prohibit until September 1st, all sporting events featuring large gatherings.”

The NFL has not yet made any similar declarations, and in fact, some team facilities began to slowly open this week. With the start of the 2020 regular season still months away, the league has some time before any major decisions have to be made.

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CFL postpones season until September due to COVID-19 pandemic

The CFL will not play summer football, announcing its regular season will be delayed until September … at the earliest

One football league was knocked out by the COVID-19 pandemic, the XFL. Now, the CFL has decided it will wait until September — at the earliest — to try and play its regular season.

The CFL typically starts its season in June and it runs until the Grey Cup, which is played in late November.

“We have learned three things about running a league in a pandemic. Certainty is hard to come by. Scenarios are plentiful. And public safety is paramount.

So, while we keep our focus on safety, we want to keep our fans informed as the number of possible scenarios narrows and decisions are made.

It now appears the earliest the CFL might return to play – for a shortened but meaningful season – is this September.

Of course, a final decision on whether that will indeed happen will depend on what governments tell us is safe for our players and fans.

But barring some huge development, like a vaccine for COVID-19, it now seems clear we can rule out playing games this summer. There are several reasons, including the continuing restrictions on assemblies, travel and border crossings. Notably, several provinces and municipalities have already decided to prohibit until September 1st, all sporting events featuring large gatherings.

https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1263184679416496128

The league also addressed what will happen to its championship game, the fabled Grey Cup.

It has become increasingly clear we will not be able to host a traditional Grey Cup and Grey Cup Festival, certainly not with the size and scope that has become customary.

With that in mind, and in agreement with the Roughriders, we have made the decision to change our Grey Cup plan. The Saskatchewan Roughriders have been awarded the 2022 Grey Cup. And if we return to play this year, the host of the 2020 Grey Cup Game will be determined by a “win and host’ model. The team that qualifies for the Grey Cup and has a superior regular-season record to its’ opponent will host the Grey Cup Game. This gives all nine CFL teams a shot at hosting the Grey Cup in this unprecedented year. We are also considering moving the Grey Cup into December, as we explore every option that will allow us to play as many games as possible in 2020.

The plan for the Grey Cup in 2021 remains unchanged: the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will host for the first time in 25 years.

CFL Futures Betting: Odds, picks and best bets to win the 2020 Grey Cup

Analyzing the CFL futures betting odds, with picks, tips and best bets to win the 2020 Grey Cup.

The 2020 Grey Cup futures odds are one of the last refuges for sports bettors with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe and forcing the cancellation or postponement of nearly all major sporting events. Below, we turn our attention north of the border to the Canadian Football League, and look at the CFL odds and best bets to win the 2020 Grey Cup Nov. 22, in Regina, Saskatchewan.

2020 Grey Cup Betting Odds

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated Friday at 1 p.m. ET.

TEAM 2020 GREY CUP ODDS LAST GREY CUP WIN
Hamilton Tiger-Cats +340 1999
Saskatchewan Roughriders +500 2013
Winnipeg Blue Bombers +550 2019
Calgary Stampeders +550 2018
Edmonton Eskimos +600 2015
BC Lions +650 2011
Montreal Alouettes +800 2010
Toronto Argonauts +800 2017
Ottawa Redblacks +1300 2016

The Tiger-Cats will enter the 2020 season — scheduled to kick off in early June — as the odds-on favorites to win the 2020 Grey Cup after finishing as the runner-ups to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last November in Calgary. The 2020 host Roughriders come in second at +500 odds. They finished the 2019 season atop the West Division, but they lost 20-13 on home field to the Blue Bombers in the West Final.

Only one team will enter the 2020 season with odds greater than 10-1, with that being the Redblacks following their last-place 2019 campaign. The 2016 Grey Cup champs played in three of the previous four championship games before going just 3-15 last season.

Place a legal sports bet on the 2020 Grey Cup winner at BetMGM.

2020 Grey Cup Betting Picks

Blue Bombers (+550)

The reigning champs will enter the 2020 season with just the third-best odds to win the 108th Grey Cup following their miracle 2019 season. QB Zach Collaros will remain as the starter under center, with Matt Nichols joining the Argonauts and Chris Streveler moving on to the NFL.

RB Andrew Harris, the CFL’s rushing leader in 2019, returns to lead the backfield once again.

New to sports betting? A $10 futures bet on the Blue Bombers to win the 2020 Grey Cup will return a profit of $55.

Eskimos (+600)

The Eskimos snuck into the playoffs in 2019 and made it to the East Final as the crossover team before losing to the Tiger-Cats. QB Trevor Harris ranked second in the CFL with 4,027 passing yards while throwing 16 touchdowns against six interceptions. He has plenty of Grey Cup experience with the Redblacks.

RB CJ Gable remains a free agent, but Shaquille Cooper and Alex Taylor will be able to fill the void. Harris ran for a team-high six touchdowns in 2019. The defense shared the league lead with 56 sacks last season, and they allowed a league-low 222.9 yards per game.

Redblacks (+1300)

Ottawa was the laughing stock of the CFL last season, going just 1-8 on home field, 2-7 on the road and 1-7 against the East Division. They scored a league-low 312 points and allowed a league-high 564 points in 18 games. The QB position was addressed this offseason with the addition of Nick Arbuckle. Dominique Davis will revert to a backup role.

The Ti-Cats remain the juggernauts in the East Division, but the door is fairly open behind them. The Argos added former Bombers QB Matt Nichols, but they remain thin at both running back and receiver. The Alouettes lost RB William Stanback to the NFL and will struggle to replace his contributions.

The value here can’t be ignored in a nine-team league where anything can happen.

Want some action the 2020 Grey Cup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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