Pro Football Sportswriter and Analyst.
CFL News Hub and UFL News Hub Correspondent.
Primarily covering MTL Alouettes, BC Lions, and MI Panthers
Gal. 4:16
DE Arnold Mbembe was projected to be drafted last year but was not. He remains extremely positive and despite the disappointment he continues improving his game in arena ball. Since going undrafted he has also increased his weight while maintaining mobility.
#CFL
@Spatcho2
Center Daniel Shin is my sleeper pick in this year's CFL Draft. On tape, he plays mobile and has great instincts. I don't care that a center doesn't run a 40-yard dash well. We're drafting football players not combine players.
#78
center out of
@UABearsFootball
#CFL
#CFLDraft
Enjoyed speaking to ex-Ottawa Redblacks WR Siaosi Mariner about coming from the CFL to the UFL after not being resigned, his first game as a Michigan Panther, and Scoring his first points in the UFL. Prior to speaking to him, he was greeting fans. Story to come.
#UFL
#LetsHunt
@ukraineinaction
I used to watch this guy on youtube who would eat old MREs and talk about how it can last ridiculously long. He would eat MREs expired decades ago.
I am really surprised to see this though.
@UFLNewsHubcom
P Paxton Brooks made 7 punts averaging 45.1 yards per punt in week 2. 2 punts inside the 20. Did a good job recovering a low snap off a bounce and making a great punt.
@paxbrooks
#UFL
#DefendDC
Back home in Grand Rapids, MI. This Grey Cup was like a movie. Looking forward to going through the film for that. Congratulations to the
@MTLAlouettes
on a tremendous season and Grey Cup. Also congratulations to the
@Wpg_BlueBombers
for a great season as well.
#CFL
@Future020113SEC
Edmonton Elks GM Chris Jones encouraged playing indoor football to players if they didn't get a call following their tryout held in Detroit last year.
The
@MTLAlouettes
have won all 8 games in which
@DarnellSankey
has been listed as a starter. Now he is back for 2 more seasons. By my count he had 2 QB hurries, 3 run stops, and 3 assisted run stops in the playoffs in addition to his 22 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions.
#CFL
Chris Edwards is the guy who pretended to handshake Austin Mack before shoving him to the ground earlier in the season. At the end of this game, you see him throw Jake Harty to the ground and appear to strike him. Just disappointing to see.
#CFL
Massive signing. Will be interesting to see how BC utilizes Taquan Mizzell now who IMO was the most underrated running back last season. I believe BC's greatest weakness last season was its lack of commitment to the run game, rather than the run game itself.
#CFL
#BCLions
Funny moment speaking to
@Jantwi21
at the end of November regarding this moment during the Grey Cup parade. He has a reason to celebrate with his new contract today, but I suspect the chances of him doing this again in celebration will be unlikely.
#CFL
#Alouettes
My 1st ever parade! THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF MONTREAL FOR MAKING THIS MEMORABLE!
#GreyCup
#GR8
Mon 1er défilé ! MERCI À LA VILLE DE MONTRÉAL D'AVOIR RENDU CELA MÉMORABLE !
#GreyCup
#GR8
@TSNDaveNaylor
It's baffling that the Grey Cup rematch is not until this late in the season. Would have been a good year to have them play twice. Another miss was not having Montreal play Saskatchewan until week 10 which was after the Trevor Harris injury.
Covington was the top-ranked prospect in the 2015 CFL Draft and has spent the last 9 seasons in the NFL. He is the son of Grover Covington who is the all-time CFL sack leader. He is also from Vancouver and will now get to play for his hometown team.
#CFL
#BCLions
@1ReginaldS
is a versatile player who had much success at SAM linebacker and was also named to
@PFF
's CFL All-Star team listed at halfback as well as their selection for Rookie of the Year. Also played some CB in college. Plays smart with a lot of intensity.
#CFL
#Alouettes
#Skol
I happened to meet Strev in 2018 after a game in Winnipeg and thanked him for throwing the ball well. Since then I've jokingly taken credit for all of his success that I gave him the confidence he needed. Would be very cool to see him play for his hometown NFL team.
@_WOODSY_J
had 23 tackles in 2 playoff games. In the postseason by my count, he had 5 run stops, 2 run stop assists, and made 5 stops against completed passing plays. He has now worked out for 3 NFL teams.
@UFLNewsHubcom
#7
DE Pita Taumoepenu was one of the most impactful players at his position in week 2.
@PitaTaumoepenu
had 5 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFLs. Additionally had 3 QB hurries and 2 QB hits. Solo run stop in the 2nd quarter.
#UFL
#KaKaw
2 teams tied for first in the West both coming in with 11-4 records. Highest QBR vs highest passing yards. Mathieu Betts and Brady Oliveira are very strong candidates for Most Outstanding Canadian. The top 2 players in receiving yards facing each other.
#CFL
After Grey Cup I made a cutup of
@CodyFajardo17
's plays in the Grey Cup as a test film. It has a quote from him the day before when I got to bother him at the presser. Also the greatest montage song.
Yesterday I reached 300 articles with
@CFLNewsHub
.
#CFL
It always makes me happy when NFL teams take notice of great talent in the
#CFL
. Holm is a DB with good positioning and awareness with great closing speed. He is from just outside of Minneapolis so it would make a great story for him if he gets an offer.
#ForTheW
#Skol
@friesensunmedia
Great read! Loved the ending. I like how Winnipeg is the least popular place for 31 teams in the league but fully embraced when players are acquired by the Jets. Winnipeg is a bit of an acquired taste but a really cool city.
Thanks
@Channel24mike
for answering my questions for this
#CFL
/
#UFL
free agent profile. Michael Holland III is an extremely fast defensive back with a 40" vertical who overcame a broken leg in college.
He'll be playing in AFL this season if not offered a contract in CFL or UFL.
If Simoni Lawrence had not rushed to tag Keon Hatcher for the tackle with 1 second left we probably would see overtime in the
#BCLions
#TiCats
game. Great finish regardless but that seemed like a lapse in judgment there.
#CFL
Looking forward to this matchup. Back to back champs coming to Detroit.
I do have 4 tickets in the 14th row and 3 tickets in the 2nd row if anyone would like to attend let me know! Kickoff is tomorrow at noon.
#UFL
#LetsHunt
#GiddyUp
Just 2 yards short of the pro record. He made this kick twice as he was iced the first time. Both times down the middle with plenty of distance. I asked in the post-game if he changes how he lines up for kicks at this distance or the point of contact on the ball.
#UFL
#LetsHunt
@MTLAlouettes
week 6 game preview hosting
@TorontoArgos
on Friday. Players to watch and factors heading into the game. Ciante Evans returns from injury.
I am predicting the Alouettes to win this game by a very close score.
#CFL
#Alouettes
#Argonauts
I believe Montreal's defense can play at a high enough level to win. Ultimately I believe Winnipeg's pass rush to be the key factor in my prediction. Winnipeg had 9 sacks last week and Montreal allowed 7 in their game.
I am sticking to my prediction in June, MTL 17 WPG 24.
I am curious to see if this will be an opportunity for a bigger role for
@isaacberglund
. He has 13 sacks over the last 2 seasons while playing in a rotational role and getting 2 starts over that span. Was the third overall pick in 2020.
#Alouettes
@MTLAlouettes
Based on tendencies from last year the depth chart would likely look something like this if you were to insert him into a lineup if they hypothetically had a game tomorrow. A lot of good new players coming into training camp this offseason to look at of course.
#CFL
@CFL
@sskroughriders
@kyledawg60
@BCFootball
High risk high reward. He signed with the New Orleans Saints as a UDFA after NFL Draft. If he comes to the CFL this is a great pick. However, it would not surprise me if he remains in the NFL for many years to come.
@TSNDaveNaylor
There are a lot of football fans who aren't actual football fans but just fans of specific brands. A lot of closemindedness looking outside the realm of NFL and college.
The incredible
@Austin__Mack11
one-handed catch is one you've likely seen by now. You might not have noticed the presnap audible by
@CodyFajardo17
to move
@JakeHarty
to pass protection which made the play possible. That presnap adjustment was just excellent.
#CFL
@MTLAlouettes
@MochitoRochesan
@jerrythornton1
Yeah in the early 2000s they had NA vs World all star games. I remember being confused seeing it in the NHL video games as a kid.
I liked the draft model they had later. It was funny that a player could become an all-star and then be made to feel bad by being picked last.
Thankful that Reggie Stubblefield took the time for this interview and talked about the big playoff game. Always great to hear from a player and get their perspective on the preparations of a big game and what they think of their opponents.
Every NFC North team has now tried out CFL players. It is good to see these great players getting looks from NFL teams. The NFC North was one of 2 NFL divisions to not have any team finish with fewer than 7 wins. Smart teams showing interest in
#CFL
talent.
#Packers
@UFLNewsHubcom
RET Juwan Manigo returned 5 kickoffs averaging 27.6 yards per return. Had 3 returns that stood out to me in particular making a man miss or breaking a tackle.
@onee3_
#UFL
#FullThrottle
It's too early to say Montreal won the offseason but they are certainly winning it so far. They now have both Fajardo and Philpot locked in through 2025. Philpot averaged 63 yards per game over the last 6 games of regular season and caught the Grey Cup winning TD.
#CFL
#Alouettes
Worthy performed well last year but missed the end of the season due to injury. Both Chandler Worthy and James Letcher Jr. had a punt return touchdown last year making for what would have been an intriguing camp battle. It will be interesting to see where Worthy lands.
#CFL
Great game so far between Panthers and Battlehawks. 0-0 after 1 quarter. Michigan running backs have made a couple good blocks in pass protection.
@ByPatRifino
said Rose was a player to watch out for before the game and he got a pick early for St Louis.
#UFL
Darnell Sankey won an XFL Championship with the Arlington Renegades last year before joining the Montreal Alouettes. Montreal won all 8 of the games he started in.
This season Arlington has lost all 5 of their games since Sankey rejoined the CFL.
#CFL
#Alouettes
Per my sources, there were several promises from the AFL's leadership to teams that were not delivered. The amount of failed promises is simply ridiculous. A lot of teams and players are in a tough spot now as they were expecting a lot of support.
#AFL
#ArenaFootballLeague
I'm looking forward to seeing what he can generate in a new setting. His target share was on the lower side with Ottawa making it a bit cloudier to imagine what his ceiling looks like. I thought he played well with Ottawa last season.
#UFL
#LetsHunt
#RedBlacks
Great pickup by
#OnePride
. UBC had great play from both OTs last year. At times their QB liked to roll out of the pocket utilizing the wider field and the OTs would recognize this quickly and make good adjustments. 2nd Canadian heading to Detroit this offseason.
#CFL
#GoBirdsGo
Régis Cibasu is a reliable receiver with very good pass-protecting abilities. There was a play in week 21 in which he was drawn up to move to the backfield presnap and made a key block against a blitz giving Fajardo time to throw a touchdown pass.
#Alouettes
#CFL
@1ReginaldS
according to PFF this past season led the CFL in forced incompletion rate (27.5%), yards allowed/target (4.2), and QB rating when targeted (32.5). Over the 3 playoff games, Stubblefield contributed 23 tackles, a sack, and an interception.
Breaking down the 20 players brought into the Michigan Panthers from phase 1 of the
#UFL
dispersal draft. A lot to unpack in this write-up with a lot of high-level talent coming in.
My first UFL article. By no means is this an indication I am slowing down CFL content.
Left tackle out of Howard University measuring 6'8, 353 pounds. First Team All-MEAC in each of the last 2 seasons. Didn't start playing football until grade 9.
Dankwah was the 11th ranked
#CFL
Draft eligible prospect by CFL Central Scouting in their final rankings.
#FlyEaglesFly
@WestCoastSp0rt
@mikemcintyrewpg
Winnipeg used to be a market that felt it was entitled to having an NHL team and was thrilled to have one. Now it feels entitled to a cup-contending NHL team or is not interested. We're talking about a team that made the playoffs in 5 of the last 6 seasons.
A lot of good players among the 15 waived as the Michigan Panthers get down to 58 players.
Roster cut dates are always my least favorite on the calendar.
#UFL
#LetsHunt
@tibodebaillie
@PPIRecruits
My first player profile interview since joining
@CFLNewsHub
and was the high point since I joined. Great guy and was really fun to talk to. Very interesting that his parents met through football connections in Belgium. Nearly as romantic as my parents meeting on a dairy farm.
Last year I waited the entire USFL season to see
@EB3__
play for
#MichiganPanthers
but he was not given the opportunity. He won the Walter Payton Award in 2021 throwing for 5,055 yards for
@EWUFootball
. This is very exciting news for
@Wpg_BlueBombers
fans.
This is a massive extension. In my opinion, he was the most impactful interior defensive lineman over the calendar year. At 24 years of age, Johnson had the highest regular season PFF grade among interior defensive linemen in his first full CFL season.
#CFL
#Alouettes
I asked
@SLemonator
ahead of the Grey Cup about what it was like going through last season as teams were slow to sign him seeming to write him off based on his age and he had a great response.
This is a great signing for the
#Alouettes
.
#CFL
Congratulations
@Kurtis_rourke7
!
It's been a joy to watch him play for Ohio. I am excited to see what he can do in the Big 10. He'll have some big tests to show the scouts what he can do.
@IndianaFootball
has 3 games against teams currently ranked in the top 10 in 2024.
#IUFB
6'6 229-pound quarterback with very good athleticism. Had over 4,000 yards over the last 2 seasons with Augustana University. Was added late to the
#CFL
prospect pool qualifying for citizenship through his mother. Performed well at the CFL Combine.
#BoltUp
First and Second Team of the Week from week 1 of
#UFL
. In the comments are some clips of some of the players recognized in the article that I saved as I went through the film. That's something I started doing in CFL playoffs as I look for ways to improve how I provide coverage.
@seumasabheinn
@MrFlegger
@SamRamani2
Morally you have a good point. They are acting in their best interest here trying to prevent the war spreading to Europe this conflict is a lot closer than those others to them. I agree though I would have liked to see more action in those areas also.
Montreal has done well lately in 3 key areas that I had previously thought should be fine-tuned for playoffs: pass protection, committing to the run, and run defence. The Alouettes will need quicker progressions from Fajardo moving forward.
#CFL
#Alouettes
The purpose of this article is to spotlight players who stood out to me in their performance in week 2 of the UFL. I will post some compilations from some of the player's impactful plays in the comments of the original post.
#UFL
@CFLNewsHub
@SpiekerCole
had 3 receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. He scored a 32-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He also caught a 31-yard pass on 3rd and 5 on the game-winning drive keeping his team alive. Compilation of all 3 catches.
#Alouettes
#CFL
Trey Botts was with the Baltimore Ravens last NFL offseason and recorded a sack in the preseason. Most recently was in the UFL's training camp with San Antonio. Played for Colorado State-Pueblo.
#CFL
#Alouettes
Bienvenue au Canada
@Botts92
@UFLNewsHubcom
A few plays from one of the players I've enjoyed watching on the Panthers by cornerback Keith Gipson Jr. He's seen a lot of targets come his way so far this season. Like the way he covers and tackles. Player to keep an eye on over the season.
#UFL
#LetsHunt
@daddy_badger_
Really good news for
#Alouettes
fans.
@NajeeMurray11
only played in 6 games last season but was named to the PFF Team of the Week twice before his season was ended early due to injury.
Hot Take: Maybe players head-butting quarterbacks after the play who happen to be the back-to-back MOP and also have a history of concussions after the whistle should result in an ejection. Maybe head-butting after the whistle should be outlawed altogether.
#CFL
I am taking my time, being a bit more extensive in my film review article on the Grey Cup. Saving a lot of clips as well. Drives me crazy how TSN gives no respect to run defense and essentially never shows replays on run plays of 4 yards or less.
#CFL
Jevon Cottoy was a bulldozer last year finishing 5th in YAC. So many short passes maximized as 230 pounds of Canadian beef charged north downfield trucking defenders. Demonstrated an ability to make plays downfield on his way to an 807-yard, 4-touchdown season for
#BCLions
.
@Chadkelly_6
The only people like it is because we've always had it. It's an awful terrible no good rule. About as much sense as the NFL's kickoffs today but does not seem as much of a problem since it rarely happens. It's using the rules properly but not how football was meant to be played.
@AlouettesFLDeck
I think the most important thing for Montreal in this game is to get a running identity going. They have better pass protection as well when they are mixing in run plays.
@winnipegchris9
@ICdave
@IllegalCurve
GR is the best US city for a normal person to live in. I'm from Winnipeg originally and live in Grand Rapids now. Thiessen is my dad's mother's maiden name. This is a worlds collide type of tweet for me. If perogies were a staple in your diet then we are probably relatives.
@CFLNewsHub
Really good footwork on 2 of these tackles to get past a block to make a quick sack and a run tackle in this compilation from
@1ReginaldS
. Good closing speed on a short pass play forcing Winnipeg to settle for a field goal.
#CFL
#Alouettes
@farquadfantasy
@patrickpucci2
@SiegelSiegel13
Here's that rankings I was talking about. Also goes over some "standard" league settings and I explain briefly why I put every player where I did. It's a good year to start playing CFL fantasy football!
#UFL
Power Rankings. Stallions are on top following their win over Arlington who won the XFL last season. For the 3 teams I have at the bottom the biggest concern to me in week 1 was struggles relating to protecting the quarterback and establishing the run.
#GiddyUp
@the_markcast
@DarylJohnston
I don't think it's even a sure thing the rulebook is complete. A lot of the changes like the dispersal draft have happened so late in the offseason I wouldn't be surprised if certain details are still being ironed out.
Week 1 QB rankings.
RB and WR rankings article coming soon. Week 1 RB and WR rankings in image for those of you playing CFL Fantasy Football head-to-head at or fantasy at GameZone.
Article coming soon to explain rank for RBs and WRs.
#CFL
#FantasyFootball
Alouettes lock in Fajardo through 2025. I had the opportunity after the Grey Cup to ask Fajardo what he thought of my nickname for his style of play "Big Fajita Mode", which is when he's using his arms and legs effectively and is too much on the defense's plate and he approved.