Insider Talk is a weekly feature on 3DownNation that features anonymous quotes from people around the CFL — players, coaches, personnel people, executives, agents, etc. — regarding the latest news around the league. It’s a combination of insight, analysis, rumours, and friendly gossip.
This week’s Insider Talk is full of discussion regarding the alleged postgame altercation in Toronto, Hamilton’s starting quarterback for the Grey Cup, Edmonton’s search for a new general manager, and the best interior offensive linemen in the CFL.
Enjoy this week’s quotes and come back next Wednesday for another edition of Insider Talk.
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Watching the videos of that bull**** after the game in Toronto makes me so thankful that smartphones didn’t exist back when I played. Seriously. Me and about half my teammates would probably still be in prison.
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To me, it’s a very simple decision for Hamilton: you start (Dane) Evans (in the Grey Cup). If he wins, he’s the hero. If he plays well and loses, he’s still your starter next year. If he has a lousy start, you pull him for (Jeremiah) Masoli just like they went to Evans in the East Final.
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If the Argos find themselves in need of help in their personnel department, their first call should be to Spencer Zimmerman. He’d do a great job.
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Winnipeg is going to win on Sunday and it’s not going to be close. They will dominate the line of scrimmage just like they did in 2019.
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If I were Edmonton, the three candidates I’d most strongly consider for the GM job are (Winnipeg’s Ted) Goveia, (Hamilton’s Shawn) Burke, and (Calgary’s Brendan) Mahoney.
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If I could have any three interior Canadian offensive linemen in the CFL, I’d pick (Hamilton’s Brandon) Revenberg, (Ottawa’s Mark) Korte, and (Winnipeg’s Drew) Desjarlais. There are lots of other good guys, but those are my top three.
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Bo (Levi Mitchell) has never been that impressive physically and he’s never had the greatest arm, but he’s still the best quarterback in our league because he wins. Is the team he plays for a factor? Sure, probably. But he makes that team great just as much as the team makes him great. The recent playoff losses (from 2019 and 2021) hurt him but his record during the regular season was still pretty good.
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I think the game on Sunday will be close. One thing that’s for sure: Hamilton will make Winnipeg pay if they turn the ball over like they did in the West Final. Saskatchewan couldn’t cash in. Hamilton will.
