‘I feel like your standard is flawed’: Riders’ LB A.J. Allen rips 3DownNation all-star selections

Photo courtesy: Arthur Ward/CFL.

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ linebacker A.J. Allen feels some type of way about 3DownNation’s 2025 CFL all-star selections.

When the list came out on Halloween, the 27-year-old shared our publication’s article on his X feed with three crying laughing emojis. During Grey Cup week in Winnipeg, 3DownNation asked him what was wrong with the choices. After pausing and letting out a big, gregarious laugh, Allen answered.

“I told someone I’d do this if I ever got asked this question, so I’m going to do it: ‘Game recognize game, granddad,'” he said, followed by another laugh. “If you know what that’s from.”

That line comes from The Boondocks, a satirical animated show which was produced for four seasons and 55 episodes. Allen’s line from the series intimates that he knows who the best players in the CFL are and disagrees with our selections.

“I don’t like the list, I feel like your standard is flawed, and I’m just being real with you, that’s how I feel. I feel like there’s a lot of people that should have been on the list or deserve to be on the list, and I feel like my name is one of them,” Allen said.

The University of Guelph graduate produced 87 tackles — fifth-most in the three-down league — four special teams tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles in 18 regular-season games for the Riders in 2025.

“You’re sitting there like, ‘What more does one person have to do?’ My answer for me, that’s the reality of it. At the end of the day, I’m going to sit here and win a Grey Cup, that’s my goal,” Allen said.

3DownNation picked Tony Jones and Tyrice Beverette as first-team all-star linebackers, while Jameer Thurman and Wynton McManis were on the second team. Following Allen sharing his dislike for the choices, he was posed with a difficult question: ‘Who would he take off?’

“Yeah, I’m not doing that,” he said. “I know the answer, but I’m not going to say because it’s not in my best interest.”

The Roughriders (13-6) and Montreal Alouettes (12-8) meet in the 112th Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 16, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

The Als defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final 19-16, while the Riders came back to defeat the B.C. Lions in the West Final 24-21. The teams split two regular-season meetings, though Montreal franchise quarterback Davis Alexander missed both games due to a left hamstring injury.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of two degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN, CTV, and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally.

This marks the fifth time the Grey Cup will be played in Winnipeg and the second time it will be hosted at Princess Auto Stadium. The venue’s first Grey Cup was held in 2015 when Edmonton defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 26-20 and Michael Reilly was named Most Valuable Player.