Dave Dickenson is back in uniform for the Lions this Saturday — as the third-string quarterback. Double D is eager to get into a game and work out some kinks, but don’t count on it unless the Lions are up by a bundle or beset by injury. Jarious Jackson will be the starter until he falters and Buck Pierce is the best option at backup right now.
• The future of the CFL could be in the hands of Ralph Wilson according to Lions CEO Bobby Ackles. Huh? Here’s the food chain. Wilson owns the Buffalo Bills, who have a lot of season ticket holders from southern Ontario. Wilson has said that his family will not run the team after he heads to the big stadium in the sky, leaving the future of the Bills in jeopardy. If the Bills were to relocate, it would create a big void in the market and the folks in Toronto would scream louder than ever for an NFL team. If the NFL did set up shop in the Big Smoke, Ackles believes it would mean the death of the Argonauts and Tiger Cats as both corporate dollars and fan support would be funneled into the new team. If those two franchises collapse, the CFL would follow suit. As usual, I believe Ackles is on the mark with his assessment, and fans of the CFL should have their fingers crossed that some Buffalo billionaire is determined to keep the Bills there long term.
• Former Canucks’ first rounder RJ Umberger wasn’t in town with the Flyers last night, but don’t expect Ryan Kesler to lose any sleep over it. Umberger and Kesler were teammates at Ohio State and first round draft picks by Vancouver in 2001 and 2003 respectively. But Kesler was quoted earlier this week as saying, “I haven’t spoken to him in three or four years. We’re not really good friends.” Why not? Well, it might have something to do with Kesler signing an entry level contract with the Canucks while Umberger was still holding out for a better offer. Umberger stuck to his guns and never played a game for Vancouver, and ironically, ends up in the city that tried to swipe Kesler with an offer sheet last pre-season.
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