Ah, to be a fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders where understanding the thought processes of the current head coach is like wandering through the Minotaur鈥檚 maze without the aid of Ariadne鈥檚 ball of string.
The latest mystery fans have tried to unravel is the out-of-the-blue release of Duron Carter.
It was only a few short weeks ago he was deemed so versatile the talented receiver was shifted to defensive back and kept there while most people would have looked to the free agent pool for a more experienced DB.
Of course Carter has always been a bit of a Swiss army knife with a willingness to return punts or kick-offs, the swagger to suggest he could be a kicker and the highlight reel to show he is an acrobatic receiver.
So why is he suddenly gone?
It is likely there was an incident of some sort.
Perhaps Carter took exception to being largely ignored in an offensive set-up that hasn鈥檛 exactly clicked at high speed this season.
In fact, going into action this weekend, the 鈥楻iders were seventh overall in points scored at 21.6, and in terms of offensive points, sat eighth at an average of only 16.7.
Having a talented receiver would seem a positive if you are hoping to improve on those lowly numbers.
Now granted there have been rumblings about Carter and his attitude from day one. There is a reason he is not in Montreal where he started.
Roughrider boss Chris Jones should have been aware of that when he inked Carter, and by now have that situation controlled, one would think.
Of course last year the team was playing better, headed to the playoffs with a legitimate shot at a Grey Cup final, which covers up a lot of little annoyances in the name of winning.
This year the Roughriders were scuffling at best, at least until Sunday when a staunch defence, two big plays and a bad decision by Calgary gave the 鈥楻iders a win.
On offence quarterback Collaros matched Bo Levi Mitchell in yardage but the 鈥楻ider pivot failed to toss a touchdown, with Mitchell throwing four.
On the ground Saskatchewan had 112 yards from runners, compared to the Stamps 95, again even.
Brett Lauther did kick six of six field goals for the Roughies, which is impressive as an individual, but speaks to the lack of finish the offence has.
The key was an interception in the first quarter taken back for a 鈥楻ider major, on a third down gamble Stamps coach Dave Dickenson should never have taken. Trim that off the board, and the momentum isn鈥檛 handed to Saskatchewan early and the game might have ended differently. It was an arrogant, ill-timed gamble for the Stamps.
Still it was a good game for the 鈥楻iders who must continue to win to get into a playoff spot.
While we focus on our 鈥楻iders in Saskatchewan the big story on the Canadian Football League has been Johnny Manziel.
Here is another player who arrived in the CFL with what is usually described as off-field baggage including an arrest in 2012, and questionable tweets in 2013, and other issues followed.
But Manziel has shown he can play quarterback. In 2012 playing for Texas A&M University he accumulated an 麻豆传媒AVeastern Conference (SEC)-record 4,600 yards of total offence on his way to becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.
Manziel had a shot in the National Football League with Cleveland, but league fines and team demotions were more notable than his play.
So this spring he settled in Hamilton, a couple of years from meaningful downs, and an expectation it was behave and play, or be out of the game.
The Ti-Cats have Jeremiah Masoli, who has emerged as a very capable CFL pivot and at only 29 having several years ahead, so when Montreal became desperate for a quarterback Manziel was moved.
After barely time to meet his receivers Manziel was pushed into starting and looked, not surprisingly overwhelmed, tossing four interceptions.
Manziel鈥檚 second outing was better, but it鈥檚 obvious he is rusty, has not been given time to learn the Canadian game, and is working with the worst overall team in the CFL at present. That is not a great formula to resurrect a career, especially when veteran quarterbacks moving to the CFL have generally struggled with the bigger field, free safety and three downs.
Whether Manziel can run the gauntlet of challenges and find success will be one of the more compelling stories to watch unfold over the second half of the CFL season.
Manziel鈥檚 development was put on hold as he sat because of concussion protocol on the weekend.
Antonio Pipkin was forced into a start as Montreal鈥檚 fifth starting quarterback of the season throwing for 217 yards, and a touchdown,49-yards more and one TD more than Manziel managed a week earlier which might tell you just where things are at in terms of his emerging as a CFL starter.聽
