OverDrive - OverDrive - August 29, 2025 - Hour 3 - Richie Laryea/Dave Naylor

Episode Date: August 29, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Dave Feschuk for hour three of OverDrive! The guys discuss whether Tiger Woods would play on PGA Tour of Champions. They are then joined by Toronto FC defender Richie Laryea ahead of the 401 Derby this weekend. They wrap the week up by chatting with TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor to tee up Labour Day Weekend in the CFL.

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That's career foundation.com. Changing lives, one job at a time. Final hour overdrive continues. Powered by Fanduel, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Jays Brewers tonight, Shane Bieber on the mound for the Jays, and this is going to be electric this evening. Day off yesterday. coming off a big win the night before a series win against Minnesota earlier in the week. You got the Yankees who are red hot, the socks are red hot, the best team in baseball

in town. You set up your rotation perfectly for Bieber tonight, Gossman tomorrow, Scherzer on Sunday. Can't beat it. You got Ohio State, Texas tomorrow, right? The NFL's right around the corner. It's just a beautiful time of year, Dave. It feels like September, even though it's not.

And again, it's Labor Day. So I'm sure the roads are wild right now. A lot of people probably getting out of town. Last, last possible getaway weekend before the real stuff starts next week. Well, yeah, you're right. You're starting to hit the gas on some real consequential sporting action here with football season upon us and the pennant races in full swing. And then best of all, Hayes, the A team is back on Tuesday on overdrive.

Yeah, the O'Dog and Noodles. And I haven't heard much from these guys, which I don't take personally because I know when they're off. Like O'Dog in particular by the end of August, you'd think he would be fresh and like kind of perfect. He's the complete opposite. He starts to realize that like September's coming. He's flushing my calls.

I called him. We're supposed to be in a survivor pool. Right. And he complains every year. He claims he has to pay for it, which is completely inaccurate. It's been totally balanced across the board. And we got to give an answer on like what we're doing here. Are we getting in? How many teams? Usually we go two or three teams.

And I'm trying to call this idiot. And he won't answer. Really? Yeah, he's flushing me. And I know why, because he knows come Tuesday, I'm just going to be in his face for 10 months. You know what I mean? Like, he can't escape me by Tuesday.

And we spent so much time together, and we talk so much. And he had his shoulder dunce who's not golf, and I guarantee you that's, I know he's so, I know what's going on with him. I know he's getting up in the morning thinking, God, I want to play golf so badly. Which is a real troll job when it's still August and it's sunny and you can still play, right?

Yeah. That's, man, I feel for the, like, the O-Dog must be lost to see you without golf, man, when he's off. Oh, yeah. He's got no work and he's got no golf. I mean, what's, what's the O-Dog deal with the time? He's probably talking to a volleyball.

He's got Wilson beside him. He's probably literally losing his mind. He should come in on Tuesday with a volleyball, with a handprint on it, like Wilson. Because that's basically the world that he's living in. speaking of golf did you see that i guess ernie else is putting on the full court press to get tiger to play on the champions tour yes how would you what's your many jerrys on us ever seeing tiger woods playing that tour i don't know man like he's kind of joked about it right like talking

about how i remember him saying something about how i won't you know because he was having such a hard time walking with that surgically repaired leg of his that you know he won't be able to really enjoy golf until he can drive around it a little buggy as he called it, which, of course, they allow on the champions, too, I believe. Yes, they do. So, you know, the idea that, you know, the guy's a competitor,

like, it's not like every great player in history of the sport hasn't done it. And, you know, you might have thought at a certain point that he was above it, but I don't know, man. Like, I could see it. I could see it too because, you know, he's got his new brand out, right?

Like, he's got to get out and perform with that. He's got to play. He's got to be out in the limelight. You know, he's invested in that Sunday red. And he still has endorsement deals, you know, with tailor-made and with Bridgestone. And so there's an element of that. Like the money, he's got more money than anyone would ever need in their life. But he's, of course.

Probably not allergic to more money, you know. And those are really his true, like, those are his counterparts. you know, the Ernie L's types, the Freddie couples, like those are the guys that he really played with. You know, it's not like this new generation who he did beat, now that was six years ago when he won the Masters, but Kepka was there and Spieth and Roar, you know, these guys were there.

But the guys who he knows and plays with and, you know, I think his buddies with, they're all on that tour. Jim Furrick, guys like that. Yeah. And it's, you know, you go out and play a few rounds. The teaser up, by all accounts, these guys just go out and have a good time. Now, that is the interesting question.

Like, is he going to be so competitive that he gets out there and he still acts like Tiger? Because that's not really the way it works out there by all accounts. You know, it's you show up and, you know, it's a hit and giggle and you go out and play, hey, that guy, well, look who this guy. Why? Hey, there's Stevie Elker. All right. You know, we're going for wine. It's wine testing tonight after we just played.

I don't know if he's going to be conducive to that, but I will say if he plays there, wherever he plays, people will watch. If it's on the champions tour, people will watch him play there. Myself included. Oh, I'd watch it for sure. I would watch it 100%. And you know, the other thing is like if you know he still holds out hope that he can that he can compete against the best again, right?

You know he still has that in him. And he's going to show up with the Masters, when healthy, and try and win that thing. And I still personally would not put it past him. I really would. I just cannot underestimate the greatness of Tiger Woods and his ability to, you know, one last time, turn back the clock, would not shock me. But remember when Phil was in the PGA at age 50, Hayes, like, at that point, Phil had been, you know, like, you know, he was, he was talking,

he was 50 and 11 months, but he'd started, he played some events on the senior tour, right? To kind of, any, any, it was dominated too. It prepped him, exactly. Yeah. He played well. It prepped him. And then all of a sudden, bang, he wins a major past 50. I mean, nearly 51.

So you know Tiger might see that as a pathway to sort of getting back to respectable go. Because all we've talked about, I mean, this is O'Dog's big problem with Tiger is that he doesn't play enough to be competitively relevant, right? Like you can't just show up at all four majors and expect to win one. Yes. You've got to play some other events. So these could be some events he could play, build some confidence, build some stamina, whether or not he's in a card, who knows. but I could see that being a path to him getting back to contending at a major one day down the road. That would be great.

And you're right about Mickelson. He did show up right when he was 50 and he just lapped the field. Like I think he won his first two tournaments by a mile and looked great and then went to Kiowa and played well. But Tiger's almost 50. I think he'll be, is he 50 in December? I think he's 50 in December. So he will qualify for that tour next year. The thing is, and O's not wrong.

He never plays anywhere. He maybe shows up in the Genesis, because he has to. But other than that, he doesn't play anywhere. So why is he going to play a Champions Tour event in Milwaukee? You know what I mean? Like, is he really going to do that? Is he going to go to Calgary and play the Champions Tour? Maybe because he doesn't have to walk it, right?

Like, that would be the theory. He doesn't have to walk it. He would look at it like it's beneath him. But that's one thing he's got to overcome. You know, like, if you really want to compete, you've got to play. Like, you have to play. So I'll believe it when I see it, but I would like to see it. All right, so we've got TFC Montreal coming up,

and we're inside a year now, the World Cup, right? Bimo Field, they'll be rocking in less than a year. They're also, of course, going to be hosting games out of BC place in Vancouver and a guy who's going to be there representing the Canadian national team, and obviously he's still representing the TFC club on a club level. Here's Richie Larea joining us here on Overdrive. How you doing, Richie? I'm good, I'm good, how are you guys doing?

Thank you. You're doing pretty well, yeah, thanks for joining us. You know, as a local guy, obviously, you know, you guys aren't having the greatest year. Montreal's not having the greatest year. But what's it been like throughout your career, you know, playing MLS against Montreal, that rivalry, you know the history, the two cities, the two fan bases. How much fun are these matches? Yeah, they're a lot of fun, obviously.

They hit us, we hit them, and these games, usually get pretty fiery. I don't think it really matters one type of season the others having, you know, this is you know, bragging rights and all the things. So these games, yeah, the type of games you want to play.

And as a footballer, you know, they're intense, they're good. I like them. So, Richie, when you're in the midst of a season like this, you know, where the team isn't anywhere near the spot in the standings you'd like to be, like how do you sort of focus your effort?

and sort of build an attack, a team philosophy that still goes out there with some real intent to do some damage against the rival? Yeah, honestly, I don't think it really does matter what type of season you're having, like I just said, I think these games just mean a lot more, you know, it means, you know, everything almost in a sense. So, yeah, I don't really think it matters if you're having a great season, a not so great season. roll around and you know both sides are ready for the game it's it's huge it's a it's a it's a derby game so it's like your derby games anywhere across the world you know it's it means something it's very impactful for the for the city our club and vice versa for them so with richie laureas so you know your first stint with toronto i see you guys were at a you know a certain level

a very high level chasing MLS Cubs, winning MLS Cups, and you returns February of 24, where do you see this, you know, where is this club? I know you're not in management, you're not the one putting the pieces together, but where is this club in terms of taking that next step, in your opinion, to getting back to that kind of golden age of TFC play that we saw a handful of years ago? Yeah, that's obviously what everyone wants in the building.

what everyone's striving for, and I think the guys in the front office, Keith, Jason, down to Robin, all these guys together trying and doing some really good things, this past window, especially, and I think

that's a good sign and telling for what to come in the future, so I like everyone else fans and more important I think people inside the building that's what we're wanting to build momentum to be able to, you know, know, end the season on a very high note, what that high note is.

We'll see once the season finishes. But, yeah, just on obviously an optimistic note and get in, like you said, back to the glory days. I think that is important, but almost, you know, we've got to rewrite now history that's been done. And it was great. It was a fantastic time at this club. I think now it's a moment to rewrite history in a different way, but still very good and impactful. so we want to get back to MLS Cup and all this thing. So I think, yeah, like I said,

those three guys I mentioned are doing a pretty good job and their support staff. And I think the guys at the club and my teammates, myself, I think we're also, it's tough about have been trucking along and still remaining positive and given our best. I think that also is pretty good, in my opinion, for fans to see that guys haven't thrown it in or anything. So, yeah, I think everyone's trying and pushing in their right direction right now.

So hopefully those better days are coming very soon. So, Richie, obviously, a ton of excitement, less than a year away from the first World Cup games to be played on Canadian soil. And I know that, you know, there's so much excitement around the men's national team and its potential to be a player at the top of the world stage. and yet you guys didn't have maybe the summer you wanted to at the Gold Cup and maybe didn't get the results there that you know you would have expected kind of from inside that team how do you see things what's the state of that team and how do you sort of build some positivity as the as the World Cup approaches sorry I lost you there just for a little about the end can you repeat that little

end bit please sir yeah no I was just saying like how does the men's national team sort of build the positivity as the World Cup approaches less than a year away? Yeah, I mean, I think the national team's been in a very good spot now for the last couple of years, honestly, I think since 2019-ish is when it, you know, started moving in a really good direction. I think it's been moving in a great direction since then, you know, there's definitely been some bumps along the way with some. of our tournament play and all those things. But, yeah, I think there's a lot for us within the national team to be excited about

and a lot for fans to be excited about. We have, yeah, a leader in Jesse who's pushing boundaries for all of us and is very, very happy about the way we've been getting on. And I think just within ourselves in that group, we have high expectations for ourselves at the World Cup, you know, making it in 2022 was great and was a really big step forward for our program. But I think we all know that there's bigger steps now that we need to take, especially hosting a World Cup here in our backyard to make a real impact,

I think, around the world of football, not just only in Canada. With Richie Lurea, have you allowed yourself to even kind of picture what this is going to look like? You know, as a guy who grew up here and a Canadian, like, playing. for Canada at Bimo Field you know what you know on this stage you've done it obviously

for the national team in you know different different matches but nothing can possibly compete with the World Cup like what what do you think that buildup is going to be like and and how emotional is that

kind of walk out onto the pitch going to feel like yeah I'm to be completely honest with you I am a day-to-day guy I try not to look too far but this one's been almost down near impossible if I'm being honest with you. Like you said, being from here, being a local guy,

it's, you know, you see some of the things happening around the city. The fans are super excited, and it's, yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be unreal. I think this is going to be a massive turning point for soccer in our country once, you know, we get to host some, hopefully of the biggest nations in the world come here and we're able to compete and beat, you know,

that's going to turn heads, turn the attention onto Canada soccer. So, yeah, it's a, I could sit on the phone of the day, talk about how crazy and how big of a deal it is. But yeah, it is. It's going to be all the things everyone's probably thinking probably times 10 because it's going to have a huge impact on the city of Toronto and the city of Vancouver. But then just the country in general is going to, for what I hope

and think is going to happen, make this. a game, you know, blow up in a way we haven't seen ever. So, yeah, it's exciting. Being able to hopefully be a part of that as well is very exciting. And yeah, I think whoever

is called upon to be part of that roster, it's going to be a dream come true. It's kind of like your inner childhood dream something like this is to be able to, you know, one day say you've played you know, in a World's Cup in your backyard. I don't know if there's

many people that I get to say that around the world. So, yeah, it's going to be crazy. No kidding. Yeah, it's going to be amazing. We've got a long way to go to build up to that, but we're looking forward to it, Toronto, C, Montreal, coming up, and good luck with the rest of the regular season, MLS, and to build up towards, again, the World Cup next year,

and have a great weekend. I appreciate you doing this. Thank you, Richie. Thank you, for having me. You got it. Richie Lareo of Toronto FC and the men's national team. And it was flipped, like, a while ago, it would be big, you know, it was always significant to play on the men's national team, clearly. But it was more about, like, your club team and where you played and could this guy get to Europe.

And, like, that's the biggest difference in the last five, six years is now, like, probably the first thing you should mention on the Wikipedia page is that guy plays for the national team, you know, because they've done us so well and they played so well in making the World Cup. and what happened at Copa America and it's just been an incredible five or six years. Wow, we've got so many guys now that play in Europe on high profile, big league teams. It's funny that, you know, Richie wasn't

taken for granted that he's on this roster, right? He was like, if you, the guys who were called upon, he didn't, he didn't assume that he's going to, I assume he's going to be on this team. I think a lot of people assume he's going to be on this team. But I think, you know, that, that tells you a little bit about the depth of the talent in this country. now that nobody

can take for granted that they got a roster spot maybe a few guys can but you're smart not to yeah that's very very true yeah it's going to be a fun buildup it's going to be really really fun over the next eight to nine months

eight to ten months to determine who's on it how you know the jockeying of positions and how the city's preparing for it and we still have the draw forthcoming in terms of who's in a group who they're going to play you know who's who's going to basically take over

the city because you know whoever else is in their group, those countries are going to be well represented, especially if it's a powerhouse. If it's a big European team that travels well or a South American team that travels well, there's going to be a lot of new people in the city. But it's on us to prepare for that.

And we look forward to it in less than a year. We've got a big, speaking of Canadians, on a big stage, we've got Layla Fernandez tonight against Sabalanka and Center Court. U.S. Open this evening. So that's big. And tomorrow you've got Shappavala against Sinner. So that's as big as it gets. A couple

of Canadians going up against the one seeds on the men's and the women's side tonight and tomorrow on U.S. Open. Of course, on TSN tonight. CFL on TSN continuing as well. We've got Dave Naler coming up in about 10 minutes. We'll get to our best bets later in the hour. Overdrive continues to ESN 1050

and on TSN2. Given five days or less to accept a severance offer, you need employment lawyer. You actually have two years to file a claim for a severance package, which can total as much as 24 months pay. Call Leor Samfiru and get what you're owed, employment lawyer.ca. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree of site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food.

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Go for lunch at Boston pizza tomorrow and watch an unbelievable football game. Cannot wait for that. And CFL on TSNM, we got Labor Day Classic. Labor Day Classic coming up, man. And the Argos, you got to, they have to find a way to beat Hamilton here. Have to. Calgary's going to smoke Edmonton. But the game of the weekends, riders, blue bombers.

Oh, yeah. You know, that's a big game. You're out there in Winnipeg. I mean, how they're feeling about their blue bombers. They haven't been exactly dominating the West this year. There are some jitters. There is some jitters in Blue Bomber land for sure. I think people, yeah, there's some concern.

And to see the green riders back to prosperity, I mean, I've got a lot of family that love that green and white that live a little west of here. And that's good to see. Like when they were down on their luck there for a few years, that's bad for the CFL. And it's good to see the riders at 8 and 2, you know, looking like a force.

Yeah, they've been really good. really good and I mean the West they don't win the Great Cup every year you know as we just saw last year the Argos you know it doesn't they may be favored generally whoever's reping the West is usually favored

and the West is generally deeper and that's exactly what's happened this year with the riders and the stamps and the Blue Bombers even BC's you know hovering around 500 but the Argos you know the old saying the CFL begins on Labor Day yeah they still have what seven games left to

play, if they can go four and three, they probably can get in. You know, it's possible. Wouldn't that be something? With how bad they've been this year? Yeah. It's conceivable. Because, you know, I don't know if Montreal is great. I don't know if the lions are great.

You know, those are both five and six teams. They're both below 500. So we'll see. There's one above 500 team in the entire east. Yeah. Six and four of the tabbies. Six and four. is amazing. Yeah, it's not good. It's not good. But Diargoes, we'll see. We'll see what comes

with Nick Arbuckle and, you know, I haven't heard anything recently on Chad Kelly, but doesn't feel like we're going to. I'm not holding my breath that he's going to play at any point this season. We'll see if Dave Nailer has a different answer for us, but I guess Michael Parsons showed up down in Green Bay and, you know, I'm just seeing some clips of the introduction and like now, like I will say this as a Packer fan, you know, I'm biased. I understand it. And this massively improves their chances of winning. And I think it's worth it. You're paying a lot of money to this guy.

But what this really does is just put that much more focus on Jordan Love. Like with the Packers putting their chips in the middle, they believe they've built up their defense. You know, they spend a lot of draft capital on defense every single year. I think they've got a really good front seven now with Parsons and Gary and Cooper and Walker and, you know, different options there. but it's not going to matter if Jordan Love doesn't get the job done. Like if he doesn't elevate and stay healthy and play better than he did last year,

their wide receiver position was a massive issue. They had more drops than anyone else in football last year in the NFL. They need this golden kid to step up. They need Jaden Reed to stay healthy and he's not healthy right now. Looks like he's going to play, but he's not at 100%. Christian Watkins or Watson's always hurt. Sure enough, he's probably not going to play for the first four or five weeks of the year. So as much as the defense is better and this improves them and they're in a very difficult

division. And I like the idea that, you know, they've been the youngest team in the league for two years and now they continue to be one of the youngest and like, we've built you guys up. We believe in you. Here you go. We're going to drop this grenade into the team a week before opening night. Parsons has got to be great. He's being paid to be great. Love has got to win though. Like love is getting paid too. He's getting paid more than Micah Parsons. Yeah. And he's got to be, that's ultimately. modern football the defense can do only so much at some point you can need your quarterback to be the guy that's the driving force um and we'll see without a doubt and he's kind like it's not it's not

exactly the perfect setup right to like you could say wow we had this incredible injection of one of the most talented players in the league joining our team except that it's you know less than a week before the season starts or a week before the season starts and and that can cause some chaos and then Jordan Love is what? He's got this surgically repaired thumb that he's dealing with. I mean, not on the throwing hand, so I don't know how much it's going to bother him.

But you're right. Like, they're paying him for what they expect him to be, not what he is. And, you know, he's got a lot, he's got a lot of growth to sort of go through. If he's going to be the guy, they expect him to be. He hasn't really been that guy consistently. Well, that's it.

Like, you know, we've used the analogy of Reggie White, of Charles Woodson, you know, like that's what Reggie represented in the 90s and Woodson represented in the early 2010s. Well, those quarterbacks were Brett Farv and Aaron Rogers. Right. Like those two are two of the greats of all time. And

Jordan Love is not either of those players. I'm not anticipating he will reach the status of either guy, but he's got to be 90% of them, right? Like he's got to be close because if that, if your focus is Super Bowl,

not just winning 10 games or making the playoffs or competing for the division. That's a step above that. That's multiple steps above what he's done the last two years where they have made the playoffs. And two years ago, he went into Dallas and completely embarrassed the Cowboys, including Micah Parsons, who didn't lay a fingernail on him. And he was unbelievable and the Packers were great. And that was the kind of the welcome to the NFL moment for love and for Reed and Watson and for this new era of young, you know,

up-and-coming Packers football. But he took a step back last year. He did. And he's got to be a lot better this year. He's got to be. Man, and that's, yeah, there's a lot on his, on his shoulders, man. He's kind of like, you know, it's not Arch Manning, like, because he's shown, he's, he's done a lot more than Arch Manning.

Obviously, he's a pro football quarterback, but in terms of sort of the expectation being, you're supposed to be great. Like, that's kind of where he is, right? Like, he's supposed to be great. He's been great in flashes, but to be great for an entire season is a different animal, to stay healthy for an entire season is a different animal, and he hasn't shown that he can really do that.

No, and they were in Philly last year, which was obviously a daunting task, considering the way the whole playoffs played out. Philly laid a beating on everybody. But the Packers... They made Mahomes look terrible. They made Mahomes look terrible. And they made love look terrible.

You know, and they were all over them, and the pressure was immense. And again, he didn't have any faith in any wide receivers at that point. But he had Josh Jacobs. You know, he had a couple of decent tight ends. He had an OKO line, and he couldn't overcome what the Eagles were thrown at him. We'll see what he's got this year. Here's Dave Naler, or TSN Football Insider. Micah Parsons, to the Packers.

How does that change your hierarchy in the NFC? Well, I think it takes the Packers sort of from maybe the outside of the best teams in the NFC. And you can debate that maybe they were already there among the top two or three or four, but they're certainly in that conversation now. And it's interesting because it's a bit more of what they have. And by that, I mean, this was already a pretty good pressure defense. If you look at the metrics for particularly against the past and particularly the pressure metrics, you know, Green Bay was pretty much top 10 across the board.

So, you know, adding this, I mean, he's a guy who can change games. I don't know if there's that many players that you can say that they will change potentially two or three games over the course of the season just on their own. And, yeah, and look, I don't think it's a coincidence that he got traded to a team in what is believed to be the most competitive division in the NFL. I mean, that's the one division that, and maybe Chicago, the exception to this, but it's the one where it's really hard to make a case

for anybody dominating that decision, or anybody being in a free fall at the bottom of that division. Now, maybe Chicago you can make that case, but there are certainly huge, you know, when Ben Johnson takes over there, it's not the normal expectations of a first-year head coach because of who he is and the way he waited for this opportunity and the fact that their draft class was,

that impact draft class was not this year, it was last year. So Ruma Dunze is in the second year. Caleb Williams in the second year. All of that to say that, yeah, I think this really makes the Packers one of the teams to beat in the NFC. Absolutely. Naylor, can you make sense of this trade? Naylor and I, sorry, Hayes and I were talking about, you know, how this is very similar to the way Nico Harrison dealt Luca Dodgich in the NBA from Dallas to the Lakers in that. yeah and that obviously marquee talent in dallas and really despite having this marquee talent

they did not market him to the league they essentially did a deal with one team and one team only both in the case of lucca going to the lakers and micha parsons going to the packers as far as we can tell we had we had clarence hill junior long-time cowboys right around and he just explained it by saying jerry got mad essentially and just sort of traded him in anger essentially how do you break this down and make sense of it? Yeah, like this isn't the Herschel Walker Hall of picks that, you know, happened in 1989 and seeded kind of a dynasty for the Cowboys. It doesn't overwhelm what they got.

And, of course, you know, what they got will depend on their ability to make good on those two first-round picks. But, you know, if the Packers are what we perceive to be, it's not like they're going to be picking sixth and eight of those picks or something. I mean, it's like they're going to be picking at the back half of the draft. And it feels like there's a number of things. Look, I would first up to say, I absolutely thought this would end with Micah Parsons signing and everybody smiling and money papering over hurt feelings.

Because that's the way it always does with Jerry Jones. But this time, you know, it goes a different way. And maybe it's because, you know, there's this dispute about did he have a deal in the spring, did he not? And both sides are inflaming it. And, you know, I think one of the differences between doing business in the NFL in places where there's a gap and a team is making a business decision is that it's all business. I mean, if you certainly look at, I mean, just the one that was closest to us, the James Cook situation, there was not even a hint from either side that this was personal. It was always characterized as business by both sides, cooked with very few words, Brandon Bean with a little more.

but it's very, very different than what was playing out in Dallas. So I think you're right. I think Jerry got mad. I think he wanted to call the bluff of everybody who thinks that he's never going to make a move on a guy. And beyond that, look, I think there are some arguments against Michael Parsons, but I think they are superseded by his talent. The argument is against was when you sink 47 million bucks into one guy, I mean, like, he missed four games of the high ankle spraying last year.

What if he missed seven this year? I mean, just anytime you've got that much money sunk into one player, you know, he's only one hamstring fall away from, you know, not playing, and you're investing a lot of money in a guy who's not going to bring you any return in a particular game or games. That's one. And then the other is, you know, and I don't, again, maybe some of this factors in what they said. I know they talk a lot about stopping the run.

You can stop the run with Micah Parsons. your defense, even if that's not his specialty, and there are teams that subscribe to this, and I don't necessarily think the Cowboys are won based on their previous actions, and that is the idea that other than quarterbacks, if you're paying top of the market for an NFL player, you're probably not getting the best value, that you're better to have a couple of guys or three guys kind of at the next year or the next year down, and ultimately you have a better team than sinking that much money into a top of the market contract for a player other than a quarterback because among everything else, you're paying your quarterback as well.

So when you put Jordan Love's salary with Micah Parsons and start to project that young roster in Green Bay and some of the decisions that this is going to force upon them the next two or three years, but I don't think those were the primary reasons that Jerry Jones did what he did. With Dave Naler, our TSN Football Insider. So we've hit Labor Day weekend. Dave, the CFL. Now it's go time. Into the stretch run here.

And Feschuk and I were talking about, you know, the disparity between the West and the East, which is based on records and performances. And also, I believe, talent and depth. But you got the Argos and the Tabbies this weekend. Ticats are lead in the East. You know, they're six and four. Argos are three and eight.

Are we in must-win territory now for the Argos? Like, obviously it's an important game that goes without saying. but how many more weeks can we continue to say there's a lot of season left before they have to put, you know, pedal to the ground and start playing above 500 football? Yeah, because the issue becomes the crossover. So people understand there's six teams to make the playoffs in the CFL, but if the fourth-place team in the West has a better record than the third-place team in the East, they cross over and take that spot.

So the Argos competition isn't just, you know, Ottawa. it's Edmonton, it's Winnipeg, it's BC, which could all come into that mix potentially for the crossover. So, you know, it's been a weird year for the Argos because, of course, Chad Kelly hasn't played. And, you know, I saw people say to that Argos really struggling without Chad Kelly. I'm like, yeah, but that's not what's letting them down.

I mean, it's been the defense and it's been special teams. And Nick Arbuckle, you know, I was saying this, we did a, Brian, you and I did a hit for Sports Center, I think, well, we were debating whether Baker Mayfield could be the MOP, or MVP, excuse me, MVP in the NFL. And I said something like, take away the name Baker Mayfield and forget Cleveland and look at those numbers and tell me that guy can't be the MVP. I said something to that effect, right?

There's a bit of a parallel with Nick Arbuckle with the Argonauts. I can say to people because Nick Arbuckle, you know, kind of has flopped a few places. And most recently he flopped even as a backup in a lot. Ottawa. I mean, he was out of football. And had Chad Kelly not got suspended, I'm not sure he ever comes back. But, you know, they called him back last year because Dinwiddie had a familiarity with him. And he gave them serviceable play when Chad Kelly was out, and he stepped up, made 37 throws in the Great Cup, and won a game for the Argos. And I think everybody figured that was probably the peak. But Nick Arbuckle right now, leading the CFL in passing yards,

Nick Arbuckle, five straight 300-yard games. Nick Arbuckle, career passing marks in back-stack games. Nick Arbuckle, one touchdown pass behind Bo Levi-Mitchell. Now, if I forget the name Nick Arbuckle and try to erase Ottawa from my memory, I can convince myself this guy the MVP of the league. Yeah, exactly.

Yeah. So, look, this can be a real point fest on Monday in Hamilton. I mean, the over-under on this one is, but I could see a ton of points being scored. So with everything you just said there about the way Arbuckle is making a case for himself,

How much does that factor in or does it factor in the fact that it feels like we're not going to see Chad Kelly this year? Well, next week is a big Chad Kelly week because the Argos are on a buy, and Chad comes off six-game injured list. He's been practicing this week because the way the rule works is that the two weeks before you come off six-game injured, you can practice just so you hit the ground running when you come off. But, of course, we thought Chad was coming off six game about six weeks ago, and they put him right back on it. So from what I understand, there are going to be some very important meetings during the by week with the Argo staff, Chad's doctors, team die, everybody kind of in the mix and to try to decide, okay, what's the course of action here? I still think there's a possibility that they decide that big picture, the best thing is for Chad Kelly to have a year and a half off that ankle. It's a serious ankle injury that he had, you know, a couple of broken bones has taken a long time that they just say, you know, what, for your career and for your stability and our organization, but I think the last thing

the Argonauts want is Chad Kelly not able to go to training camp next spring, because he missed training camp in 24 because of the suspension, and he missed it this year because of the injury. So I think that's a possibility. But the other possibility is that they say, yep, you know, we're good. We've cleared these hurdles. Now we're going to ramp you up and try to get you ready to play and, you know, try to come up in a series of milestones that you're going to hit and in practice and how you feel and what we see in you. And, you know, it's my understanding that if that's the road they go down

and Chad Kelly gets the clearance and feels good himself about his ability to play, that he'll get his job back this season as the number one. Now, it may never get to that point. But this is, certainly the Argos are in a great situation where, I mean, not that they would want to take any risks with Chad Kelly's health. I think everybody understands you play in the long game here. But it's certainly when you've got Nick Arbuckle playing the way he is, there's not certainly a rush to replace him. And even, you know, I don't know, again, just because his injury keeps going on and on and on and on, I assume Chad Kelly's going to be healed up for next season, but I think given how long

this has taken, it's not bad that the Argos are going to enter the season with DeGarbuckle on the roster next year. He signed through next year on a very modest contract. So it's a good situation for the Argos in terms of quarterback depth of this has helped solidify. Yeah, I am curious to see what. what happens here with Chad Kelly moving forward because, you know, he had that magical regular season a couple of years ago where they had, you know, when they went 16 games and one of the

great regular season in CFL history runs away with the MOP. But then in the playoffs against the Al's, he had one of the worst performances we've ever seen. Disaster. Absolute disaster. And then he gets suspended. And last year it never worked. And then when he gets back, he gets hurt. And obviously they win the Great Cup without him. And now he hasn't played. all year? Like is, at what point do you start? Like, is it reasonable to wonder if this guy just will not return or if it was a flash in the pan what we saw two years ago during the regular season? Look, I think, I think Chad Kelly, you know, is, in there's all kinds of reasons why guys are in the Canadian football league. And in Chad Kelly's case, it's not because of a lack of

talent. You know, I always go back to the day he was drafted with the Mr. Irrelevant pick on the draft. You hear Mike Mayock on the NFL network say, this guy is a first-round talent who is being taken in this position because of questions about injury and character. That's what he says on the broadcast. And I think that's pretty much true. And, you know, Chad had a noisy time in the NFL. And that's, you know, essentially why he ended up playing in the Canadian football. I think we, I think the talent we saw from him in 2023 was real. I think that's who he is. I think he's that good. I I think the Argos think he's that good. And I think that's why they were patient through the suspension.

And I think they're still patient to wait out and see what's on the other side of this injury. But I would go back, Brian, there was a day almost exactly two years ago. When the Argos announced that Chad Kelly had signed a contract to be the highest paid player in the league, about $700,000, it was a beautiful day. All the MLSE suits were out there. Chad, you know, looked like a million bucks in his double blue uniform. And I thought, man, what a time. what if this has turned into for this guy? And almost from that moment on,

a few weeks later, you have the Eastern final game, which, you know, was, I mean, the greatest variance I've ever seen in football between what a guy played, what he looked like in a regular season, and what he looked like in a playoff game. And then you have the lawsuit and the suspension and the return and the injury. It's just been, I mean, I guess if, if you go back to that Mike Mayock broadcast and he said the two concerns were, you know, character and injury, that's kind of been the Argo's story

since he signed that contract, character and injury. That's right. So, yeah, he was, he was very much, you know, on point. Pretty good analysis. Yeah, not the greatest GM ever, you know, may have pretty good analysis in the end. Have a great Labor Day, Nail Gun. We appreciate you doing this.

Thank you. Hey, thanks so much, guys. Take care. There's Dave Nailor, our TSN Football Insider. Yeah, it's been too bad, I mean. but it's really been a roller coaster for him and he was so, so good during that 23 season. But that's

a distant memory now. And he's barely played. He's barely been around since then. He may have lost this season, but he hasn't lost his confidence. Don't forget, this was the guy, what was it, a few weeks ago, he was out there saying he's a top 32 NFL starting quarterback. That's right. Yeah, I appreciate that.

He believes. It's not very bashful, Chad. Melodon Friday, brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. I enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree aside and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less.

A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. We wrap up summer, man, Labor Day. Last long weekend of the summer, this is it. Weather's supposed to be pretty nice.

A little bit warmer than it was today. Sunny, Jay's Brewers tonight. We'll get to that. We've got a big college football game tomorrow. Labor Day Classic on Monday. Can't wait for it. We'll wrap up a busy afternoon. We'll do that next.

your job without a severance package, you need employment lawyer.ca. Your employer is legally required to give you as much as 24 months pay when you lose your job. Call Leor Sam Fieroo and get what you're owed. Employment lawyer.com. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree of site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston.

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total insurers. It includes the essentials. Donations are being accepted now through the end of September. Head to tsn-1050.ca to donate today. What a weekend. We're about to have Jay's Brewers tonight. on the mound for the first time at the dome

was a Blue Jay. I think it's just going to be an awesome, like he'll be walking out of this place will be electric tonight. It'll be a great weekend. Gossman, tomorrow, Scherzer on Sunday. Brewers are rock stars. They've been great. Best team in the National League, best team in baseball, period. And our best bets are powered by Fandul. Make your picks and assemble

the same game parley in seconds on the Fandole's Sportsbook app. I think the Js show up here. I think they show up this weekend. I do. I mean, this is not some hot take. They played really well at home. They played really well against good teams. I think they're getting the Brewers at the right time. Brewers played last night. Jay's coming off and off day. I'm on

the Jay's tonight. I'm going to parlay it with the Longhorn's money line tomorrow, Dave. I'm on Archmanning and the Longhorns going in there and shocking the world in Columbus and number one team in the country. I cannot wait to see that football game tomorrow. I cannot wait to watch Archmanning play. I love that it's in the afternoon, too. Oh, it's going to be great. So, that's

college football for you, man. You've got to play a 12, 12, 30, that's when you play. Best bets powered by Fandole, the first inning means as much as the ninth when you bet baseball in the Fandole Sportsbook. Yeah, please play responsibly 19 plus, physically located in Ontario. All right, the O Dog and Noodles will be back next week. So we're off on Monday, but back at it on Tuesday. We look forward to that.

It's been a great summer. And it's like sports-wise, the Jays have kept things going. Nothing's going on in the NHL. on in the NBA. More surprising, I think, the NBA, Dave. They're like, it was just, it was the tamest offseason I've ever experienced in the NBA. Yeah, they usually carry a big storyline through the whole summer. I mean, you know, it's.

LeBron, I guess. There's been no, yeah, LeBron's always got a little bit of drama, but it's nothing major. No. And, uh, yeah, well, you know what? Can't wait to see the boys back in town on Tuesday. Yeah, it'll be fun. It'll be fun. I'm sure we'll be playing that song.

Uh, great seeing you, Dave. Thanks for doing this, pal. We'll do it again soon. Always fun. There's Dave Festhug of the Toronto Star. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV, radio, podcast, web, and of course up on YouTube live.

We appreciate that. Long weekend. Enjoy your long weekend. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy your long weekends. We're back Tuesday at 4 p.m. We'll chat then.

Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP, where you get an entree, a site, and a drink, and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. Seasoned gamer or just video game curious. This Week in Gaming is the podcast for you. We break down the latest in the world of video games, from basics to beyond.

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