Ouch. That one will leave a mark

I guess a person should congratulate the Montreal Alouettes for storming back to beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27 in the Grey Cup. While we're at it, congrats to the Riders on a terrific season, which very nearly ended with the fourth championship in team history. Those are the positives. And now:

• The Rider defence played a great first three quarters, but then couldn't get a stop when it counted the most. Damn!
• Even a high school special teams coordinator would know you did not need a kick returner in the end zone when Damon Duval lined up for the field goal at the end of the game.

Gather 'round, and let me explain why:

• The Riders were winning by two points with five seconds left on the clock.
• Normally, when the opposing team lines up for a field goal, a defensive back drops back into the end zone, in case of a miss.
• In this case, some bright light on the Rider sideline panicked, and sent in Jason Armstead, thinking they needed to return a missed field goal out of the end zone.
• They did not. When Duval missed, all the Rider player in the end zone had to do was catch the ball and take a knee. Saskatchewan would give up one point, and still win the game 27-26.

So, whomever sent Armstead onto the field screwed up. The player that Armstead replaced screwed up by (presumably) not coming off the field. The refs throw their flags, Duval gets a second chance, and the hearts are ripped out of Rider fans - not unlike 1976.

Having vented, I can now thank the Riders for an exciting season. I also hope Rob Bagg isn't injured too severely. Only seven more months until training camp, folks!