| Welcome Back Damon |
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I hate to say “I told you so,” but I think I’m going to anyway. After the disastrous play of Mike McMahon helped cost the Argos a win against their Eastern Division rivals, the Montreal Alouettes, you’d think Pinball was reading Argosfanz, because he finally got around to doing what we’ve been suggesting all along. He put Damon Allen back in the starters role where he belongs, a move that should hopefully staunch the bleeding that has been going on around the Argos for the last few weeks. I told you so, Mike, not to rub it in or anything. Ok, maybe just a little. Damon came in during the first quarter of last week’s game and proceded to take Toronto on a 94-yard, 12-play drive that ended with a 12-yard bomb to Jeff Johnson. If you’re going to reinstall confidence in your team after two weeks of playing musical quarterbacks, that’s a good way to do it. The team may not have delivered anything else after that, but in consideration of the way Rocky Butler and Mike McMahon have played so far this season, playing that way is cause for a parade down Queen St. But revenge is sweet though, for Damon and for John Avery, another veteran lost in the shuffle during the Argos newfangled swing towards a youth movement. Called out and criticized heavily by both the team and the Toronto press, Avery produced the first hundred-yard rushing game by an Argo running back since 2004, not bad for an older guy. Avery will also be stepping up as the Argos starting running back this Thursday, as the Boatmen seek their revenge during the Montreal half of this home and home series. The Argos are now tied with the Als, holding down second place in the Eastern Division. They’re pretty sure to have a playoff spot in hand no matter what; but with that in mind, true success comes with being able to overtake Winnipeg, not just Montreal. That kind of mountain is one that cannot be climbed by youthful enthusiasm, that will only get you so far. It’s a challenge that the Argos will able to take on right now with veteran leadership from the likes of Avery, Allen and Mookie Mitchell, a guy who deserves some love for becoming Toronto’s all-time receiving yards leader. Yes, Michael Bishop is pretty and he’s got that new quarterback smell (the scent of fear and fresh jerseys), he’ll be great later on the season once we know that he’s fully healed and prepared to get back to go back to work in the CFL war zone. But for now, it’s time for the grand old men of Rogers Centre to lead the charge, at least until we get into first place. Then we’ll see if Bishop can hold onto the lead that the shoulders of these few blue and white giants have given him. Has Pinball made the right choice? Let us know at the Argos Fanz Forum.             |