You’ve got to hand it to the media: when there’s nothing to say they’ll create something out of nothing. That was apparent last night as rookie Eskimos quarterback James Franklin replaced Matt Nichols with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter of last night’s 32-3 thrashing of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
It all started with this tweet from a local sports broadcaster, when Franklin threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to Adarius Bowman, capping off a five-play, 60-yard drive. Franklin completed 3 passes for 56 yards.
Franklin hits Bowman in the endzone and we have a QB controversy
— Dustin Nielson (@nielsonTSN1260) July 26, 2015
Let the controversy begin.
Like sharks in blood filled waters, a frenzy soon started to push their phony agenda.
James Franklin threw TD pass to Adarius Bowman for TD. Looking like Franklin is going to go the rest of the way. And next week?
— Terry Jones (@byterryjones) July 26, 2015
The rain stops…Franklin comes in…And on his first series of the game has his first CFL touchdown pass. QB controversy starts in 3…2..1
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) July 26, 2015
The Edmonton Journal is getting in on the act, as is TSN.
The story line is phony.
It’s garbage and it’s irresponsible.
There is no controversy, and I’ll tell you why.
In the first half of last week’s game against Ottawa, Nichols came up limping after a Redblack lineman rolled onto his left ankle. That’s the same ankle he dislocated two seasons ago in a playoff game against the Argonauts; it required surgery to repair and a pin to stabilize.
Nichols toughed it out and finished the game.
At a local charity event, the Eskimos attended Monday following the win in Ottawa, Nichols was seen in shorts, sporting a taped left ankle.
While he took the majority of the starting reps in practice leading up to the game against Winnipeg, I’m willing to bet that his surgically repaired ankle wasn’t at 100%. My sense is Franklin came into the game not because Nichols was playing badly, but because the field conditions weren’t ideal and the last thing Eskimo Coach Chris Jones needs is another injured quarterback.
It’s called preventative maintenance.
Franklin gets some much needed game experience and Nichols rests a tender ankle before starting again when the Eskimos host Saskatchewan on Friday.
Yes, Franklin played extremely well; that we can agree on. What I don’t agree with is the notion that Franklin will be the starter on Friday night. That’s simply ridiculous.
There is no quarterback controversy in Edmonton.
And although the media would like to shove it down our throats, it simply doesn’t exist.
Photo courtesy of Kimberly Poirier.
