CFL Football Column: The York Report on the CFL

At this time in the Canadian Football League last season, Henry Burris was the starting quarterback with the Calgary Stampeders while Kevin Glenn was the starting quarterback with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Thursday night, in Hamilton, their roles will be reversed. Yep, Burris will be starting for the Tiger-Cats and Glenn will be starting with the Stampeders.
Both of these veteran QBs can thank young QB Drew Tate for their new starting roles.
Burris, one of the CFL's irrefutable stars in the 2000s, suddenly found himself supplanted as Calgary's starter late last season when he looked as though he was reaching over-the-hill status. He was replaced by Tate, who performed well, and Burris was then deemed expendable in the off-season by the Stamps.
The Ticats, desperate for a respectable quarterback, signed Burris. Why were the Ticats desperate for a quarterback? Because Kevin Glenn demonstrated that he wasn't good enough in Hamilton.
So what happens? The Stamps sign Glen to back up Tate. Problem was, Tate wrecked a shoulder early on and is out for the regular season.
So the Stamps are stuck with Glenn starting because, well, there is nobody else available. Not kidding.
And Burris, well, he's starring again, and in fact would generally be perceived as the CFL's outstanding player so far this season.
Hey, this is life as a QB in the CFL. All CFL QBs move around on the league's merry-go-round. Doesn't matter who you are. There are very few exceptions. Doesn't matter how effective you've been. Doug Flutie, Damon Allen, Matt Dunigan Tracy Ham, Anthony Calvillo -- they all played with at least three CFL teams.
Ricky Ray mysteriously was dealt by the Edmonton Eskimos to the Toronto Argonauts before this season, and don't ask me why because there was no sensible answer for that move. Don't ask Eskimos general manager Eric Tillman, either, because he won't tell you what he was thinking.
My own view is that, once a QB reaches the point where he's been around long enough to demand a higher salary, a club sends him packing. Doesn't matter who he is.
Anyway, Burris is Smilin' Hank again in his late 30s with the Ticats, who have been looking very strong in recent games with him behind center.
Can't say the same about Glenn and the Stamps. Glenn, also in his late 30s, is playing this season much the same way that he did with the Ticats and all his other previous CFL squads. He's very inconsistent.
Which is largely why I think the Ticats will take care of the Stamps with relative ease Thursday evening.
This week's predictions:

Thursday, Aug. 9: Calgary Stampeders vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Line: Hamilton is favored by four points.
Marty's analysis: See above.
Marty's pick: Take Hamilton minus the four points.

Friday, Aug 10: Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Edmonton Eskimos
Line: Edmonton is favord by one point.
Marty's analysis: I don't think the Riders are as dominant as they think they are, but the Eskimos don't have much offense at all.
Marty's pick: Take Saskatchewan plus the one point.

Marty's record last week: 0-2.
Marty's record this season: 8-14.
Marty's record last season: 45-30.