OK so the first round of balloting is over and we now know what players are eligible for CFL player awards. No real surprise when it comes to the Rider picks as Mo Lloyd, Luca Congi, Wes Cates, Weston Dressler and Gene Makowsky were selected by those who had ballots(including me). Now its time to pick what players go on to league awards to be determined Grey Cup week. Here's what I'm thinkin'

MOP-This is easy in the East. Its all Anthony Calvillo. In the West, there are four good candidates but in the end can you really argue with Cam Wake. Yes Henry Burris is a finalist and there are some who love the Calgary quarterback because of his charismatic personality but with all due respect to Burris, you can't argue with the numbers Wake has put up. He is likely to be the first defensive player to be named MOP and he can talk about that when playing in the NFL in 2009

Canadian--This one will be tough coming out of the West because you have two excellent receivers in Kamau Peterson and Paris Jackson. I would likely lean towards Jackson (especially after Kamau turned into Incompleterson again against the Riders last week) but that could change depending on what the two do in their final games. In the East, I like Ben Cahoon and he could very well win the award.

Top Offensive Lineman--Always tough because the linemen don't get the glory that other position players like. Could it be a battle of U of S grads with Scott Flory taking on Gene Makowsky in the final balloting. Both have resumes that are well decorated--one that would become even better with a top lineman award. This one's a toss-up as far as I'm concerned. (BTW: I wonder what the Rider o-line would look like if Flory had come here so many years ago!!)

Top Rookie-Weston Dressler, Weston Dressler and just in case you don't understand me, Weston Dressler. He will beat Hamilton's Prechae Rodriguez in the final balloting and it won't be close. I was told before he signed that Weston Dressler was a star in the making. The people that told me that were bang on. I also think he has just scratched the surface when it comes to how good he could be. I just throw this out there for 2009 Rider fans.....with Dressler as one of your inside receivers, could it pave the way for a trade involving DJ Flick.  I'm just throwing it out there.

Top Defensive Player- If I'm taking Wake to win the MOP, you know I'm taking him to win top defensive player as well. I say he beats out Hamilton's Chris Thompson. He's had 8 picks this year and maybe has been the best Ti-Cat this season.

Top Special Teams Player--Even though he has been hurt, I like the former Rider Dominique Dorsey to take home this award. (Why didn't he return kicks in Saskatchewan the way he does in Toronto??!!). While I would like to see Luca Congi be the West nominee, I somehow think the award will go to my 2nd most despised kicker in football and that is Calgary's Sandro De Angelis. For those wondering who the first one is its the little elf in New Orleans known as Martin Gramatica.

Thats what I'm thinking. As always, your comments are more than welcome.