From 3DN about TSN broadcasts this year....

 

"The CFL on TSN is taking a renewed approach to its broadcasts for 2025.

 

The network’s panel will travel to all nine stadiums over the course of the upcoming season, sources told 3DownNation, including visits to Regina and Montreal in Week 1. Kate Beirness is returning to host the panel with Henoc Muamba and Davis Sanchez filling the main roles alongside her.

 

Paul LaPolice will also frequently appear on the panel, though he will also perform colour commentary for one game per week. As previously reported, longtime panelist and Hall of Fame quarterback Matt Dunigan is no longer with the network.

 

As for Milt Stegall, who has been with the network since 2009, there is no timeline for his return after the death of his eldest son, Chase. The 20-year-old died unexpectedly at DePaul University on Monday where he was a member of the school’s soccer team.

 

“Our CFL on TSN family is absolutely devastated over Chase’s passing. If you know Milt, you know that his family is everything to him, and we cannot imagine the pain he is going through right now,” said producer Chris Edwards in a statement to 3DownNation. “Milt is our brother and we are going to give him our love and support him in any way we can, and in whatever way he needs.”

 

During a broadcast teeing up the 2025 season on Tuesday, TSN dedicated its coverage this year to Chase’s memory.

 

TSN plans to flesh out the panel by rotating in active players, though it doesn’t appear as though this will happen every week. Players will generally make panel appearances during bye weeks, though there may also be opportunities for in-studio appearances when players are in town to play the Argonauts or Tiger-Cats.

 

Friday Night Football, a longtime network staple, will have a brand new presentation featuring fresh animations, graphics, and music. One source called the scope of the production “bigger.”

 

The play-by-play personnel at the network has remained unchanged for 2025, featuring Rod Smith, Dustin Nielson, Marshall Ferguson, and occasionally Farhan Lalji. Colour commentary will be performed by Glen Suitor, Duane Forde, and LaPolice."

34 minutes ago, coach17 said:

The guy is controversial in the traditional sense for sure. He does seem to know the X’s and O’s of the game and is as good as anyone out there rationalizing them. Us older generation May think he comes off as an asshat for his comments on what is bringing the game down , but just maybe this is what it needs to get the new generation more involved, I don’t know only time will tell. I get super annoyed when he talks of the major differences in the CFL as opposed to the NFL. Might there be something in it though that us old guys are missing and to get more youth to start following CFL the league might have to consider some radical changes!

His takes aren't gonna chase any league fans away from the games so they're unlikely to do any harm, expect, perhaps to him. Even bad opinions can lead to positive results.

"A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value"

              - Isaac Asimov

yeah he is getting things talked about and people engaged to a certain degree about what he's going on about...probably in the grand scheme of things good as it's being noticed....and defended/discussed

 

So is Luke Wilson's goal to be a Stephen A Smith?

He’s trying to be a little 2 American media personality and quite honestly I find him annoying and completely pointless. Who the **** Is Luke Wilson anyways? I know who he is, he played in the nfl a couple seasons but I don’t get the point of him covering cfl. 

Edited June 25, 2025Jun 25 by Goalie

46 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

So is Luke Wilson's goal to be a Stephen A Smith?

Pat Mcafee 

Wilson lacks the personality and charisma to be McAfee or SAS. 

1 hour ago, Booch said:

yeah he is getting things talked about and people engaged to a certain degree about what he's going on about...probably in the grand scheme of things good as it's being noticed....and defended/discussed

 

I mean, it was week 3 of the regular season. If it were LD or later, He'd have a point. But undisciplined, sloppy play early in the season, especially in a Sask game, is nothing noteworthy. Fact is, with TCs being soo soft now, and vets playing a fraction of pre season, the first month of the regular season is the real pre season. 

8 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Wilson lacks the personality and charisma to be McAfee or SAS. 

Stephen A. has charisma? LOL, I mean he's got something Wilson doesn't. 

 I think wilson views him self as a Bomani Jones type, but really is one of the filler guys who used to be on Around the Horn, who tried to fit in with bad hot takes and edgy crap but just swung and missed. 

 

I'll say, he had some points. I've seen plenty of bad games with thrilling endings up here. Way too many games where the refs take over. And I dislike the TSN presentation as much as anyone. But that's all low-hanging fruit, none of which is easily fixed. 

Yeah he's (seemingly) trying to be an edgy american style commentor. His takes aren't ground breaking at all and it seems to be getting some traction in terms of engagement online.

I think it's a calculated move by TSN/CFL. We'll see how it pays off.

Edited June 25, 2025Jun 25 by Bigblue204

2 hours ago, Booch said:

yeah he is getting things talked about and people engaged to a certain degree about what he's going on about...probably in the grand scheme of things good as it's being noticed....and defended/discussed

 

Yes to this. 

I guess people who don’t like this kind of content/delivery are satisfied with what we have now. 

Edited June 25, 2025Jun 25 by Pete Catan's Ghost

Wilson ain’t gonna win any points trashing bob Irving by calling him old. Bob is a legend. More of a legend than Wilson will ever be. 

On 2025-06-23 at 3:25 PM, bigg jay said:

Yeah no rush but given his age, injury history and level of play prior to injury - I think there's a good chance he doesn't make the AR, bye week or not.

He had 48 tackles and was on pace for over 80 and 2 sacks prior to injury. That would have put him as his second best year with the Bombers. He is also fully recovered and has been for months. I see and talk to him pretty regularly. Not sure why so many people have a hate on for him lol. Dude has a ton of heart and grit which goes a long way in the locker room. 

1 hour ago, Bomber_fanaddict said:

He had 48 tackles and was on pace for over 80 and 2 sacks prior to injury. That would have put him as his second best year with the Bombers. He is also fully recovered and has been for months. I see and talk to him pretty regularly. Not sure why so many people have a hate on for him lol. Dude has a ton of heart and grit which goes a long way in the locker room. 

Tackles not a good metric unless you look at context of them

Heart and grit are nice...but it's about talent and ability too...and that's eroded a lot and for an aged LB coming back form ACL...it gonna affect him still regardless how healed he seems....speaking from experience coming back from 2 reconstruction

Don't get me wrong...loved Biggie a f what he did...key word "did"

We should have moved on from him..and a few others last yr already

1 hour ago, Bomber_fanaddict said:

He had 48 tackles and was on pace for over 80 and 2 sacks prior to injury. That would have put him as his second best year with the Bombers. He is also fully recovered and has been for months. I see and talk to him pretty regularly. Not sure why so many people have a hate on for him lol. Dude has a ton of heart and grit which goes a long way in the locker room. 

He's 36 years old which would put him in probably the top 10 oldest players in the CFL... of those the only ones who aren't Kickers or QBs are Big Stan and Micah Johnson in SSK. He is also coming off knee surgery last year, and could barely play in the 2023 Grey Cup. Father time is undefeated.

I just hope he's planning on retiring in WPG.

1 hour ago, Bomber_fanaddict said:

He had 48 tackles and was on pace for over 80 and 2 sacks prior to injury. That would have put him as his second best year with the Bombers. He is also fully recovered and has been for months. I see and talk to him pretty regularly. Not sure why so many people have a hate on for him lol. Dude has a ton of heart and grit which goes a long way in the locker room. 

Who's hating?  You can argue his level of play but he is old for a player and coming is off a major injury - those are facts, not opinion.  It's also not an attack on his character.  We all know what kind of guy he is and we love him for it but his on-field best before date is in the rearview mirror.  

If he can crack the Stamps active roster, kudos to him and I hope he can end his career on a high note.  I just have my doubts it'll happen.

1 hour ago, Bomber_fanaddict said:

He had 48 tackles and was on pace for over 80 and 2 sacks prior to injury. That would have put him as his second best year with the Bombers. He is also fully recovered and has been for months. I see and talk to him pretty regularly. Not sure why so many people have a hate on for him lol. Dude has a ton of heart and grit which goes a long way in the locker room. 

Stats with no context! Yay!

Bighill sadly is a fraction of the player he once was and barely able to play fast enough when 100% healthy, which he never is anymore. 

3 hours ago, Goalie said:

Wilson lacks the personality and charisma to be McAfee or SAS. 

Neither of those two have either.

1 hour ago, Bomber_fanaddict said:

He had 48 tackles and was on pace for over 80 and 2 sacks prior to injury. That would have put him as his second best year with the Bombers. He is also fully recovered and has been for months. I see and talk to him pretty regularly. Not sure why so many people have a hate on for him lol. Dude has a ton of heart and grit which goes a long way in the locker room. 

I hate to pile on but this comment is just incorrect... Bighill is almost universally loved for his time in Wpg... he's one of the key reasons we broke the drought and won back-to-backs... we just don't want him on the field any more... it's plain to see his best days are long gone... all the best to him in Calgary.... I look forward to when he signs a one-day contract and retires a Bomber so we can properly celebrate him here

Like Milt Stegall is the best receiver ever in the league and will always be a fan favourite.... but if they tried to put him in the field we'd all lose our ****.

Every player no matter how great has a best before date. Bighill is well past his.

We always have to remember 'controversial' sells...business '101'....and we are. as much as we hate it at times, a business....Luke will stick around until his schtick no longer sells😉

1 hour ago, ShyGuy said:

He's 36 years old which would put him in probably the top 10 oldest players in the CFL... of those the only ones who aren't Kickers or QBs are Big Stan and Micah Johnson in SSK. He is also coming off knee surgery last year, and could barely play in the 2023 Grey Cup. Father time is undefeated.

You forgot long-snappers, Mike Benson is 38.

1 hour ago, rebusrankin said:

Neither of those two have either.

McAfee does. Dudes over like rover on pro wrestling. Not even a joke. McAfee is charisma. SAS also. He has something. I mean, most the time it’s prob just the way he says something but it’s something. Dude is a popular sports personality. I mean he’s making millions man. He’s doing something right obviously. 

29 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

You forgot long-snappers, Mike Benson is 38.

and hurt...age kills football players....well...keeps em off field more than on...Benson was never an injury issue...not sure what/how he got hurt but would a guy in his prime...or 12 yrs younger or so have gotten hurt??

59 minutes ago, Booch said:

and hurt...age kills football players....well...keeps em off field more than on...Benson was never an injury issue...not sure what/how he got hurt but would a guy in his prime...or 12 yrs younger or so have gotten hurt??

Benson was injured on a downfield block on a punt return.

3 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Benson was injured on a downfield block on a punt return.

Hopefully Laroux has a better game this week in his place. He was shakey, and got roughed up a couple times.