First-overall CFL draft pick Linden Gaydosh lands with Ticats, celebrates with “a couple beers”

While Monday's CFL draft had plenty of surprises, the name at the top wasn't one. Calgary Dinos' defensive lineman Linden Gaydosh was chosen first overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as most expected. Gaydosh carried an appealing mix of athletic ability, CIS performance and a lack of NFL interest in his services, making him a logical top choice. The best part of his selection may have been his reaction, though. During a TSN interview over the phone from his home in Peace River, Alberta, Gaydosh was asked how he was going to celebrate. His response: "Maybe crack a beer. I've got a couple on the table." There's something perfectly Canadian about that coming from a top CFL draft pick, as it's a line that seems right out of a Bob and Doug sketch. Here's hoping Gaydosh's table looks like this one:

That's not to blast Gaydosh at all, as this is an amazing moment for him, and celebrating's perfectly valid. Sure, he may have been talking about this shortly after 10 o'clock Alberta time, but hey, he was drafted by Hamilton, so that's a legitimate excuse to start drinking according to that time zone. (Besides, I'm sure morning hours never stopped either Bob and Doug or the Trailer Park Boys, so if it's good enough for Canadian cultural touchstones, it's good enough for CFL draft picks). It's also nice that he was honest and interesting rather than going with a trite "Well, I'll go hit the gym" or something. It's just a pretty funny response in this particular situation.

Tiger-Cats fans shouldn't worry here, as Gaydosh looks like an excellent pick. (He also looks like Game Of Thrones' Samwell Tarly.) At 6'3'' and 314 pounds, Gaydosh has the size to play defensive tackle (which Hamilton coach/GM Kent Austin later told TSN is where the team projects him fitting in), but he showed in the CIS ranks that he also has the agility to come off the end of the line. He impressed at the combine, putting up 36 bench press reps (second only to Bishop's DL Elie Ngoyi), and he should be an excellent fit for the Tiger-Cats, who are stockpiling talented Canadian defensive linemen. Gaydosh will have to work his way into the lineup, but he should be a crucial part of the team's future. For now, though, this is an amazing day for him and one worth celebrating. It's nice to see Gaydosh's excitement about the CFL, and his perfectly-Canadian response is one worth praising, not criticizing.