REGINA -- Chick & Baggs.
Sounds like some sort of fast food joint.
John Chick and Stevie Baggs are a couple of mismatched defensive ends. They couldn't be less alike. You are also free to question whether they actually like each other.
Whatever, CFL quarterbacks like them less. And if they bring their "A" games here today, you have to like Saskatchewan's chances of going to the Grey Cup.
Ask Calgary Stampeders coach John Hufnagel what he things of Chick and Baggs and he says he is tired of thinking about them.
"I want to get some sleep tonight," he said on the eve of the first Western final here in 33 years, and the first meeting between these two teams in a Western final in 38 years.
"They are two very good defensive ends. Both have their special talents," Hufnagel said. "They're a handful. I know our guys Jeff Pilon and Ben Archibald are looking forward to that challenge."
Chick and Baggs are believed by many, including former Roughriders defensive coordinator and now Edmonton Eskimos head coach Richie Hall to be the game-breakers or game-makers.
"They're the X factor," Roughriders vet Eddie Davis said. "They're almost like a heart beat for this team."
And they're a study.
Two weeks ago here when the Roughriders beat the Stampeders in the game which settled first place and created the first final here since 1967, Chick sacked Henry Burris late in the game.
It appeared that Baggs turned and walked away from Chick, who was being congratulated by teammates. The sack moved Chick into a tie with Baggs for the lead in team sacks. But after the game, out of nowhere, there was a sack audit and Baggs ended up with another one to again lead the team with 12.
When I asked Chick about it, I received a curious response.
"I'm not commenting on that. Actions speak for themselves," he said.
Chick won the team nomination and West nomination for the top defensive player trophy. It's believed Baggs has his nose out of joint about that. He was asked about that with a camera in his face.
"Ray Charles could see I had a better year," he said.
He was, however, clearly playing for the laugh.
Chick is the straight man. Baggs is the comedian. But Baggs added seriously that "my stats were better than John's," then said he would have voted for John "100%."
Baggs said they are indeed two different players.
"He's the speed guy and I'm the power guy."
It's the other way around.
Baggs also is the new guy.
Before coming here he was first a Winnipeg Blue Bomber and then an Eskimo.
Chick was a rookie starter on the Grey Cup team in 2007. He missed 10 games last year. Both came into this season with career totals of eight CFL sacks. Chick said he considers being voted finalist as top defensive player "a huge honour" but added "it's the next two games which determine if my season is successful."
TERRY.JONES@SUNMEDIA.CA
