Football

Eskimos sign pair of rookie linebackers

The Edmonton Eskimos announced the signing of non-import rookie linebackers Dan Bass Jr. and Andrew King on Friday.

Bass is the son of former CFL Outstanding Defensive Player Dan Bass Sr., who played with the Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders during an illustrious 12-year career. The elder Bass won a Grey Cup with the Eskimos and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

The six-foot-two, 225-pound Bass Jr., is an Edmonton native who played his college football at the University of Alberta. He was a first-team all-Canadian last season for the Golden Bears — with 58 tackles and a forced fumble in seven games.

King is a product of St. Mary’s University and had 20.5 tackles in eight games with the Huskies last season.
Source: www.cbc.ca

Alouettes, Roughriders exceed salary cap

The Montreal Alouettes exceeded the CFL salary cap by $108,285 last season. (John Woods/Canadian Press)

The Montreal Alouettes have been fined and stripped of a first-round draft pick for violating the CFL’s salary cap last season.

The CFL confirmed Monday that both the Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who won the Grey Cup, went over the $4.5 million salary cap.

“The cap is real, it is being enforced and it is working,” CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said. “It’s working to ensure our league has a level playing field and a sustainable business model, and it is working in the long-term interests of our league, our players and, most importantly, our fans.”

The Alouettes exceeded the salary cap by $108,285, resulting in a fine of $116,570 and the loss of a first-round pick in Wednesday’s draft.

Montreal lost the fourth overall pick, which goes to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in eighth spot, but the Alouettes retain the No. 7 pick acquired in a trade with Saskatchewan.

The Roughriders overspent by $76,552, resulting in a fine of $76,552.

The British Columbia Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Tiger-Cats complied with the cap restrictions.

“The CFL has proven it can operate under a salary management system that ensures competitive balance on the field and greater stability off the field,” Cohon said.

“A lot of credit needs to go to our teams for their focus on making this work,” noted Michael Copeland, chief operating officer of the CFL. “They realize how important it is to our league and our future.”

League rules dictate that teams be penalized $1 for every dollar they exceed the cap up to $100,000, $2 for every dollar between $101,000 and $300,000 plus a first-round pick, and $3 for every dollar over $300,000 and two first-round picks.
Source: www.cbc.ca

Chiefs trade Jared Allen to Vikings

Kansas City Chief defensive end Jared Allen, the NFL’s sack leader, was traded Wednesday to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Chiefs received the 17th overall pick in this weekend’s draft, and a pair of third-round selections.

Pro Bowler Jared Allen speaks to reporters Wednesday in Eden Prairie, Minn.
(Jim Mone/Associated Press)

“You never want to get rid of a good football player, [and] Jared Allen is a very good football player,” Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson said. “However, based upon what compensation you might acquire and where the philosophy of this organization is today, this is the best decision for the organization now and
in the future.”

“You don’t often get the opportunity to get a player of this calibre at his age,” Vikings vice-president of player personnel Rick Spielman said. “In essence, it looks like we got Jared Allen as a Top-10 pick.”

Allen, 26, signed a six-year contract with the Vikings, reportedly worth $31 million US in guaranteed salary and, with incentives, as much as $74 million US.  

“I have chills right now,” he said. “It is just starting to sink in.

“As a player, it is cool because it shows appreciation for what you have done. But at the same time, personally, I look at it as a new challenge.”

Allen was suspended last season for the first two games because of multiple DUI convictions, but he posted 65 tackles and a league-high 15½ sacks over the remaining 14 games.

“I have never run from my mistakes, I have owned up to them,” he said. “I have made the changes necessary to be a better man.”

Allen further strengthens a defensive line featuring fellow Pro Bowlers Kevin Williams and Pat Williams.

“My life just got easier,” Allen said. “Having those two defensive tackles as teammates is going to be tremendous.”

“The only problem we’re going to have is who is going to get to the quarterback first,” he quipped.

“He can play every down,” Vikings head coach Brad Childress said. “I feel like I got the best defensive end pass rusher, that plays the run combination, that there is.”

Allen has totalled 230 tackles, 43 sacks, eight fumble recoveries and an interception in 61 NFL games since he was drafted in the fourth round (30th overall) by Kansas City in 2004. 

“I look forward to jumping into this head first and engulfing myself in purple and gold,” he said. “I’m ready to play some football and win some games.”
Source: www.cbc.ca

Argonauts sign Kerry Joseph through 2009 season

Grey Cup champion ranked 3rd in CFL passing last season with 4,002 yards

Kerry Joseph had his contract extended through the 2009 Canadian Football League season on Wednesday, and now it’s time for the new Toronto Argonauts quarterback to deliver.

Joseph, the CFL’s most outstanding player in 2007, was acquired from Saskatchewan in a March 5 trade along with a third-round draft pick in 2010 for offensive tackle Glenn January, defensive lineman Ronald Flemons, a first-round pick this year and a second-rounder in 2010.

Argonauts quarterbacks Michael Bishop, left, and Kerry Joseph are under contract through the next two seasons.
(J.P. Moczulski/Canadian Press)

“I am excited about this extension and thankful to the Argonauts organization which has gone above and beyond to get this deal done at a fast pace,” Joseph, 34, said in a statement. “Both the Argonauts and the city of Toronto have welcomed me with open arms, and I’m looking forward to going out and playing for this organization.”

Prior to the trade, Joseph reportedly expressed a desire to recoup some of the money he left on the table last year when he accepted a $125,000 pay cut to help the Roughriders comply with the $4.05-million salary cap.

It’s believed Joseph, who earned a reported $225,000 plus bonuses last season, was commanding a salary in line with many other starting quarterbacks whose annual stipends exceed $300,000.

“This has been one of my better experiences negotiating a contract,” Argonauts general manager Adam Rita said. “Kerry wanted to be here and we wanted him here. We plan on having him be a part of the Argos for a while.

“This cements the best 1-2 combination at the quarterback position in the league.”

Argonauts backup pivot Michael Bishop had his contract extended through the 2010 campaign the day Joseph was introduced to the Toronto media.

Joseph ranked third in passing last season with 4,002 yards and led Saskatchewan to a 12-6 record and their first Grey Cup championship since 1989.

The Louisiana native completed just 13 of 34 pass attempts for 181 yards with an interception, but the Riders prevailed 23-19 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Joseph led all CFL quarterbacks with 737 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns last season — the second most in league history by a signal-caller.

“Kerry brings a great passion and an everyday work ethic to our football team.  We are very happy that he has decided to extend with us through 2009,” said Toronto rookie coach Rich Stubler.

Joseph was claimed by Saskatchewan in the Ottawa Renegades dispersal draft on April 21, 2006.

Barring injury, Bishop will play behind Joseph, a role the six-foot-two, 215-pound Texan filled in recent years with Damon Allen as the starter.

Bishop struggled in last year’s East Division final — his first CFL playoff start — misfiring on several throws.

He completed 21 of 45 passes for 376 yards and rushed for Toronto’s only touchdown in a 19-9 loss to the Blue Bombers.
Source: www.cbc.ca

Calgary to host 2009 Grey Cup: report

With any luck, a series of coaching and player moves by the Calgary Stampeders this off-season could result in a Grey Cup appearance — on their own field.

On Wednesday, Canadian Football League commissioner Mark Cohon will be in Calgary, where it’s expected he will announce that the 2009 Grey Cup will be played at McMahon Stadium.

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon is expected to announce Calgary as host of the 2009 Grey Cup.
(John Woods/Canadian Press)

Joining Cohon at the news conference will be Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, Stampeders managing partner Ted Hellard and club president Scott Ackles.

Calgary last hosted the Grey Cup in 2000 when the B.C. Lions edged the Montreal Alouettes 28-26.

The announcement would mark the first time in three years that the Grey Cup is being slated for Western Canada. Last year’s contest was at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, won 23-19 by Saskatchewan over Winnipeg, while this year’s game will be played at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

In 2006, Winnipeg hosted the Grey Cup at Canad Inns Stadium as the Lions defeated Montreal 25-14.

Source: www.cbc.ca

Odell Thurman reinstated by NFL

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman was reinstated Monday by the NFL following a two-year suspension.

Thurman, 24, was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

He was cleared Jan. 26 to resume off-season workouts with the Bengals, with the expectation that he would be reinstated prior to April minicamp.

Thurman excelled as a rookie pro two years ago, leading the Bengals with 106 tackles, five interceptions, five fumble recoveries and 1½ sacks in 16 games.

He was selected out of Georgia in the second round (16th overall) by Cincinnati in the 2005 NFL draft.
Source: www.cbc.ca

Former Roughrider Keith spends a day in jail

Former Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Kenton Keith was released from jail in Indianapolis on Monday after being arrested a day earlier for refusing to leave a nightclub parking lot when ordered to do so by police.

Keith, 27, was arrested as police officers working security at the Cloud 9 club in Indianapolis attempted to clear a crowd from the parking lot at about 3 a.m. on Sunday.

Several patrons including Keith, currently a member of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, refused to leave and were laughing, dancing and joking, police said.

Police ordered the group to put their hands on a vehicle, but police said Keith refused and took out his cellphone to record the incident, saying “I’m a Colts player, I’m a Colts player.”

When he refused to put his hands behind his back, Keith was handcuffed and taken to jail, police said.

The running back served as a backup to starter Joseph Addai in Indianapolis last season, rushing for 533 yards on 121 carries with three touchdowns.

During his four-year stint with the Roughriders from 2003-2006, Keith rushed for 3,811 yards on 610 carries with 21 touchdowns and 19 fumbles.
Source: www.cbc.ca

Tiger-Cats extend Hage’s contract

Marvin Hage will captain the offensive line for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats through the 2010 Canadian Football League season.

Coming off an all-star 2007 campaign, the six-foot-two, 291-pound centre agreed to a contract extension.

Centre Marwan Hage anchored an offensive line that allowed the Ticats to average a CFL-best 6.1 yards-per-carry rushing average in 2007.
(Courtesy CFL)

“This is a very exciting and important signing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats,” general manager Bob O’Billovich said in a statement.

“Marwan has continued to improve his play every year and probably had the best season of his career last year which earned him well-deserved all-star recognition.

“He’s a leader on our offensive line and will be a solid part of our team’s success now and in the future.”

Hage helped solidify an offensive line that allowed the 3-15 Ticats to average a CFL-best 6.1 yards-per-carry rushing average.

“Hamilton has been my only team since I came to the CFL and I am thrilled to be staying here and playing in front of the best fans in the CFL,” said Hage, the Ticats’ second-round pick (14th overall) in 2004.

“We have a very talented, young team and a great all-round organization that is definitely headed in the right direction and I am excited to be a part of this great franchise as we strive to bring the Grey Cup back to this city.”
Source: www.cbc.ca

McNair retires after 13 NFL seasons

After 13 seasons, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair has decided to call it quits.

The quarterback has decided to retire and informed his teammates in an emotional meeting before the launch of the team’s first minicamp ahead of the 2008 season.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair has decided to retire after 13 seasons in the NFL. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)

McNair, 35, last tasted success in 2006, leading the Ravens to a 13-3 record in his first year with the team.

But the alumnus of Alcorn State University was hampered by injuries in 2007, and the Ravens struggled to a 5-11 record. Back and shoulder injuries limited McNair to just six games last season, during which he threw just two touchdowns with four interceptions and seven lost fumbles.

McNair had spent his previous 11 seasons with the Tennessee Titans, leading them to the Super Bowl in 1999, losing to the St. Louis Rams.

In 2003, McNair was named co-MVP of the NFL with fellow quarterback Peyton Manning.

After 161 career games played, McNair retires with 31,304 passing yards, 174 passing touchdowns to go with 119 interceptions and a career quarterback rating of 82.8.

McNair’s also ran for 3,590 yards with 37 rushing touchdowns while losing 41 fumbles.
Source: www.cbc.ca

NFL suspends Stephen Cooper for 4 games

San Diego Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper was suspended for four games Tuesday for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Cooper, 28, can be activated Sept. 29 — after the Chargers travel to Oakland — and return to the lineup Oct. 5 at Miami. 

He can participate in San Diego’s pre-season workouts, practices and games.

Cooper had 108 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 16 games last season, his fifth in the NFL.

He has compiled 229 tackles, seven sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 80 NFL games — all with San Diego.

Cooper signed with San Diego as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2003.

He has yet to miss a game as a pro.
Source: www.cbc.ca