The Canadian Football League announced today that Tom Higgins is leaving his role as Director of Officiating, effective immediately.
“Tom’s tenure as Director of Officiating has seen the introduction of many improvements and innovations from the debut of the Command Centre for video review to the introduction of position coaches to the addition of a coordinator for the development of amateur officials,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.
Higgins, a two-time Coach of the Year in the CFL, who also coached two squads to Grey Cup berths and won a Grey Cup as a head coach, was originally hired as the CFL’s Director of Officiating on April 15, 2008.
“It’s our understanding that Tom intends to seek a position on the competitive side of football, as a coach, general manager or administrator,” said Cohon. “We thank him for his efforts and wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”
The CFL is currently engaged in the process to identify new leadership for its officiating department.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Madani Breaks Another One
Sportsnet's/620 CKRM's Arash Madani is reporting the Ottawa REDBLACKS have their first head coach.
Former Calgary defensive co-ordinator Rick Campbell is expected to be named to the position officially tomorrow.
Former Calgary defensive co-ordinator Rick Campbell is expected to be named to the position officially tomorrow.
Riders Extend Contracts Of Four Players
The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today they have signed four non-import veterans to contract extensions. Receivers Chris Getzlaf and Rob Bagg, as well as offensive linemen Brendon LaBatte and Dominic Picard have re-upped with the team.
Chris Getzlaf just completed his seventh CFL season with the Riders after being acquired from Hamilton in August of 2007. The Regina native started 17 regular season games in 2013, on his way to being named a CFL West Division All-Star after recording 63 receptions for 1,045 yards and seven touchdowns. He was also the Roughriders 2013 nominee as Most Outstanding Canadian. The 30-year-old Getzlaf added three receptions for 78 yards and was named the Most Outstanding Canadian in the 101st Grey Cup.
The University of Regina product will enter 2014 with 299 career receptions for 4,704 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Rob Bagg is a six year Rider veteran having played 69 career regular season games. After missing most of the 2012 season due to injury, the Queen’s graduate bounced back in 2013 with 34 receptions for 430 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games before adding five catches for 23 yards and a touchdown in three postseason games. He was named CFL Canadian Player of the Week in week 4.
The 28-year-old Kingston, ON native will enter the 2014 season with 168 career receptions for 2,365 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Brendon LaBatte had a memorable 2013 season; his second with the Green and White. In addition to winning the 101st Grey Cup, the Weyburn, SK native played all 18 regular season games at left guard and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and a CFL All-Star. The six year CFL veteran has been named a CFL Divisional All-Star five times.
The University of Regina product was originally selected by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 1st round (6th overall) of the 2008 CFL Draft.
Dominic Picard will be entering his third season with the Riders after joining the team as a free agent during the 2012 off season. The 31-year-old started all 18 regular season games and three post-season games at centre, helping pave the way for the Riders explosive ground game during the 2013 season.
The Sainte-Foy, Quebec native was originally drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 3rd round (23rd overall) of the 2006 CFL Draft. He has played 120 career regular season games.
Getzlaf, Bagg and Picard agreed to extensions that keep them under contract through the 2015 season while LaBatte’s is good through 2016.
Bills Investigating Getting Out Of Toronto Deal
After drawing less than 39,000 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto last Sunday, Buffalo Bills CEO Russ Brandon said Wednesday he will "review" the future of the team's annual game there.
The Bills lost for the fifth time in six games in Toronto since 2008.
"There's a full evaluation that will take place on all of our business relative to what this series means, and I'm going to look at it very closely," Brandon told Buffalo radio station WGR 550.
The Bills signed a new five-year agreement this year, but Brandon hinted that the team may try to opt out after they drew just 38,969 in Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. It marked the lowest-attended game in the six Buffalo has played in Toronto. The Rogers Centre holds 46,470.
"I'm going to look at everything," Brandon said. "I'll leave it at that."
The Bills play one game in Toronto annually to "regionalize" their brand.
Buffalo (4-8) is also having trouble selling tickets for its main home games. Brandon said 20,000 tickets are still available for the home finale Dec. 22 against the Miami Dolphins.
"I don't feel good about it," he said. "That's a long way to go in two weeks."
(Sports Exchange)
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
CenturyLink Field And Monday Night Football
You can take me to the 31 other stadiums in the NFL, any college one or the 9 CFL stadiums (including our own Mosaic Stadium) and it will never, ever be like what it was for Monday Night Football as I witnessed my beloved Seahawks for the first time in their digs that stands where the Kingdome once did and where I last saw the team play on home soil.
While I have not been to every stadium, I would find it hard-pressed to beat the environment surrounding Monday Night Football, Here's just a snapshot or two of what was absolutely a tremendous weekend.
We were able to go on a tour of the facility Saturday afternoon and while there are some pictures I'd love to show you---I can't due to my damn Blackberry screwing up on me at the worst possible times, but there are enough here to give you a pretty good look at what this place is all about.
This greets you as you walk into the stadium right near the Seahawks pro shop. It features the helmets of every team that plays high school, University and pro ball. I would love to see something like this at the new facility when it is built.
Its three hours before kickoff and the area is jammed. Did anyone work in Seattle on Monday? I asked a police officer what its like with the Seahawks playing on a Monday instead of a Sunday. He rolled his eyes as he pointed a fake pistol to his head. He'd rather have the team keep playing Sundays instead of Mondays or Thursdays. I can't imagine why. 
The people were in line to get into "Touchdown City". The great thing about this place is you don't need a ticket to get in. Its right beside the stadium and it offers something for everything. It opens three hours before the game starts and with 30 minutes to go, people without tickets are told they have to exit through one door while those with tickets can go to their gates or through another door into the stadium.
The radio pre-game show is on the air live from Touchdown City!!
Kickoff is over an hour away and the people just keep coming and coming and coming. Believe it or not, I don't think you can get into the stadium if you aren't wearing the Seahawks logo somewhere on your body.
The 12th man flag sits outside the Seahawks dressing room door and is on the wall by the tunnel from which they emerge. This flag was signed by thousands of Seahawks fans and the team ran underneath it when they played in Super Bowl XL and were jobbed by Bill Leavy as the NFL wanted to give Jerome Bettis his Super Bowl. I will always be bitter on that, As I found out this weekend, others share my sentiment.
Chris Berman and his crew are getting ready to bring the game into your living room from his studio in Bristol, Connecticut on ESPN. He has some help from Stuart Scott, Mike Ditka. Ray Lewis, Trent Dilfer and Steve Young.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson will speak from this podium after the game to the assembled media. So this is what it looks like from other side.
Some of the team gather before going back inside for the last word from the coach!
The national TV booth is ready. This is where Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden called the game Monday. When do those guys get to the stadium? Who's kidding who---a photo op with Tirico and Gruden would have been awesome.
That's about it. As you know, the Seahawks demolished the Saints and gained the respect of many who believe Seattle will be playing in New York City for the Super Bowl thanks to quarterback Russell Wilson and a defence that makes you fight for the yards you get.
I just can't say enough about the stadium and other things I learned.
--Standing in the corner of the stadium about 40 of us yelled, it just echoes throughout the place
--The fans stood the entire time New Orleans had the ball in the 1st quarter. I thought I might never sit down, but the fans get real quiet when Seattle breaks out of the huddle. These guys know what's going on and there is no wave either. They even let the cheerleaders dance instead of doing something dumb like "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate."
--The Rider Nation was represented in more than one section. I did not wear green---I wore my Seahawks 12 jersey. Would you expect anything different?
--Before the game, the opposing team gets a police escort from their hotel to the stadium and they also get one to the airport immediately after the game------this of course after they eat a buffet style meal outside their dressing room. Does that happen in the CFL? That just made me shake my head.
--With all apologies to Rider fans, there is nothing like this at or before game day. You have to see it to experience it first hand to know what I'm talking about. I know the Riders have seen this stadum up close and personal too and I hope they bring a lot of CenturyLink to the new facility. The 13th man deserves it just as much as the 12th man in Seattle.
--Seattle could care less about hockey. I don't think the NHL needs to put a team in there. It was tough just finding hockey merchandise.
--Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks and other coffee houses, yet this coffee drinker of about 3 per day had zippo while there.
--At one point, the Seahawks would put TV's that sit in the opposition dressing room about 9 feet off the ground hanging from the roof. They would put in some god-awful channel and hide the remote. This would force the opposition to A) decide whether or not to change the channel or turn the TV off and then find a step ladder to do so. or B) Ignore it and play on. Our guide leader told us NFL teams have a variety of doing things and you have to be careful about what situation you put yourself in at the stadium. The NFL is cracking down on a lot of things including the TV hijinx in Seattle. One team also dressed their entire dressing room in pink in an effort to soothe the nerves of the raging visitors. The NFL put a stop to that to.
--There's nothing but positive talk in that town about their team. THey have two defensive backs who may not play again this year because they have violated the substance abuse issues, but they just keep rolling. There is a thought process this team is on its way to the Super Bowl, I am a fan, but I can't disagree and either can their p x p guy Steve Raible.
--Its hard to describe just how loud it can get in there. If its that loud in the seating area, I can't imagine what its like at field level. As I said, it is something you have to experience to believe it for yourself. Seahawks fans did set a world record for loudest stadium and in the first half, the University of Washington's seismic monitor registered five earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 as the 70-thousand constantly made the building shake. If that doesn't give you an idea of what its like in there, I don't know what does.
--That's all I got. Get to Seattle and watch a game. You'll enjoy it all win or lose and we know that means wins.
Bombers Get New HC
General Manager Kyle Walters is excited to announce today that Mike O’Shea has been named the 30th Head Coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
O’Shea takes the reins of the Blue Bombers with 20 years of CFL experience and after spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Argonauts. The four-time Grey Cup Champion won three as a player (1996, 1997 and 2004) and his first title as a coach in 2012, leading a stalwart special teams unit for the Argos.
“Mike knows what it takes to win in this league, and he has done that as both a player and as a coach,” says General Manager Kyle Walters. “He is highly respected by his peers, and someone we feel is the right fit for what we are trying to build here. We’re thrilled to have Coach O’Shea on board.”
O’Shea remarked, “This is truly an honour to take over as Head Coach for such a historic franchise and one of the landmarks of Canadian football. The organization, our fans, the city and province deserve a winner, and I assure you we will do everything in our power to make all of those people proud.”
The North Bay, Ontario native played 16 seasons in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts, from 1993 to 2008. He concluded his career finishing second all-time in career tackles with 1,151 and is one of only three players to record over 1000 tackles made. He won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian award in 1999 after recording 84 tackles, 13 special teams tackles and three interceptions that year.
O’Shea takes the reins of the Blue Bombers with 20 years of CFL experience and after spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Argonauts. The four-time Grey Cup Champion won three as a player (1996, 1997 and 2004) and his first title as a coach in 2012, leading a stalwart special teams unit for the Argos.
“Mike knows what it takes to win in this league, and he has done that as both a player and as a coach,” says General Manager Kyle Walters. “He is highly respected by his peers, and someone we feel is the right fit for what we are trying to build here. We’re thrilled to have Coach O’Shea on board.”
O’Shea remarked, “This is truly an honour to take over as Head Coach for such a historic franchise and one of the landmarks of Canadian football. The organization, our fans, the city and province deserve a winner, and I assure you we will do everything in our power to make all of those people proud.”
The North Bay, Ontario native played 16 seasons in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts, from 1993 to 2008. He concluded his career finishing second all-time in career tackles with 1,151 and is one of only three players to record over 1000 tackles made. He won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian award in 1999 after recording 84 tackles, 13 special teams tackles and three interceptions that year.
CFL All-Star Team Announced
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are pleased to announce that five players have been selected 2013 CFL All-Stars. Three players from the Green and White were selected to the offence while two were selected to the defence. The All-Stars were selected by Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches.
KORY SHEETS (RB): Sheets opened the 2013 season in record fashion rushing for over 100 yards in six straight games and finishing tied for a franchise best nine overall. In 15 games, the second year Rider had 287 carries for 1,598 yards and tied for the league lead with 12 rushing touchdowns. It was his second consecutive 1,000 yard season. He also added 37 receptions for 264 yards. Sheets was a unanimous choice as a West Division All-Star. This is his first CFL All-Star selection.
WESTON DRESSLER (WR): Dressler just completed his sixth season with the Riders and it marked the fifth time he accumulated over 1,000 yards receiving since joining the team. He finished the regular season with 70 catches for 1,011 yards and a team leading nine touchdown receptions. He also added 5 carries for 26 yards, nine punt returns for 100 yards, and three missed field goal returns for 74 yards. Dressler has been named a West Division All-Star in three consecutive seasons and four overall. This is his second CFL All-Star recognition after also being named last season.
BRENDON LABATTE (OL): LaBatte just completed his sixth CFL season and second with the Riders. The University of Regina product played all 18 regular season games at left guard, paving the way for the team’s ground attack. 2013 marked LaBatte’s fifth consecutive Division All-Star nomination and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. This is his second CFL All-Star recognition after also being named in 2011.
ALEX HALL (DE): Hall was acquired via trade from Winnipeg on October 6th, after appearing in 13 games with the Blue Bombers. The second year CFL’er joined the Green and White as the league’s leader in quarterback sacks, finishing the season second with 16 after appearing in four games with the Riders. He also added 40 defensive tackles and one fumble recovery on the season. This is Hall’s first selection as a CFL All-Star.
TYRON BRACKENRIDGE (S): Brackenridge just completed his third season with the Riders after joining the team late in the 2011 season. The 29-year-old transitioned to safety after spending his first two seasons at linebacker. In 2013 the Washington State product recorded 48 defensive tackles, six pass knockdowns, three interceptions and two tackles for loss. He also added a league leading five forced fumbles. This is Brackenridge’s first CFL All-Star selection.
Below lists the complete 2013 CFL All-Stars.
(*Unanimous)
QUARTERBACK – RICKY RAY
RUNNING BACK – JON CORNISH*, KORY SHEETS
RECEIVER – S.J. GREEN*, WESTON DRESSLER, MARQUAY McDANIEL, FRED STAMPS
CENTRE – JEFF KEEPING
GUARD – BRENDON LABATTE, CHRIS VAN ZEYL
TACKLE – STANLEY BRYANT, JOVAN OLAFIOYE
DEFENSIVE END – CHARLESTON HUGHES*, ALEX HALL
DEFENSIVE TACKLE – KHALIF MITCHELL, ALMONDO SEWELL
LINEBACKER – ADAM BIGHILL, CHIP COX, HENOC MUAMBA
CORNERBACK – GEOFF TISDALE, PATRICK WATKINS
HALFBACK – JERALD BROWN, RYAN PHILLIPS
SAFETY – TYRON BRACKENRIDGE
PUNTER – ROB MAVER
KICKER – RENE PAREDES
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER – LARRY TAYLOR
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)