Bethel-Thompson Back In Double Blue

The Toronto Argonauts announced today that the club has re-signed quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson to a one-year extension.

The San Francisco, California native’s third season in Double Blue was the best of his career. He led the CFL with 26 touchdown passes and was third in the league with 4,024 passing yards.

“I’m very excited. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this 2020 campaign and what we’re building here,” said Bethel-Thompson, who is looking forward to working with new head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “He played the position, he sees the field like a quarterback.

I have high, high expectations for myself and I think he does as well.”Bethel-Thompson, 31, had nine games where he passed for 300 or more yards, despite getting just 13 starts. In 10 of those games he threw for multiple touchdowns. The Sacramento State product also had a pair of games where he passed for over 400 yards.

“We’re thrilled to have him back,” said Argonauts Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “Athletically, he’s got an arm that can make all the throws and he moves around in the pocket well, but the number one thing I love is his work ethic. Nobody works harder than McLeod does.”

A member of the 2017 Grey Cup champions, he backed up Ricky Ray in the Argos 27-24 win over Calgary.

(Toronto Argonauts)

NHL Three Stars Of Week

NEW YORK (Feb. 3, 2020) – Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos and Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 2.

FIRST STAR – LEON DRAISAITL, C, EDMONTON OILERS

Draisaitl tied for the League lead with eight points (2-6—8) in three games last week as the Oilers gained five of a possible six points, improving to 28-18-6 (62 points), second in the Pacific Division. Draisaitl recorded multiple points in each game last week, starting with two assists in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames Jan. 29. On Jan. 31 against the St. Louis Blues, Draisaitl scored twice, including the game-winning goal, to spur Edmonton to a 4-2 victory and overtake teammate Connor McDavid for the League lead in points. He then extended his point streak to 11 games (7-15—22) with 0-4—4 in an 8-3 victory Feb. 1 in the second “Battle of Alberta” of the week. The 24-year-old native of Cologne, Germany leads the NHL with 29-54—83 in 52 games after becoming the fastest Oilers player to hit the 80-point mark in a season since 1989-90 (Mark Messier in 50 GP). His string of five straight multi-point games dating to Jan. 14 is the second-longest such run of his career (6 GP from March 14-23, 2017).

 SECOND STAR – STEVEN STAMKOS, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Stamkos led the NHL in goals (5) and points (5-3—8; tied) across four games as the Lightning (32-15-5, 69 points) won three of four contests to strengthen their hold on second place in the Atlantic Division. On Jan. 27, Stamkos reached the 20-goal mark for the 11th time in his career, scoring both Lightning goals in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. He then posted his second straight multi-goal game Jan. 29, notching 2-1—3 in a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The Tampa Bay captain closed the week with three points in a back-to-back set in California, recording an assist on the winning goal in a 4-3 triumph Jan. 31 at Anaheim followed by 1-1—2 in a 3-0 victory Feb. 1 at San Jose. A native of Markham, Ont., Stamkos, 29, ranks tied for 13th in League scoring with 23-33—56 in 49 games this season, including 6-6—12 over an active seven-game point streak dating to Jan. 14.
         

THIRD STAR – J.T. MILLER, C, VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Miller tied for the second-most points in the NHL last week with 3-4—7 in four games, helping the Canucks (30-18-5, 65 points) post a 3-0-1 record to increase their lead to three points atop the Pacific Division standings. He started the week with two goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues as Vancouver extended its home winning streak to nine games. He then posted 0-2—2 in a 5-2 win against the San Jose Sharks Jan. 29 and reached the 20-goal mark for the fourth time with 1-1—2 in a 4-3 overtime victory versus the New York Islanders Feb. 1. The 26-year-old closed the week with an assist on the tying goal in a 4-3 shootout loss Feb. 2 at Carolina. A native of East Palestine, Ohio, Miller is in his first season with the Canucks and ranks second on the team – and tied for 19th in the NHL – with 20-33—53 (53 GP), three goals, two assists and five points shy of matching career highs established in 2017-18 (23-35—58 in 82 GP).

Bombers Release Streveler So He Can Pursue NFL Opportunities

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Monday that it has released quarterback Chris Streveler.

According to a news release from the team, Streveler is pursuing NFL opportunities.

The quarterback signed with the team in 2018. He ran for 726 yards with 12 touchdowns in 17 games last season while running for another 39 yards and a touchdown in the Bombers Grey Cup win over Hamilton. .He also threw for over 1500 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Cam Judge Signs One Year Contract Extension

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed national linebacker Cameron Judge to a one-year contract extension, keeping him with the Club through the 2020 season.

Judge (6’2 – 235lbs) returns to the Green and White after a stellar 2019 season that saw him nominated as the West Division’s Most Outstanding Canadian.

On the road to the nomination, the 25-year-old notched a career-high 61 tackles, 11 special teams tackles, five quarterback sacks, two interceptions – including a pick-six – and one forced fumble in 17 games played.

Over three CFL seasons and 38 games, Judge has put up 102 defensive tackles, 18 special teams tackles, seven sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a touchdown.

The California native was the Roughriders first round pick (second overall) in the 2017 CFL Draft.

Judge was set to become a free agent on February 11, 2020.

(Saskatchewan Roughriders) 

Riders Extend Takoby Cofield

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American offensive lineman Takoby Cofield to a two-year contract extension, keeping Cofield with the club through the 2021 season.

Cofield (6’4 – 315 lbs) returns to the Roughriders after playing in 15 games over the last two seasons. The 28-year-old spent time at both left and right tackle in 2019, playing in four games after sustaining an injury in the early part of the year. Cofield made his CFL debut on August 18, 2018.

The North Carolina native spent five collegiate seasons at Duke and played in 51 career games. He started 42 consecutive contests at left tackle putting him on the field for 3,274 snaps. He helped the team win the ACC Costal Division Championship in 2013 and made three bowl game appearances. He was Duke’s representative at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in 2014.

Prior to coming to the Riders, Cofield spent time with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins and played in eight preseason games between 2015 and 2016.

(Saskatchewan Roughriders)

Super Bowl 54 Preview

The National Football League is commemorating the end of its 100th season in Miami with Super Bowl LIV, featuring the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers, the designated road team, and the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs, the designated home team. FOX will televise the contest from Hard Rock Stadium, with kickoff slated for 6:30 PM ET.

Including the postseason, 49ers quarterback JIMMY GAROPPOLO (23-5, .821) and Chiefs quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES (27-8, .771) have a combined career winning percentage of .794, the highest combined winning percentage among opposing starting Super Bowl quarterbacks (minimum 25 starts).

For the Super Bowl LIV capsule, click here.

Here’s what’s at stake in Super Bowl LIV:

With a San Francisco victory…

• The 49ers would record their sixth Super Bowl victory, tied with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl titles by one franchise. San Francisco also captured Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX.
• The team would become just the second club in NFL history to win a Super Bowl after finishing the previous season with four-or-fewer wins, joining the 1999 St. Louis Rams.
• San Francisco would win the Super Bowl for the first time in 25 years. At the same stadium, on January 29, 1995, the 49ers concluded the NFL’s 75th season with a 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Miami.
• Head coach KYLE SHANAHAN and his father, MIKE SHANAHAN, would become the first father and son head coaches to win Super Bowls. Mike won Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII as head coach of the Denver Broncos.
• San Francisco would improve to 6-1 in Super Bowls, and 3-0 in Miami Super Bowls (also XXIII after the ’88 season and XXIX after the ’94 season).

With a Kansas City win…

• Nearly 50 years to the date of their last Super Bowl appearance (January 11, 1970, Super Bowl IV), the Chiefs would have their first world championship in five decades.
• In the 60th season of the Chiefs franchise, the Lombardi Trophy would return to Kansas City for the first time since the AFL merged with the NFL prior to the 1970 campaign. LAMAR HUNT, who founded the franchise in 1960 and passed away in 2006, helped to create the AFL. He also asked then-NFL Commissioner PETE ROZELLE to call the game the Super Bowl.
• Head coach ANDY REID would win his first Super Bowl. Reid would have 222 career wins, including postseason. Only five coaches in the history of the league have more victories, including the postseason.
• Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES would become the second-youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl (BEN ROETHLISBERGER, Super Bowl XL).

The 49ers, who were 4-12 in 2018, became the third team to advance to a Super Bowl after winning four-or-fewer games the prior season, joining the 1999 St. Louis Rams (4-12 in 1998) and the 1988 Cincinnati Bengals (4-11 in 1987).

San Francisco earned a trip to Miami with a 37-20 win over Green Bay in the NFC Championship. Running back RAHEEM MOSTERT rushed for 220 yards, the second-most ever in an NFL postseason game, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON’s 248 rushing yards for the Los Angeles Rams on January 4, 1986. Mostert also became the third player in postseason history to rush for at least four touchdowns in a single game, joining RICKY WATTERS (five) and LEGARRETTE BLOUNT (four).

Quarterback JIMMY GAROPPOLO has a 23-5 (.821) career record as a starter, including the postseason, and makes his first-career Super Bowl start.

Tight end GEORGE KITTLE has 2,945 career receiving yards and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (2,774) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in his first three seasons in league annals. Wide receiver EMMANUEL SANDERS joined Pro Football Hall of Famers WALTER PAYTON and LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, along with ODELL BECKHAM JR., as the only non-quarterbacks to record both a passing and receiving touchdown in multiple games since 1970. Wide receiver DEEBO SAMUEL had three games with at least 100 receiving yards in 2019, the most by a rookie in franchise history.

Rookie defensive lineman NICK BOSA has recorded three sacks in the 49ers first two postseason games and can become the third rookie since 1982 when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least four sacks in a single postseason, joining GREG TOWNSEND (4.5 sacks in 1983) and GARIN VERIS (four in 1985). Defensive lineman ARIK ARMSTEAD has recorded a sack in each of San Francisco’s two postseason games this year while cornerback RICHARD SHERMAN has registered an interception in both the Divisional and Championship rounds. Defensive lineman DEE FORD spent five seasons (2014-18) with Kansas City and recorded a career-high 13 sacks and seven forced fumbles with the Chiefs in 2018.

Kansas City won the AFC Championship with a 35-24 win over the Tennessee Titans. Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES led the Chiefs back from a 10-0 deficit, giving Kansas City its first lead on a highlight-reel, 27-yard run just prior to halftime. He also threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver SAMMY WATKINS caught seven passes for 114 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown. Earlier, the Chiefs captured the AFC West division title (12-4) for a fourth consecutive year, the longest streak in franchise history.

The Chiefs have scored at least 30 points in each of Mahomes’ first four career postseason starts, tied for the second-longest postseason streak in the Super Bowl era. At 24 years and 138 days old on Sunday, he is the fifth-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. With a victory, Mahomes would become the youngest player to win both an NFL MVP award and a Super Bowl championship, surpassing Hall of Famer EMMITT SMITH (24 years, 233 days old on the last day of his MVP 1993 season). Mahomes recorded 75 touchdown passes and 9,238 passing yards in his first 30 career games, both the most by any player through his first 30 career games in NFL history.

Running back DAMIEN WILLIAMS has four touchdowns this postseason, including three in the Chiefs Divisional Round victory. Williams has nine total touchdowns in his first five postseason games, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer TERRELL DAVIS (nine) and LARRY FITZGERALD (nine) for the most by a player in his first five postseason games in NFL history. Wide receiver TYREEK HILL has 21 career touchdowns of at least 40 yards, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (21) for the third-most such touchdowns in a player’s first four seasons in NFL history. Tight end TRAVIS KELCE became the first tight end in NFL history with four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Since 2017, Hill and Kelce have combined for 7,795 receiving yards, the most by a wide receiver-tight end teammate duo over a three-season span since 1970.​

Arbuckle Signs With Ottawa

The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced Friday that American quarterback Nick Arbuckle has signed a two-year contract with the club ahead of the opening of the CFL Free Agency period.

Arbuckle’s rights were acquired by Ottawa earlier this month from the Calgary Stampeders in exchange for Ottawa’s third-round pick in this year’s CFL Draft. With the signing, the REDBLACKS and Stampeders will swap first-round draft selections.

“I am very excited to become an Ottawa REDBLACK and I can’t wait to get there and get to work as soon as possible,” said Arbuckle. “It’s an incredible feeling knowing that my wife and I will have the opportunity to start our family in such an amazing city.”

The 26-year old impressed in his second year in the CFL in 2019 after taking over for an injured Bo Levi Mitchell. The Georgia State product finished the season having completed 174 passes for 2,103 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2016, he attended the Pittsburgh Steelers’ mini-camp.

“We were really impressed with Nick when we met with him and felt that, with what we’ve seen on tape, he’s someone who could put us in a position to be successful,” said Head Coach Paul LaPolice. “Nick brings the ability to lead a team to wins, with his intelligence, with his leadership, his ability to throw the ball and how he can process information on the football field. We’re excited to have him.”