CFL ROUND-UP
TORONTO – The CFL will hold its annual draft May 12, the league announced Thursday.
The Ottawa Redblacks are scheduled to select first overall, followed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts.
The Montreal Alouettes, B.C. Lions, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Grey Cup-champion Calgary Stampeders will round out the opening round.
CFL teams will select 62 players over seven rounds.
TSN will broadcast the opening two rounds live, starting at 8 p.m. ET.
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(Edmonton) – The Edmonton Eskimo Football Club announces the retirement of quarterback Pat White
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TORONTO – Jim Barker knows how to ensure star quarterback Ricky Ray remains with the Toronto Argonauts.
Re-sign head coach Scott Milanovich.
Ray and Milanovich are both in the final years of their contract. Barker hired Milanovich as Toronto’s head coach prior to the 2012 season, then acquired Ray in a blockbuster deal from the Edmonton Eskimos.
Milanovich and Ray capped their first season together in style as Toronto beat the Calgary Stampeders 35-22 in the 100th Grey Cup game played at Rogers Centre.
Barker participated in an online question-and-answer session Wednesday and was asked if he intends to keep Ray, 35, in Toronto.
“Absolutely,” Barker commented. “Ricky Ray is perfect for this offence.
“He and Scott have formed a tight bond and signing 1 will probably help to signing the other.”
Barker answered over 70 questions – many Argos related but also others regarding his time in the XFL and favourite sandwich – during the one-hour 40-minute session. Barker said the trade for Ray began innocently enough.
“Just a conversation between GMs talking about other players and his name came up,” Barker said. “You know, there was just back and forth and it happened.”
Predictably, Barker was asked about Toronto’s stadium issue. The Argos’ lease at Rogers Centre expires after the ’17 season and the Argos haven’t found a new home yet although owner David Braley and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment continue talking about the club playing at a revamped BMO Field.
“Well obviously we’re hopeful for some positive resolutions soon,” Barker said.
Barker responded humorously regarding if he thought the CFL would expand to 10 teams – Halifax and Moncton have both been mentioned as potential sites – during his tenure.
“I certainly hope so,” he said. “I love the Atlantic region.
“Lobster…”
Barker also had some advice for incoming CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge, who was hired Tuesday.
“Be strong in your convictions,” Barker said.
Another fan asked Barker which player he’d take from an existing CFL team. Barker said answering that question could land him in hot water with Orridge.
“The new commish has been here for one day and you’re trying to get me fined already?” he asked.
Barker also provided a tongue-in-cheek response regarding which CFL rule he’d like changed.
“Allow GM’s to talk to officials on the field,” he said.
Last year, Barker was fined $2,500 for standing behind an official and trying to speak to him during a regular-season game with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Barker was also banned from the sidelines for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
In 2001, Barker served as the offensive co-ordinator for the XFL-champion Los Angeles Xtreme.
Although the league created by wrestling kingpin Vince McMahon was widely ridiculed for sub-par play and over-the-top antics, Barker praised its payscale.
“Every player made the same amount of money,” he said. “QB’s got $5000 more and kickers got $5000 less.
“The team that won got $2300 and the team that lost got nothing beyond their base salary. It was the way pro football should be. Paid on results. That league was not afraid to try new things and create excitement for fans.”
Other questions included:
– The favourite and least favourite parts of his job: “My favourite part is dealing with the players and coaches. Least favourite part is dealing with the agents.”
– Something Argos fans don’t know about a GM: “You have to be decent at math.”
– What constitutes an A-plus sandwich: “It would have spicy peppers and spolumbo sausage.”
The final question regarded Barker’s favourite cheer. But it was followed by expletives directed at the Argos, then ended with Hamilton’s traditional chant.
“Holy Mackinaw,” Barker responded.
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CALGARY – The Calgary Stampeders players have singled out teammate Corey Mace for his contributions in a championship season.
The defensive tackle from Port Moody, B.C., was the recipient of the Presidents’ Ring, a team award presented annually for performance on and off the field.
“This is for me, something I’ve been keeping an eye on myself and voted on in year prior,” Mace said Tuesday at McMahon Stadium. “It is voted on by your teammates and to have that respect from your brothers in the locker-room, that’s truly important.”
Mace had a tackle in the Grey Cup game and an “extremely important sack that was a game-changer,” Stampeders president Gordon Norrie said, to help Calgary to a 20-16 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The six-foot-three 286-pound defensive lineman recorded 11 tackles, a sack and had a 10-yard fumble recovery that set up a touchdown over his 12 starts last season. Mace also knocked down a pass in the West Division final.
“This man’s play is reflected in the Stamps’ great numbers in stopping the run,” Norrie said.
Mace, 29, suffered season-ending injuries in the season-openers in 2011 (Achilles tendon) and 2013 (torn labrum). He was also sidelined six games in 2014 with injuries. The Stampeders signed Mace to a contract extension in January.
A healthy 2012 had him starting all 18 games. He recorded 25 tackles that season with a sack, a pass knockdown and a pair of forced fumbles. Mace even scored on a one-yard touchdown reception against B.C.
The Stampeders acquired Mace’s rights from the Toronto Argonauts in the middle of the 2010 season.
Mace started a holiday turkey and ham drive two years ago for food banks and charitable groups. In 2013, he launched Mace’s Faces, which allows 15 at-risk youth to attend every home game.
Previous winners of the award, established in 1967, include quarterbacks Henry Burris and Danny Barrett, receiver Allen Pitts, defensive back Keon Raymond and running back Rob Cote.
“You take a good look at that trophy and those names on that list, there are guys who have walked away from the game and are very successful post-career,” Mace said. “The guys I’ve seen pick up the award since I’ve been here, Hank’s still playing. Cote and Keon, those guys are going to have successful careers also after they leave.
“Hopefully I’m another one of those guys who walks away with a Stampeder horse on his back and rides into the next career.”
(Canadian Press)
