RIDERS PRACTICE IN TORONTO

DID DARIAN DO THAT LAST YEAR?

CC:  Each week we have someone different do it but I try to rotate through Darian as much as possible.  He’s one of the leaders on this team and it’s always good to hear his voice and hear his mindset.  As the quarterback goes, the team goes.

DOES DARIAN WANT TO OUT-SHINE RICKY RAY?

CC:  I think he just wants to be the best and do whatever it takes.  It may be yards but at the end of the day, if you talk to Darian, and even Ricky, they just want that Grey Cup and probably to be Grey Cup MVP.  They want it all.

ON LB SAM HURL

CC:  The biggest thing with Sam is he has to be disciplined within his reads with the defenses we’ve put in and tackle well.  That’s what’s gonna make him be a stud in this league; if he can tackle well and run around.  He missed a couple sacks last week.  He coulda had four sacks and that would’ve given him the league lead for him.  Nerves and all that played a part but I think he’ll be better this week.

ON COMPARING HURL’S CFL PLAY TO HIS CIS PLAY

CC:  These guys are a lot faster than most guys in the CIS but he has to get back to where he’s comfortable.  Once he gets comfortable, I think he’ll be good to go.

ON THE FIRST ROAD TRIP OF THE YEAR

CC:  I think the distractions of the road, playing Ricky Ray, playing a good defensive staff that got after us pretty good last year when we were in Winnipeg, there’s a lot of different tests and a lot of things that will be answered this week.

ON ROB BAGG’S FINE

CC:  It keeps him humble!  He’s a resident good guy but every now and again, that’s life.  I didn’t really see the play either but I heard about it.  That’s just a part of it.

ON NEW CFL DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING GLEN JOHNSON

CC:  There was a long list of guys that fined for some things in Week 1 and that’s good.  It keeps the game clean and it keeps the guys in check.

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Meanwhile star Rider WR Rob Bagg is not impressed with the fine he received from the CFL in the Hamilton game for “throwing a punch”.  He spoke to the Leader Post’s Murray McCormick about it on Friday.

“I’m definitely appealing it.  It wasn’t a punch,” Bagg asserted.  “It was a push to the face.  I mean I totally understand you’re not supposed to have hands-to-the-face but I think if you look around the league, you’d be fining multiple DBs, receivers, O-linemen, D-linemen.  Hands accidentally get high.  There’s a difference between hands-to-the-face and closing your fist.

“I haven’t really looked into (the amount of the fine) but to be honest with you, if it was just a dollar, it’s the principal.  I don’t think in a league where players obviously don’t make that much, that the CFL should just be taking money from players.  It’s a violent game and things happen and unless it’s something malicious or an attempt to injure, I think there should be warnings in place rather than fines immediately.”

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ARGONOTES:

TORONTO (CP) – A revamped Toronto Argonauts defence will feature four new starters when the club faces the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday.

Cornerback Vincent Agnew, linebacker Antwaun Molden and defensive tackle Marcus Thomas will all start versus the Riders after missing Toronto’s season-opening 45-21 road loss to Winnipeg last week.

Cornerback Matt Ware and linebacker Jamie Robinson, who both played against Winnipeg, will miss Saturday’s game on the injured list.

As well, Jeremaine Gabriel steps in at safety with incumbent Matt Black also going on the injured list.

Running back Jeremiah Johnson will miss the contest on the injured list, with Anthony Woodson coming off the practice roster to replace him.

The defending champion Riders won their season opener, downing Hamilton 31-10 in a Grey Cup rematch Sunday night.