Cornish extension may promote running by committee

The Calgary Stampeders agreed to a contract extension with Canadian running back Jon Cornish this week, and that deal (which adds one extra year to his existing contract) could be an important one. Cornish (pictured above running against Saskatchewan in last year's Western Final) was second on the Stampeders' tailback depth chart last season, which on most teams would make the former Kansas Jayhawk a complete afterthought unless the top back (Joffrey Reynolds) got hurt. That wasn't the case in Calgary, though; in addition to playing on special teams (where he picked up 224 return yards on 12 attempts and made 12 tackles), Cornish regularly spelled Reynolds on every third Stampeders' offensive series.

That's a highly unusual arrangement in the CFL, where most teams have generally relied on one all-purpose running back, occasionally subbing in others only in particular situations. It turned out to be an effective one, though, as Cornish proved exceptionally productive with the ball. He picked up 618 yards on 85 carries, with a 7.3 yards per carry average that was better than any other back who got at least 50 touches. Given the amount of single-back sets they feature, CFL offences also often require running backs who can be proficient in both pass-blocking and pass-catching, and Cornish didn't disappoint in either aspect. He hauled in 14 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown, an average of 16.1 yards per catch, and his blocking was pretty impressive as well.

By comparison, Reynolds finished with bigger totals (1,200 rushing yards and 286 passing yards), but wasn't as effective on a per-play basis in either department. His average rushing play picked up just 5.5 yards, while the average pass to him netted only 7.7 yards. He did receive far more touches than Cornish, which has to be taken into account, and he was still generally a reasonably effective back, but those stats suggest that using Cornish on every third series proved to be a pretty good idea for the Stampeders.

Both backs have a bit of a different style, which made their pairing particularly effective. At 5'10'' and 221 pounds, Reynolds packs a lot of force and is tough to stop between the tackles, but the 6'0'', 205 Cornish seems to have a bit more quickness and elusiveness. In addition to forcing defences to adapt to whichever back was in at the moment, the time-sharing arrangement also kept both backs fresh over the course of the game, which proved very effective in numerous fourth quarters. The Stampeders finished with a league-best 13-5 record, and much of that was thanks to their offence; they racked up 626 points over 18 regular-season games (an average of 34.8 points per game), over 100 ahead of the next-best offence (Montreal's, which finished with 521 points). The Cornish-Reynolds tandem was an essential part of that offence, and fresh backs combined with stellar blocking from an outstanding offensive line to often let Calgary stampede over its opponents.

The pairing also perhaps allowed Calgary to run more than they typically do. Despite going from essentially an unquestioned lead back to the first choice in a tandem, Reynolds only received 18 fewer carries in 2010. Thus, it seems that many of Cornish's 85 carries came on plays that probably would have been passes the previous year. I don't have the total number of plays ran in each year, so it's possible that the change is more thanks to Calgary having the ball more rather than any shift in philosophy, but we don't know for sure. It would seem logical that having fresher running backs could allow you to run more, though, especially if you get the ball back quickly after scoring. If you've just marched down the field on the strength of a bunch of 5- and 6-yard runs, your back's probably a bit tired, so you're often more likely to focus on passing plays; if you're using a different running back on the next series, you have more options.

The idea of running by committee obviously isn't new. Former Denver Broncos' head coach (and current Washington Redskins' head coach) Mike Shanahan is generally credited with popularizing the approach, but plenty of NFL teams have used it since then, some to great success. The approach has even made its way north of the border at times; one particularly memorable example was the John Avery/Ricky Williams tandem in Toronto in 2007, which had some great moments but didn't get too far thanks to injuries. More recently, some other teams have started to take heed of Calgary's tactics; B.C. found an impressive amount of success with a mix of Yonus Davis and Jamal Robertson down the stretch, and it's likely that both Edmonton (Arkee Whitlock, Daniel Porter) and Montreal (DeAndra Cobb, Yvenson Bernard, maybe even Ahman Green) might use aspects of that approach next year. The CFL's generally focused on having one star tailback and a bunch of backups per team, but that may be starting to change. If it does, the Reynolds/Cornish experiment may be remembered as the place where it started, and Cornish's contract extension may allow the Stampeders to continue along those lines for the next few years.

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Washington Nationals: Is President Obama Too Busy to Throw Opening Day Pitch?

Washington Nationals Shut Out By Atlanta Braves During Opening Day

Baseball is back!  But Barack Obama was missing from the Opening Day festivities in Washington.

According to Michael A. Memoli of the Washington Bureau:

"Nationals Park will feature all the patriotic trappings one would expect on opening day for the national pastime in its capital city. Everything, that is, except for the president of the United States.

"Indeed, both the White House and the Washington Nationals say President Obama is skipping the Major League Baseball season opener, despite the standing invitation for the first fan to throw out the ceremonial first pitch."

There's no reported reason for his absence.  However, it's probably okay to give the president a pass for missing opening day today.  After all, there's turmoil in Libya, issues in Japan and problems in the MIddle East among other things to deal with.

But here's my own personal theory.

The POTUS is going through a little bit of stage fright.  Last season, he was booed by fans for wearing a White Sox cap and kinda blew it with his opening day pitch?throwing the ball nowhere close to home plate.

No worries Mr. President, at least you can shoot threes!

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Larry Haylor wants to take CIS football to the world

Mark Masters of The National Post had a great piece the other day on former Western Mustangs coach Larry Haylor (pictured at right in 1998 when he was awarded the Frank Tindall Trophy as the CIS coach of the year), who's now working with an absolute who's-who of CIS coaching legends to develop a largely CIS-based team that's hoping to be the first Canadian entry in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Cup. Towards that end, Haylor (who's a candidate for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame next year) and company held tryouts across the country (in Guelph, Moncton and Saskatchewan) over the last month, which were attended by more than 150 players. From that pool, comprised mostly of current and recently-graduated CIS players (plus any other participants Haylor snaps up during E-Camp this weekend), they're going to select 45 players to take to the championships in Austria this July. In addition to the Austrians and Canadians, there will also be teams there from Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico and the United States.

This is a pretty cool initiative, and it's one that could help raise awareness of both Canadian football as a whole and the CIS product in particular. The tournament has been held every four years since 1999, and it got a particular boost in recognition the last time around when the U.S. fielded a team. The Americans came home with the 2007 title after the tournament in Japan, but they didn't have an easy time of it, needing double overtime to knock off the hosts 23-20 in the final. They'll obviously be favoured again this year, considering the sheer numbers of American players and the incredible American football infrastructure out there (plus the American rules this goes by), but this tournament shows that other countries also love the gridiron game and have plenty of talent of their own.

Moreover, this could be a valuable tool for building the Canadian game. The coaching staff Haylor's put together is incredible, featuring reigning Vanier Cup champion Glen Constantin of the Laval Rouge et Or as the defensive coordinator and the man he defeated in 2008, Western Mustangs head coach (and former Hamilton Tiger-Cats' boss) Greg Marshall as the offensive coordinator. 2010 Vanier runner-up Blake Nill from the Calgary Dinos will be coaching the linebackers, while Saskatchewan's Brian Towriss will handle special teams and running backs, Acadia's Jeff Cummins will work with the defensive line and Saint Mary's Steve Sumarah will coach the quarterbacks and receivers. They're planning to take a mix of players who still have CIS eligibility and those who have recently graduated, and working with a coaching staff of that calibre will undoubtedly help build some of those prospects up towards future success at the CIS and CFL levels. Furthermore, the coaches and players will undoubtedly get to make good contacts with their counterparts in other countries, and that could lead to future international players heading to Canada to play university or professional football.

The tournament obviously isn't all that widely known here yet, as it's only been held three times and Canada's never sent a team. That's made it difficult for Football Canada to raise funding for it. Here's what Football Canada director of sport Rick Sowieta told Masters:

Rick Sowieta, Football Canada's director of sport, believes getting the Americans involved marked a major step forward. However, he admits that even with the United States competing it is difficult to get Canadians to see the world championship as a significant event.

"Obviously people know football is popular in North America, but when you tell them that Japan has more than 100 universities that play football they are surprised," said Sowieta. "Awareness has been a huge challenge and as a result it has been harder to secure funding."

Sowieta thinks it will take about $250,000 to get the team to the event. Football is not an Olympic sport, which means Sport Canada, an agency of the federal government, will not offer up funding for international events. Football Canada is hoping to get some support from the CFL and universities around the country.

"We're working to educate people at every level," said Sowieta. "Even some university coaches don't, at first, grasp how big this is, but they're starting to come around and we're hoping the athletic directors and alumni will embrace this as well."

In my mind, it would be great to see this team get the funding they need to be able to represent Canada this year and in years to come. Even with the current limited size of the event, sending a Canadian team would be well worth it to help promote our country's brand of football abroad. There's a tremendous amount of interest in football around the world, and getting the CFL and CIS increased international exposure can only be a good thing. What's even more promising is that this has the potential to really take off, though. Football won't be an Olympic sport any time soon thanks to the U.S.'s dominance and the largely undeveloped state of the game in many other countries (as well as the even more limited state of the women's game), but who can say where it will be in 40 or 50 years? Even if football never makes the Olympics, a strong world championships would serve as a great advertisement for the game, and it might turn into a prestigious title of its own; in hockey, the IIHF's world juniors, world championships and World Cup of Hockey have all proven pretty successful over the years, so who's to say that something similar couldn't happen in football? Canada's got the opportunity to get in on the ground floor thanks to Haylor and company, and in my mind, that's an opportunity we should absolutely take.

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Video: Bradley thinks Alexander is ready for a brawl

It's going to be a huge year for the 140-pound division. Things kick off this weekend when two of the top five fighters in the weight class clash in Detroit on HBO (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley meet Saturday night in the Silverdome.

Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs) possesses an awesome mix of power and speed, while Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs) is more of a slick boxer. Bradley told the media that he believes Alexander is going to bail from his normal approach and go toe-to-toe. 

"I think he's going to try to press the action," Bradley said (3:20 mark). "A lot of people think he's going to try to box me. For some reason I feel it, for some I feel he's gonna come to me."

Bradley isn't about to shy away from a brawl.

"If he comes to me, I don't have to go to him," Bradley said. "It's gonna be a fight. That's the kind of fight I want. If he wants to slug it out, that's the kind of fight I want. Let's do it."  

Bradley's promoter Gary Shaw sounds even more confident. 

"Alexander cannot fight going backwards. As soon as Timmie goes forward, the fight's over," said Shaw.

Bradley is itching to get in the ring. He put in an eight-week training camp and said he's essentially been prepping for the fight for the last five months.

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Video analysis: What's next for Donaire? 'JuanMa' says stay away from 126

Before this weekend's fight, Nonito Donaire was highly regarded at 118 pounds, but after a second-round knockout of Fernando Montiel, the Filipino-American has vaulted to the top of the class. Now there's talk of Donaire jumping to 122 or 126.

Juan Manuel Lopez is the top dog at featherweight. He says Donaire better be careful before jumping eight pounds.

"I think that at 118, he should dominate without any problems and perhaps he can do the same at 122 pounds, but at 126 I think right now it’s a little too much for him," Lopez told BoxingScene.com. "Not only against me, but against [Yuriorkis] Gamboa and against Orlando Salido. So far he’s never felt a blow from a man at 126 pounds. It is not the same. [Donaire] is not a fight I would dismiss. It would be a good fight, but at the right time. Right now, I think he’s not ready [to be at featherweight]."

Yahoo! Sports' lead boxing writer Kevin Iole joined us to talk about the Donaire victory over Montiel and agrees with JuanMa, the hot shot should gradually move to 126.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is kicking his teammates again

It's been a minute since Zlatan Ibrahimovic last attacked one of his teammates at AC Milan. First, there was the time he kicked Rodney Strasser in the back for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Then, he tried to kick the ball out of Robinho's shirt during a goal celebration. Then, there was the infamous training ground fight between him and Oguchi Onyewu.

Maybe he grew bored of picking on his club teammates, so as Sweden prepare for their Euro qualifier against Moldova on Tuesday, he decided to turn his training ground assaults on his international brethren.

While talking with Christian Wilhelmsson during a training session, Zlatan casually took a seat. Seconds later, something snapped and Zlatan jumped up to deliver a stinging kick to Wilhelmsson's backside. Clearly surprised by this, Wilhelmsson charged back at Ibra, but stopped short of getting retribution and merely nudged Zlatan's thigh with his boot.

So what the funk is wrong with Ibra? Who knows. But it might be time he starts attending training sessions in a Hannibal Lecter cage.

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Flawless Djokovic blasts Blake 6-2, 6-0 in Miami

Novak Djokovic has won 20 matches in a row to start 2011. James Blake has won 20 matches in total since November, 2009. Djokovic is hitting his prime. Blake is nearing the end.

Their match on Sunday night in Key Biscayne ended exactly as you would have expected then; with the world's hottest player crushing the over-matched American, 6-2, 6-0 in their third-round match at the Sony Ericsson Open.

Djokovic is in total control of his game right now. He's locked in. In his past eight matches, the world No. 2 has won 12 of his 16 sets by a score of 6-0, 6-1 or 6-2. He's not content to take it easy on his opponent's serve and then turn it on late in the set to get a break (like Pete Sampras used to do), he's going full-throttle from the opening game and not letting up until the match is over. On Sunday night, that took all of 52 minutes.

On the other hand, Blake is painful to watch. His ranking has plummeted -- from No. 10 in January, 2009 to No. 44 one year later to No. 173 today. Except for a four-month dip in 2005 brought on by his back injury, Blake hadn't been that low since early 2001. Watching him get run around the court by Djokovic, you'd never have thought you were watching a former top-10 player.

It's only the third time in 30 years that a player has started the season with a longer winning streak. In 1984, John McEnroe went 39-0 to start the year. Two years later, Ivan Lendl began 1986 with a 25-0 mark.

Up next for Djokovic is his friend and fellow Serbian Viktor Troicki. In his last eight matches against Troicki, Djokovic is a perfect 8-0. They played two weeks ago at Indian Wells, with Djokovic winning 6-0, 6-1. Expect the the Nole train to continue barreling down the track.

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Free agency heats up with signings of Anderson, Cobourne

The CFL's free agency period may have gotten off to a somewhat slow start after the window officially opened at 12:01 Wednesday morning, but teams are fast making up for that today. As of 4 p.m. Eastern, one of the most notable moves saw the Montreal Alouettes continue their stellar offseason, landing one of this year's most coveted prizes in former Calgary cornerback Dwight Anderson, a 2010 league all-star.

Last year, the secondary was one of the Alouettes' biggest issues, and Anderson (pictured above bringing down Montreal RB Avon Cobourne in an Oct. 11 game) should go a long way towards shoring that up; he established himself as a cornerback to be feared last season, picking off five passes and forcing quarterbacks to throw away from his man much of the time. We'll see how his on-field antics translate to Montreal, but Anderson can play. From this standpoint, his signing looks like yet another great move by Alouettes' general manager Jim Popp, who's done an incredible job to keep the core of his championship team together despite huge numbers of potential free agents. The Alouettes also signed former NFL wide receiver Jerry Porter and may be close to a deal with B.C. safety Tad Crawford, who could provide extra help in the secondary.

Anderson's exit meant the Stampeders had lost both their all-star corners from last season (thanks to Brandon Browner's departure for the NFL), but they quickly made their own move to sign defensive back Geoff Tisdale from Hamilton. It looks like Calgary had to pay Tisdale a significant amount of cash, and his performance last year (58 tackles, four interceptions) was very solid but not on par with Anderson's. However, he is significantly younger (23 versus 29) and has almost as much CFL experience (three seasons versus four), so he could be a key part of the Stampeders' plans for years to come. The team also added linebacker/long-snapper/special-teams man Tim St. Pierre from Edmonton.

Calgary's other key departing free agent may not be as easy to replace, though. Left tackle Ben Archibald hasn't officially left yet, but his exit looks more and more imminent all the time. Much of the talk is focusing around the B.C. Lions, who could definitely use Archibald's presence to anchor their line and would also provide him with a job close to his offseason home in Spokane, Washington. Archibald was deservingly named the league's top offensive lineman last year (he's pictured at right receiving that award), and has proven very capable at both pass protection and run-blocking. He's 32, but that doesn't mean his career will end any time soon; this league does tend to favour veterans, and many offensive linemen in particular are able to play at a high level into their late 30s.

Meanwhile, Hamilton may have lost Tisdale, but they made their own free-agency splashes. Perhaps the biggest came with the signing of Cobourne, the 2009 Grey Cup MVP , which reportedly carried a $125,000 price tag. That price was apparently too rich for the Alouettes' blood. Montreal does have a few backup options in place, though, including former Green Bay Packer Ahman Green, non-imports Dahrran Diedrick and Mike Giffin and imports Remene Alston and Emmanuel Marc.

For Hamilton, Cobourne could be a nice acquisition. He offered similar ground production to DeAndra Cobb last season (both averaged 5.2 yards per carry, Cobb finished with 1,173 yards and eight rushing touchdowns against Cobourne's 956 and six), but Cobourne was a more effective pass-catching threat (64 catches for 556 yards versus Cobb's 38 for 334). The team could look to trade Cobb, but it seems likely that they might try and form a backfield tandem of the kind that worked so well for Calgary last year; the running-back-by-committee idea doesn't help either player's individual stats, but it can produce results for the team if done effectively.

The Tiger-Cats also signed Saskatchewan defensive back Daniel Francis. He could perhaps be a replacement for Tisdale; Francis is a little older at 26, but still should be on the upswing of his career. He has NFL experience, but has only played two CFL seasons and really only saw significant defensive duty in 2010; he was pretty effective when called upon, though, recording 53 defensive tackles, 10 special-teams tackles, a quarterback sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Francis was endorsed by Tiger-Cats assistant general manager Joe Womack (who was with Saskatchewan last season) for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions, which bodes well for him. We'll see how he fits into Corey Chamblin's plans.

Another move of note came from the West Coast, where B.C. has apparently signed Toronto defensive tackle Eric Taylor to a three-year deal. Taylor recorded three sacks and 17 tackles in limited playing time last season. He's 29, so he should have plenty of good seasons left, and the Lions were looking to add depth on their defensive line; Taylor likely wasn't their first choice, but with Kevin Huntley staying in Toronto and Jermaine Reid heading to Edmonton, he might have been the best option left.

Most of the big-name free agents are off the board, but a few interesting ones still remain, including former Saskatchewan linebacker Rey Williams, B.C. quarterback Jarious Jackson and Calgary safety Wes Lysack. We'll have more free agency coverage here and at the Yahoo! CFL home page over the next few days; you can also follow me on Twitter for quick thoughts on free-agent signings as they happen.

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Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Rudy Gay respects life now

At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Jason Thompson: Rider FANS in Denver!! LOL http://plixi.com/p/88152706

Bostjan Nachbar: I still love to watch Police Academy movies. Watching one right now. I used to watch them all the time as a kid. :)

J.J. Hickson: To the cavs fans saying thank you. No, thank you guys! You guys are the best and the city deserved this. Many great things to come! #gocavs

Rudy Gay: Im beyond board, I've been stuck sitting in the same place for days. I've def took life for granted

Greg Monroe: Sometimes you gotta put the whole rooster in the oven.

You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.

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Jyles trade could benefit both Toronto and Winnipeg

Going into this off-season, both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts had some form of quarterback issues. Both franchises faced questions about who would be taking snaps under centre to start the 2011 campaign, but in Winnipeg, those queries spawned from strong performances from both Buck Pierce and Steven Jyles (before injuries intervened), while Toronto's uncertainties were more thanks to a disappointing showing by Cleo Lemon as their starting quarterback. This afternoon, TSN's Dave Naylor broke the news that both teams appear to have found a way to resolve their quarterback questions, with the Blue Bombers trading Jyles (pictured above runnning against B.C. in a Oct. 11 game) to the Argonauts for a first-round pick (their fourth-overall selection, one presumes) and another draft pick. That report was quickly confirmed by the Argonauts, with the extra detail that the second pick is a conditional selection in the 2012 draft (likely based on how Jyles does in Toronto).

This could be an excellent move for both sides, but it also carries plenty of questions. For Winnipeg, this looks like a reasonable return for Jyles, especially considering that most teams have their quarterback depth charts basically set at the moment; the Argonauts appeared to be the only team in the market for a potential starter, and most of the other squads have their top backups locked up as well, so there wasn't exactly a thriving quarterback market out there. A fourth-overall pick is nothing to sneeze at, especially considering the rising importance of the CFL draft, and the conditional pick in 2012 could pay off as well.

What exactly is the value of a fourth-overall pick? Plenty of quality players have been taken at that position; from the last five drafts alone, we have Danny Watkins (likely a high pick in the NFL draft this year after strong combine and Senior Bowl showings), James Yurichuk (currently a solid special-teams player with B.C. who may wind up seeing more snaps on defence), Keith Shologan (a regular starter at defensive tackle for Saskatchewan, and the choice of both the FRC and myself as the 2010 Grey Cup's top Canadian), J.P. Bekasiak (who's beginning to have more of an impact for Montreal at that DT spot) and Ricky Foley (who tore up the CFL with B.C., had a solid shot at the NFL and then did decently with Toronto in his CFL return last season, even if he got there through unconventional means). Before that, you have players like Jason Clermont in 2002 and Angus Reid in 2001. A fourth-overall pick isn't a guarantee to find a good player, as there were also forgettable selections like Emmanuel Casseus in 2003 and Mark Moroz in 2004, but there are generally some excellent players still on the board at that point; Marwan Hage and Josh Bourke were chosen later in 2004, while Wes Lysack and Paris Jackson went fifth and sixth in 2003. If the Bombers get their scouting right (something they have an excellent chance at, thanks to the work former Guelph head coach Kyle Walters has been doing for them), they could be set to pick up a pair of extremely valuable players in this draft, as they now have the first- and fourth-overall picks. That's tremendously important for Winnipeg, as their Canadian content isn't the strongest at the moment.

This trade does carry some risk for Winnipeg, though, despite Buck Pierce being a solid choice as their starter, and perhaps the better one by the numbers. If we compare the 2010 stats of Pierce and Jyles, we find Pierce comes out significantly ahead in completion percentage (66.7 per cent to 61.6), one of the most important gauges of a CFL quarterback's success. However, Jyles was very effective too, and he beat Pierce in quarterback rating (100.9 to 97.9) and TD/INT ratio (19/7 versus 6/4). Pierce has the better career numbers (65.4 completion percentage versus Jyles' 61.3, 94.1 rating versus 88.7, 54 TDs and 35 INTs versus 24 TDs and 18 INTs), but he also has a significant history of injuries (including concussions, knee injuries and shoulder issues), and with Jyles gone, the next man in line to replace him would appear to be the much-less imposing Alex Brink (who head coach Paul LaPolice did briefly favour over Jyles last season, but that didn't turn out terribly well). Brink may have potential, but his stats from last year certainly aren't all that promising (37.5 per cent completion percentage, 36.5 QB rating, no touchdowns and one interception). If Pierce can stay healthy and effective, this could be a tremendous deal for the Blue Bombers, but if he gets hurt, quarterback issues may rear their ugly head again.

For the Argonauts, there's also plenty of upside to this trade. Jyles has spent five years in the CFL, but last year was his only real chance to start, and the results were certainly impressive. A 61.6 completion percentage isn't ideal (in fact, it's right next to the 61.7 per cent Cleo Lemon put up last year), but that would be less of a concern for me with Jyles than Lemon; many of Lemon's missed passes were short throws that a successful CFL quarterback has to make, while Jyles' misses often came on longer routes. Moreover, Jyles was demonstrably better in almost every other category (19/7 TD/INT versus Lemon's 15/19, 100.9 rating against 78.1, 14.3 yards per completion to 12.0), and his extra mobility (452 rushing yards against Lemon's 274, even though both averaged 7.0 yards per carry) and ability to evade pressure could make him a great fit in Toronto's run-heavy offence.

There's still risk involved in this deal for Toronto, though. It's definitely not a guarantee that Jyles can repeat his Winnipeg success in a new offensive system, and the Argonauts' receiving corps isn't the best out there. It's notable that Jyles suffered a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder last year, too, and those injuries have derailed many promising careers. However, Argonauts coach and general manager Jim Barker said in the team's release that Jyles is in good medical shape and should be ready to compete for the starting job by training camp:

"He underwent surgery to his throwing shoulder this off-season and our medical staff is extremely confident that he’ll be 100% for training camp. We believe Jyles is very much worth the first round pick we gave up to bring him to Toronto and we’re excited to see him compete for the starting position in June."

This trade could work out very well for both teams involved. The potential benefits for the Argonauts are immediate, while the ones for the Blue Bombers are just as significant, but more about the long-term picture. It isn't a sure thing for either side, though; we'll see in the coming seasons if the risks outweigh the rewards.

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Could Lloyd join Lions' linebackers?

The Edmonton Eskimos' 2011 linebacking corps will look very different than the 2010 edition, thanks to the retirement of Canadian Javy Glatt and the team's decision to release import Maurice Lloyd (seen above left trying to bring down Lions' quarterback Casey Printers with teammate Andre Coleman in a July 4 game last year); they've also added former NFL linebacker Quinton Culberson, who last played with the St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers in 2009. Edmonton isn't going to be the only team with an overhauled group of linebackers, though; several other teams are also re-evaluating their linebackers, including Hamilton (where the Tiger-Cats brought in Renauld Williams, axing Otis Floyd in the process. The latest team that could do so, though, is one many might not have expected; the B.C. Lions.

On the surface, B.C. seems to be in pretty good shape at linebacker. The Lions tend to play a 4-2-6 alignment (defensive linemen-linebackers-defensive backs), which would be a standard nickel defence (4-2-5) in the NFL. This sometimes shows up as a 4-3-5 in the depth charts, but the nickel position (generally manned by Korey Banks) is essentially a defensive back slot, not a linebacker slot. Thus, the Lions really only have two spots to fill at linebacker, the MAC (or middle) and WIL (or weak-side). They're also pretty loaded at those spots; Solomon Elimimian did a great job in the middle last year, earning the league's rookie of the year award in the process (and he should have been selected as a divisional all-star too in my mind), while Anton McKenzie was quite solid at the weak-side slot when healthy. For depth, they currently have import Adam Leonard, who's impressed in spot duty and on special teams, as well as top Canadian prospects James Yurichuk and Joash Gesse. That doesn't exactly seem like a group that's desperately in need of reinforcement; as Lowell Ullrich writes, "Given the lack of depth on the defensive line, let alone a position coach, it is very fair to wonder if the Lions will impose more elements of a 3-4 defence in certain situations next year." That would appear to suggest the team's looking more for ways to get their current players on the field than new talent to bring in.

Still, the Lions have at least been in contact with Lloyd, and that's certainly notable, as there haven't been a lot of teams doing that. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have already said outright that they don't want Lloyd, and no one else has really made much noise about him. According to Mike Beamish of The Vancouver Sun, the Lions' interest in Lloyd (and UCLA linebacker Reggie Carter) may be partly as an eventual replacement for Elimimian, who could leave for the NFL after the 2011 season. That makes sense; head coach/general manager Wally Buono has been known for thinking long-term, and that kind of roster planning is an important part of success in the CFL.

However, it's far from a guarantee that Lloyd will end up with the Lions; he'll probably want a significant chunk of change (which might force the Lions to cut McKenzie, something they don't seem very high on doing). It also isn't a sure thing that he'd succeed if he did wind up in B.C., as he likely wouldn't be replacing Elimimian at middle linebacker right away, so how he'd fit in at the weak-side slot (if the Lions stick with the 4-2-6) is an open question. Lloyd's 28, so he should still have plenty of good years left, but Edmonton's decision to move on without him raises some questions about both his play and how he'd fit in with a new locker room. In the end, any move on Lloyd by the Lions is likely to depend on finances, other available players and Elimimian's intentions; there's also the chance that another team could swoop in and land him first. It's going to be an interesting situation to watch, but it's a tough one to predict at this point with so many factors still up in the air.

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Tiger-Cats prowl, Riders make moves and Als add Bernard

For most CFL teams, making one big splash in free agency is enough. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats certainly did that Wednesday, luring import running back Avon Cobourne away from Montreal with a reported $125,000 deal and also signing import defensive back Daniel Francis. However, general manager Bob O'Billovich didn't stop there; the team went on to sign import linebacker Renauld Williams and Canadian offensive lineman Wayne Smith, both former Saskatchewan Roughriders. Today, the Tiger-Cats continued their spree of acquisitions, bringing in Canadian fullback/running back and former Hec Crighton winner Daryl Stephenson (pictured above carrying the ball against Hamilton Aug. 7) from Winnipeg.

In some quarters, this sort of heavy activity in the free agency market might be seen as odd, especially for a team that did pretty well last season. The Tiger-Cats weren't the most consistent team, finishing 9-9 and losing to Toronto in the first round of the playoffs, but they did wind up second in the East Division and showed flashes of being able to challenge Montreal. Moreover, as Perry Lefko points out, they haven't exactly had the best track record with big-name free agents (Casey Printers, anyone?). Free agency involves plenty of risk, and the Cobourne signing in particular could go badly wrong; they're paying big money to a 32-year-old back and likely dumping a man (DeAndra Cobb) who picked up almost 200 more rushing yards last season.

From another standpoint, though, there's plenty of method in the madness. Steve Milton and Drew Edwards of The Hamilton Spectator both have good takes on the Tiger-Cats' moves so far. Milton's focus is on how the depth Hamilton stockpiled before free agency made some of their departing guys, like Chris Bauman and Jermaine Reed, quite expendable. That allowed them more room to go after potential upgrades in free agency. Edwards sees the addition of Cobourne as providing leadership and an ability to run the ball consistently, which Cobb wasn't always the best at; he also views Williams as a way for the team to get younger in the linebacking corps, likely replacing Otis Floyd as the starting middle linebacker.

It's up for debate if all of Hamilton's moves are really upgrades (and the loss of players like Geoff Tisdale could come back to haunt them), but they're definitely trying to put some pieces in place to challenge Montreal for East supremacy. Despite delivering promising moments at times, the status quo didn't get that done, so making some moves might be a good idea. However, in a league that sees plenty of change from year to year, there's no guarantee that the Tiger-Cats will even be able to hang on to their place in the East's pecking order. With a resurgent Toronto and a Winnipeg team that was better than their 4-14 record last year, Hamilton will have plenty of competition to deal with.

Meanwhile, after a quiet start to the free agency period, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are beginning to make moves of their own. Today, they signed non-import offensive lineman George Hudson, a 34-year-old who spent the last five years with Hamilton. Hudson's a long-time CFL veteran, starting his career with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2000 and joining the Ottawa Renegades in 2002 before heading to Hamilton. He struggled with injuries last season, but can be effective when healthy, and the offensive line is one of the best places to have CFL veterans in place; so much of successful line play is about cohesion and communication rather than raw talent, and the Riders should be able to develop that pretty easily with all the experience they have up front. Moreover, they now have three guys who started on Hamilton's offensive line in 2009; Hudson, Dan Goodspeed and Alex Gauthier (who the Riders grabbed off waivers before free agency started). The experience those guys have playing together should definitely help build some chemistry up front.

The Riders also made another intriguing addition Thursday, bringing in import defensive back John Eubanks (pictured at right covering Saskatchewan's Chris Getzlaf in a Nov. 7, 2009 game). After a successful college career with the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, Eubanks went on to a stint with the NFL's Washington Redskins. He then joined Winnipeg as a free agent in 2009, was cut by them and later signed with Calgary. Eubanks put up 36 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in 11 games for the Stampeders, but apparently wasn't brought back by them for 2010. Part of that's probably thanks to the incredible talent Calgary had in the secondary last season, particularly with league all-star corners Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner (who have both since left Calgary, for Montreal and Seattle respectively). Still, Eubanks doesn't seem to have been able to catch on in the CFL during 2010; it's unclear if he played football anywhere else (if he did, his Wikipedia page doesn't have it). He's only 27, so he definitely has time to make an impact still; we'll see if he does that in Saskatchewan.

Out east, the Montreal Alouettes continued to make splashes of their own Thursday. They stole the free agency headlines on Day One with the acquisition of Anderson (which led to some pretty humourous comments from Cobourne on Twitter and some even better responses from Anderson). As I said in an interview on Calgary's FAN 960 yesterday, I think Anderson's going to be a huge addition for Montreal's secondary, which was one of the team's biggest weaknesses last year.

Day Two's moves by Montreal weren't quite as grandiose, but they're still notable. The Als brought back import linebacker Ramon Guzman and added two free agents, import running back Yvenson Bernard (from Winnipeg) and Canadian safety Tad Crawford (from B.C.). Those look like further solid decisions from Alouettes' general manager Jim Popp. Crawford should further shore up the Montreal secondary. Bernard didn't get many carries in Winnipeg last year behind Fred Reid, but he averaged an impressive 6.3 yards per rush on 53 attempts in 2009. He also had a great college career at Oregon State, and he's only 26. At worst, he'll be a solid addition to the depth they have at running back; at best, he might make the decision to part ways with Cobourne look like an awfully good one.

For more coverage of the free agency period, check out the Yahoo! CFL home page and follow me on Twitter.

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Puck Headlines: Mike Richards vs. Pens fans; Bertuzzi talks hit

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

"Is he experiencing headaches? Mmm-hmm. Does he have trouble walking? Mmm-hmm. Let me ask you guys this: Has he seen any new releases at a local multiplex? Ah, I see. No, not a severe concussion. That's my diagnosis. Next!"

? Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers wrote on Twitter: "Does anyone else find it creepy that a 45 yr old man dress like hulk hogan has time to make that many signs.....just saying." Troy Beck says that's fightin' words about "Sign Guy," Hulk Hogan Doppleganger and Pittsburgh Penguins fan Cy Clark. [The Brog]

? The Pensblog opines: "We're sure Flyer fans love this, and the national media will say how awesome it is that Richards is having fun. But why is a captain of an NHL team so obsessed with signs being in the crowd?" [Pensblog]

? In case you haven't seen it, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma and GM Ray Shero did a major dialing back of expectations on Sidney Crosby's return Wednesday afternoon, after news broke that he's been cleared to skate with the team again. Said Bylsma: "If you're talking about things unrelated to the concussion, the answer is the timing and the conditioning are not things we've even thought about or are concerned about, really. There's the progress that he needs to make and the steps that he needs to have (timing and conditioning-wise) is not even on the radar yet." [Penguins]

? Full Shero transcript. [Penguins]

? In the NHL relocation equivalent of unzipping one's pants and laying it on the table for all to see, 14,000 people in Quebec City filled Le Colisee on Tuesday to watch the Montreal/Atlanta game on television. [QMI]

? In which a college hockey championship game has to be replayed because one team's backup goalie, who didn't play a minute, was ineligible. [Global]

? The Monday Morning Quarterbacking of the Dallas Stars' refusal to trade Brad Richards has begun. [Defending Big D]

? Columbus Blue Jackets fans suddenly can't locate their Clitsome. [The Cannon]

? Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News, who joined us on Puck Daddy Radio Wednesday, on the Buffalo Sabres: "Buffalo hardly looked like a team looking to clinch a playoff spot in the final seven games and possibly ascend to seventh, maybe even sixth. Instead, the Sabres played more like the team that had struggled during the first half of the season. Their defense was loose. They surrendered too many odd-man rushes. Their forwards failed to convert. They took silly penalties. Their goaltending wasn't good enough." [Buffalo News]

? The 6th Sens aren't exactly enamored with the idea of Simon Gagne joining the Ottawa Senators next season. [The 6th Sens]

? Local sportscaster jumps on soapbox about Kingston Frontenacs for a homer-riffic rant about supporting the team. "It was part Glenn Beck, part Leave Britney Alone, as Jeffries, without supporting evidence, opened with, 'There's a vocal minority in this city that for some reason, want this team to fail.' He was just getting warmed up." [Buzzing The Net]

? Please welcome back Daymond Langkow to Calgary Flames practice. [CP]

? Detroit Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi on his hit on Ryan Johnson: "I know if I went straight on I could have hit him pretty hard. If it was a guy who hits all the time and knows how to hit properly, I could've hit him really hard. He had his head down coming around the net, coming around the corner trying to make a hockey play, which you have to respect. ... I could've hit him really hard so I tried to ease up. When I eased up, your body goes a little bit loose and I caught him with one of my armpits." [Malik Report and Red Wings]

? Looking at the super sophomores and the sophomore slumpers this season. Michael Del Zotto is not a name we've heard in quite some time. [Daily Faceoff]

? Barry Melrose Rocks creates a hockey version of the Adidas "All In" ad campaign. [BMR]

? Does the potential demise of the Fiesta Bowl mean anything for the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes? [Hockey Writers]

? Brett Hull believes that T.J. Oshie's teammates are the ones to blame for his misbehavior: "I would blame more the teammates than I would him. You've got to take care of each other, especially that team. They're so young. They've got such an opportunity to bond together and be a great team. There's so much talent there. They've got to take care of each other in those situations off the ice." [Post Dispatch]

? USA Hockey announces its 2011 World Under-18 Championship roster, with players from California, Texas and Ohio. [NHL.com]

? No, seriously, who is Stephane Da Costa? [Hockey Wilderness]

? Another priceless Photoshop and a great recap of the Los Angeles Kings' win Tuesday night. [Royal Half]

? Finally, fun moment from Tuesday night's Edmonton Oilers game. NHL.com pun: "Sleeve It To Me."

Jennifer Garner Poppy Montgomery Evangeline Lilly Lisa Marie Keira Knightley

Serena breaks silence, says embolism was ‘scariest moment’ of life

Serena Williams says her pulmonary embolism was "the scariest moment" of her life.

The tennis star broke her silence on her recent medical scare on Wednesday's edition of NBC's "Today" show. Appearing on satellite from Los Angeles, Williams told Matt Lauer how a shortness of breath and massive swelling in her legs forced her to the emergency room two weeks ago. "I couldn't breathe," she said.

Scans of Williams' legs revealed no additional clots and doctors were confident that those in her lungs were impacted and wouldn't cause any further damage. The 13-time Grand Slam champion said she was placed on an injectable blood thinner. Doctors say the foot injury which had sidelined Serena since July could have played a part in the development of the clots. Her time in a walking boot and all the house hours she spent immobile on airplanes are dangerous cocktails for developing DVTs.

When asked why she decided to attend the Academy Awards six days after the incident, Serena said it was like a form of stress relief. "I had been through so much in the past eight months and it had been so hard to work with. I was really low on energy, but I was like, 'I gotta do something to get my spirits up.'"

One day after that, Williams had a procedure to remove a hematoma from her stomach. For the first time, she explained how that developed. The blood thinner shots (likely Lovenox) are administered into the fatty part of the stomach. They often leave large bruises and lead to swelling. Serena's bruise grew into the size of a grapefruit and needed to be drained in an emergency procedure.

She told Lauer that she hasn't really left the house recently, which runs contrary to a confirmed Deadspin report that Serena spoke at a conference in Las Vegas two days after her second hospitalization. The best news is that doctors tell her that her lungs are "fairly healthy" and she's "on the road to recovery."

As for her return to the court? "My career won't be affected," she said. "I am hoping to return this summer."

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Video analysis: How did Dzinziruk get a fight against Martinez?

Sergio Martinez was on of the top the world after crushing Paul Williams with a second-round, one-punch knockout. Since that huge coming-out-party back in November, he's disappeared from the boxing landscape. Why?

Now he's back and fighting on an HBO card (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT) against someone named Sergiy Dzinziruk (37-0, 23 KOs). The Ukrainian is a fine opponent on paper, but certainly not a big name.

Yahoo!'s lead boxing writer Kevin Iole joined us to explain the political reasons behind Martinez-Dzinziruk and that this won't be the last time the Argentinian is facing a� less than optimal opponent. Did we forget to mention Martinez is no longer the WBO middleweight title holder? It's laughable, right? He was stripped by the organization over some ridiculous technicality.

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Thoughts from the Hall of Fame's newest class

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame held three separate conference calls with six of its seven 2011 inductees Friday (builder inductee Gino Fracas passed away in 2009). There were a lot of interesting comments made by the likes of Terry Vaughn (pictured above making a catch against Montreal's Reggie Durden in the 2002 Grey Cup), Danny McManus and others. I already covered those by Don Matthews earlier today, so here's a look at what some of the other inductees had to say.

—Chris Flynn: Flynn, a legendary CIS quarterback with the Saint Mary's Huskies, became the first CFL-era player inducted primarily based on his amateur career, thanks to a new rule this year. Flynn said his hopes of getting in were never very high, as he'd always viewed the Hall of Fame as a CFL institution.

"Like a lot of people, I thought it was the CFL Hall of Fame," he said.

Flynn has the unusual honour of going into the Hall with his uncle, former Ottawa Rough Riders linebacker Ken Lehmann. He said Lehmann's influence got him interested in football at a young age.

"He definitely got my family, my parents, my brother and all of us into football," Flynn said.

Flynn received a brief CFL shot with Ottawa, mostly as a special-teams player, but wasn't really given a solid look.

"I'll always regret not being able to play in more CFL games," he said.

That's something that's happened to countless other Canadian quarterbacks over the years. Flynn said the league might have given him a deeper look if he'd accepted the full scholarship he was offered at the NCAA's Boise State University (former Broncos Jared Zabransky and Ryan Dinwiddie are currently CFL backups), but he opted to stay in Canada and attend Saint Mary's thanks to the chance to play right away.

"Back then, they had just started redshirting, and I didn't have the patience for that," he said.

He's still an avid fan of the CIS game, and he thinks it's improved dramatically over the years.

"Absolutely, I follow it," he said. "The level of play has definitely gotten better; Laval looks like an American college team."

Flynn said he's thrilled to be the first CIS player selected for the Hall.

"It's pretty amazing," he said. "There are a lot of great college players before and after me. ... For them to select me is very humbling."

—Ken Lehmann: Lehmann said he was thrilled to see his nephew come in with him, particularly given the lack of CFL interest Flynn drew. He sees the Canadian quarterback situation as a systematic problem, and one the CFL should address, especially for Canadian-trained players.

"If they don't have the U.S. coaching experience, the coaches up here don't care," Lehmann said.

Lehmann spent most of his career in Ottawa and still lives not too far from there. He's excited about the CFL's plans to bring a new franchise to that city.

"I think there's a great opportunity for them to get a team back here," he said.

He cautioned that the team will have to work to bring neglected fans back into the fold, though.

"It's going to take a lot of effort to get people back."

—Danny McManus: The long-time Hamilton quarterback said making the Hall at the same time as teammate Joe Montford was partcularly special to him.

"It is a great honour to go in with a teammate like Joe Montford," he said.

He said winning the 1999 Grey Cup with the Tiger-Cats remains his favourite career moment, particularly considering what it meant to the city.

"For the city of Hamilton, I know there were a few years where things didn't go as well," he said. "It was a heck of a ride. To get that championship in '99 for the city was extra special."

McManus said one of the coaches he remembers most is CFL legend Ron Lancaster, who he worked with both in Edmonton and Hamilton.

"I had the privilege to work under Coach Lancaster and his son R.D. in Edmonton, and that's really when my career took off," McManus said. "When I got the call from the committee, Ron was the first person I thought of. I wish he could have been here."

—Joe Montford: Montford started his career with the expansion Shreveport Pirates and finished his career in Edmonton, with stops in Toronto and Hamilton in between. He led the CFL in sacks four times and was selected as the league's most outstanding defensive player three times. He said the Canadian game played to his strengths.

"Because the field was so wide open, I was able to use my speed to get out there and make plays," Montford said. "I was able to use my power, speed and agility."

He said his time in Edmonton was a special way to wrap up his career, particularly winning the 2005 Grey Cup. He was wary at first when joining a new locker room, but teammates encouraged him to take a leadership role.

"Coming in as an outsider, you always want to be received in a good way."

—Terry Vaughn: Vaughn kicked off his time in the CFL in Calgary with the powerhouse Calgary Stampeders of the late 1990s, then jumped to Edmonton in 1999 near the start of their most recent dynasty. He said he loved the Labour Day clashes between the two teams, especially as he usually was on the winning side; he pegged his Labour Day record as 7-1.

"Those Labour Day games meant a lot in Alberta, and it was great to be on the winning side."

Vaughn said Calgary was a tremendous place for him to start his career, working with legendary coach Wally Buono and famed quarterbacks Jeff Garcia and Dave Dickenson.

"When I got there, it was just a great spot for me," he said. "I got the opportunity to learn from some great players."

Vaughn retired after the 2006 season, following stints with Montreal and Hamilton. He left as the CFL's all-time receptions leader with 1,006 catches, but Ben Cahoon broke that record this past season. Vaughn said he was happy to see it broken by Cahoon, though.

"It felt great," he said. "Records are made to be broken. I had an opportunity to play with Ben, so I know what he's all about. He's a great player and a tireless worker. I'd always admired Ben from afar. To have the record broken by him, I was happy."

The 2011 induction ceremonies will be in Calgary from Sept. 14-18. For more information on this year's inductees and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum, check out their site.

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'Sugar' Ray Leonard on Dancing With The Stars: His family said 'don't do it'

Ray Leonard has been a success in just about everything he's touched, yet his family is a little nervous about his upcoming slot on Dancing With The Stars.

Arguably, one of the top five stars in all of sports during the 80's, "Sugar" Ray is making a comeback of sorts on the blockbuster dancing show. It's a tall order at 54 years old, but anyone who's seen Leonard recently knows he's always in supreme condition.

Leonard's wife, Bernadette Robi, and kids aren't as stoked about the boxing legend hitting the dance floor.

"She said you know Ray, you can't. You can't 'cause you can't dance," Leonard said. "And then my kids say 'Papa don't embarrass me.' So I'm gonna prove them wrong."

The 12th season begins on Mar. 21 and includes former Hugh Hefner squeeze Kendra Wilkinson, ample actress Kirstie Alley, WWE star Chris Jericho, Lil' Romeo, Chelsea Kane, Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Wards and two radio hosts Wendy Williams and Mike Catherwood. Petra Nemcova and "The Karate Kid" Ralph Maccio are also on the show. 

"I'm so excited. I think when I met my dance partner and when I came here to meet the cast, that's when I knew that it's going to happen. It's no turning back now". said Leonard.

Leonard was a mega-star, but you wonder how much of the DWTS audience knows of him? We know he can act, but can he dance?

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CFL free agency starts quietly, but could pick up

The CFL's free agency window officially opened at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Wednesday morning, but the early moves were more notable for the players who elected to remain with their previous team than those who chose to take their show on the road. On Monday, it looked like the Stampeders and Argonauts could be the teams most damaged by free agency. That could still definitely come true for Calgary, but Toronto had perhaps the best performance of the early free agency hours without bringing in anyone from outside.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Argonauts brought back one of their critical potential free agents, defensive back Lin-J Shell (pictured above with teammate Kevin Huntley, trying to bring down Montreal running back Avon Cobourne in the CFL's East Final last November). Shell, a divisional all-star last season who finished tied for the team lead with four interceptions and added 63 tackles, should continue to be a solid player for the Boatmen for years to come. He was named their outstanding rookie of the year in 2009 and turned in just as strong of a performance in 2010. He's only 29 and has been in the CFL for just two seasons, so it's quite possible he could become even better as he adapts to the league. Moreover, his signing also prevents Toronto from having to try and pick up a defensive back in what's looking to be a very expensive free agency market at that position; they could still bring in a player like Dwight Anderson or Geoff Tisdale if they wanted, but now they aren't forced to overpay. Barring a trade or other complications, Shell will now be an Argonaut through the 2013 season.

Arguably an even more significant move for the Argonauts came immediately after the free agency window opened, when they announced that they'd reached an agreement to extend Huntley. Huntley, a defensive tackle, finished fourth in the league with a team-high nine sacks last season, and the three players above him were all defensive ends rather than interior linemen. He was also solid against the run, recording 41 defensive tackles (second on the team). Huntley was deservingly named a league all-star last season, and looked to be one of the most intriguing potential free agents out there. With him off the market, there could be more interest in players like the Argonauts' Adriano Belli and Eric Taylor and the Stampeders' Tearrius George.

The Stampeders hadn't officially lost any of their free agents as of 5 a.m. Eastern Wednesday morning, but things were looking much less positive for them. Left tackle Ben Archibald, the CFL's reigning offensive lineman of the year, has been drawing strong interest from a number of teams, but Sportsnet's Arash Madani reported that the B.C. Lions have apparently made signing him their top priority. Matt Sekeres of The Globe and Mail added that the Lions had made Archibald an offer and that they might have an edge, given that he spends his offseasons in Spokane, Washington, with his triplets. Archibald was a very deserving selection as the league's top offensive lineman last season; he did a great job of covering Henry Burris' blind side, paving the way for the quarterback's eventual selection as the league's most outstanding player, and was also a key force in the run game, clearing paths for the league's top rushing tandem in Joffrey Reynolds and Jon Cornish. The Lions had significant offensive line issues last year, and adding Archibald might go a long ways towards solving their problems.

The other critical free agent Calgary could lose would be Anderson, a league all-star at cornerback last season. With fellow league all-star cornerback Brandon Browner already departed for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, Anderson's departure might be a critical further blow to a secondary that was one of the team's biggest strengths last season. He also looks even more likely to leave than Archibald; there are plenty of teams out there looking for a strong presence in the secondary, and with Shell and Winnipeg's Jonathan Hefney (who signed an extension with the Bombers Tuesday) off the market, the options are limited. There seem to be plenty of teams interested in Anderson, but it looks like Montreal might have the upper hand at the moment. If the Alouettes are able to haul in Anderson, that could be the top jewel in the crown of a already-tremendous offseason for Jim Popp and company so far.

Actual free agent signings were few and far between by 5 a.m. Eastern Wednesday, but there were a couple of note. Eric Tillman's Edmonton Eskimos managed to bring in non-import offensive tackle Brian Ramsey and non-import defensive tackle Jermaine Reid from Hamilton. Those signings should definitely help Edmonton's Canadian depth at the very least. Neither player was all that prominent last year (Reid did appear in nine games and record three sacks), but they both have potential and could play important roles in of the Eskimos' rebuilding effort.

Meanwhile, in addition to bringing back Hefney, Winnipeg also added veteran non-import defensive lineman and former Bomber Shawne Mayne, who was with the Alouettes in 2010; he could be a nice addition on special teams and potentially give them some help at defensive end, where they'll have to fill Phillip Hunt's shoes. It also looks like guard Brendon LaBatte, a divisional all-star in 2010, is likely to return to the Bombers instead of trying his luck south of the border. That's certainly good news for Winnipeg, but they could see further losses in free agency, including running back Yvenson Bernard and centre Obby Khan.

There are going to be several key players and teams to keep an eye on over the next few days. Anderson is obviously one, but so is Hamilton's Tisdale; with Shell and Hefney off the market, he's probably the second-most interesting defensive back out there, and he might just wind up with whoever misses out on the Anderson sweepstakes. Similarly, teams that can't land Archibald might look at alternative options like Saskatchewan's Joel Bell. The Jarious Jackson-to-Toronto rumours are certainly interesting, and that one has the potential to benefit both sides; Jackson's clearly behind Travis Lulay in the B.C. pecking order, but could have a better shot against the likes of Cleo Lemon and Dalton Bell, and the Argonauts could use some help at quarterback. Another guy to watch is Cobourne, who Perry Lefko has heard might wind up in Hamilton. Cobourne is aging at 32, and didn't crack 1,000 rushing yards last season, but he's a very capable receiver out of the backfield and may still have plenty to offer whoever winds up with him. It should be a fascinating week; keep it locked here and on the Yahoo! CFL home page for all your free agency news. You can also follow me on Twitter for all the latest free agency updates.

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DTotD: Caceres takes down two opponents with one tackle

Uruguay jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first half of their friendly against Ireland on Tuesday, but defender Martin Caceres helped Ireland get back in it with a bit of comedy. In the 48th minute, Caceres tackled two Irish players at once with a desperate challenge in the box that actually made his opponents look sillier than him.

Caceres wasn't booked for his two for one deal, though the ref did award Ireland a penalty that Keith Fahey converted. Still, it wouldn't be enough for Ireland, as they lost 3-2.

Martin Caceres next goal? Taking out four opponents with one tackle. He sets his goals high.

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2011 MLB Preseason Preview: Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles (2010 record: 66-96)

Two words: Buck Showalter.

His hiring meant instant credibility for a moribund franchise. He brought energy, intensity, knowledge and savvy to the baseball diamond and the clubhouse…and he directed the team to a 34-23 finish after his arrival in Charm City—the second-best record in the AL during that 57-game stretch.

After 13 consecutive losing seasons, there is hope once again around Camden Yards.

However, that hope must be tempered with the knowledge that this winter’s moves are nothing more than short-term fixes: an oft-injured Justin Duchscherer, an increasingly aging tandem in Derrek Lee and Vlad Guerrero, a high-strikeout, low-average power bat in Mark Reynolds.

These moves won’t help the Orioles in 2013 or 2014, but it buys them credibility today… and for a ballclub that hasn’t been taken seriously in a long time, THAT is a good place to start.

The real challenge for Showalter will be to make the team competitive before his style wears out its welcome with his players and the team’s ownership. He tends to have that effect on people. His rant on Theo Epstein is illustrative of his arrogant and combative nature. Clearly, the man has learned nothing from his previous personality meltdowns.

Notable additions: RHP Jeremy Accardo, RHP Justin Duchscherer, RHP Kevin Gregg, DH Vladimir Guerrero, SS J.J. Hardy, 1B Derrek Lee, 3B Mark Reynolds

Notable subtractions: RP David Hernandez, RHP Kevin Millwood, LHP Will Ohman, OF Corey Patterson, 1B Ty Wiggington

 

The offense

Catcher: Matt Wieters

Infield: Lee (1B), Brian Roberts (2B), Hardy (SS) and Reynolds (3B)

Outfield: Luke Scott (LF), Adam Jones (CF) and Nick Markakis (RF)

Designated Hitter: Guerrero

The Orioles offense finished next-to-last in the American League in runs scored last year (613 runs) finishing ahead of only the Seattle Mariners, a club that fielded a historically inept lineup.

The attack will be far more robust in 2011.

Roberts will be a key part of any improvement enjoyed by the team. He was sidelined for more than half the season last year with a herniated disc and abdominal strain. The injuries took his speed game from him, and as a result of his absence and injuries, the O’s offense languished. Hopes are he’ll be able to approximate the player he was in 2006-09, when he averaged .288 and scored more than 100 runs annually.

Hardy will be a significant upgrade on Cesar Izturis. He had a rough campaign last year due to an injured wrist, but he should enjoy playing in Camden Yards and could return to his production level of 2007-08, when he averaged 25 HR and 77 RBI.

Reynolds will replace the departed Miguel Tejada at third base. It is unlikely he will ever hit the league average, as he has compiled a brutal 60 percent contact rate as a big leaguer and will have to face the tough pitching staffs in the AL East, but last year’s numbers were a product of a 58 percent contact rate and 26 percent hit rate.

He’ll hit for power at Camden Yards and drive home his fair share of runs…and if his hit rate returns to a respectable level (somewhere in the low-30s), he will produce a respectable .250 average with 35-plus homers and 90-plus RBI. Don't discount him as the pitching staffs in the NL West are even tougher than those in the AL East.

If his back is healthy, Lee should somewhat approximate the production lost by the departure of Wiggington. He struggled last year with a bad back, but he will be healthy when the 2011 season gets underway. I doubt he’ll hit as well as he did in the second half of last year, after he put his back woes in the rear view mirror, but there is no reason to believe he won’t hit .270, with 25 homers and 80 ribbies.

Guerrero will move Scott to the outfield and (essentially) replace Felix Pie in the lineup. He struggled a bit in 2009 but returned to form last season, demonstrating an extraordinary contact rate (90 percent) and re-discovering his power stroke (29 HR, 115 RBI). He should be able to take advantage of the cozy dimensions and low left field wall. If healthy, he could hit 40 HR and drive in 130-plus runs this year.

Wieters enjoyed better stats in the second half of last year due to improvements in both his contact rate and hit rate—is this sustainable? Was the marginal improvement a harbinger of better days or will he continue to struggle in 2011?

While many pundits believe he could have a breakout season in 2011, I do not foresee much in terms of an improvement. His swing is too long and it takes too long for his bat to get through the strike zone and a good fastball will regularly overpower him.

In the outfield, Scott provides a consistent and stable skill set. He regularly has a contact rate in the high-70s and a hit rate in the neighborhood of 30 percent. He set career highs in BA and HR last year, and while he should be able to produce similar numbers again, it seems likely he is maxed out in those areas.

Jones has terrific athletic tools and should produce at a much higher level than he has, but his offensive skills are pretty marginal. He has poor plate discipline and pitch recognition skills at the plate. His contact rate is less than 80 percent in his big league career and he doesn’t walk often enough (around 5 percent). His production seems capped at around 20 HR and 70 RBI.

Markakis has put together back-to-back seasons with an 85 percent contact rate and has regularly posted a hit rate of 32 percent and higher, but his home run rate has fallen steadily since 2007. At 27, there has to be some question as to the reason(s) for the drop-off. His power outage started about the time the league started vigorous testing for performance-enhancing-drugs. No accusation…just sayin’.

 

The pitching staff

Rotation: RHP Jeremy Guthrie, LHP Brian Matusz, RHP Justin Duchscherer, RHP Brad Bergeson and RHP Jake Arrieta

Closer: RHP Koji Uehara

Guthrie’s ugly 2009 season now appears to have been an outlier.

He has posted a sub-30 hit rate in each of the last four seasons, and his struggles in 2009 can likely be explained by a low strand rate (of only 69 percent). Orioles' fans shouldn’t get too excited by last year’s second-half performance, as it was driven by an unsustainable hit rate (25 percent) and strand rate (77 percent). Expect 11 or 12 wins and an ERA in the vicinity of 3.75, but no more than that in the AL East.

Matusz’s performance last season demonstrates that better days lie ahead.

He won seven games and posted a 3.96 ERA in the second half—with six of those wins coming in his last 10 starts. His hit rate (30 percent) was about where you would expect it would be, but his strand rate (70 percent) and command (2.3 K-BB ratio) were lower than should be expected. These are two areas the club can expect improvement in the upcoming years.

Duchscherer has been routinely brilliant when healthy. Alas, his health (elbow, hip) has kept him off the field for most of the last five years. Only once in his career did he pitch as many as 140 innings (he was 10-8, 2.54 in 22 starts for the Oakland A’s in 2008). In the other four years since 2006, he pitched a grand total of 100 innings and missed all of 2009 and was shut down early last year due to hip woes.

Bergesen had a good rookie campaign in 2009, but was unable to sustain his performance in his sophomore season.

He got off to a miserable start, posting a 6.82 ERA over the first three months of the season. He showed marked improvement after the hiring of manager Buck Showalter, but I don’t believe his late-season improvement is sustainable as it was based on a 27 percent hit rate and 76 percent strand rate. When those peripherals regress to league-average, his ERA should settle into the high-4.00’s.

Arrieta had tremendous difficulty in his first experience against big league competition, and his peripherals indicate the Orioles can expect more of the same—or worse—in the 2011 season. He compiled a 4.66 ERA while benefitting from an unsustainable hit rate (28 percent) and an above-average strand rate (75 percent). Assuming those metrics revert to league-average, his ERA should increase to 5.00-plus in 2011.

Uehara will battle former Marlins, Cubs and Blue Jays closer Gregg to assume the closer’s role. Gregg has 121 saves over the last four seasons, but I believe Uehara is the guy who will emerge victorious.

Gregg walks too many hitters (4.2 BB / 9IP over the last two years) to hold onto the job, while Uehara exhibits outstanding control, walking just one batter for every nine innings pitched while striking out in excess of one hitter for each inning (11.3 K / 9IP).

 

Prediction for 2011: 5th place (75-87)

The MLB odds indicate the Orioles will be improved in 2011, and I can see no reason to disagree with that consensus. The organization is generally heading in the right direction, but they have the misfortune of being in the same division as the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. With the Blue Jays also headed in the right direction, it could be some time before the O’s even crawl out of the cellar in the AL East.

Top Five Prospects

1. Manny Machado, SS
2. Zach Britton, RHP
3. Dan Klein, RHP
4. Mychal Givens, SS
5. Ryan Adams, 3B

Machado and Britton are the class of a farm system largely bereft of high-end talent. He was the Orioles first-round pick (No. 3) overall last year.

The 18-year-old Machado earned recognition from Baseball America as a High School All-American on the strength of a senior season in which he compiled a .639 average, with 12 HR and 17 SB for Brito Miami Private High School. The Orioles gave him $5.25 million to forego a scholarship to Florida International.

At 6’3,” 185 lbs, he is a potential five-tool performer at shortstop. He has excellent swing mechanics and good bat speed, and he regularly makes solid contact. He has the potential to be an excellent defender, with solid range, excellent hands and a “plus” arm. While his footwork needs refinement, he has shown a great capacity for learning and incorporating the lessons into his skill set. He could be in Baltimore as soon as 2013.

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