Nichols, Bombers look to rebound vs. Argos
Stamps’ QB, Mitchell, to start against Als
CALGARY — When it was announced that Bo Levi Mitchell would start at quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders this weekend, it may have come as a surprise to some people. Not to Mitchell. Although he sustained a knee injury late in the second quarter of Calgary’s 27-3 road win over Ottawa on July 12, the veteran of seven CFL seasons with the Stampeders (4-0) knew he would be good to go to face the visiting Montreal Alouettes (1-3) today at McMahon Stadium. “In my head, I knew I was going to start the whole week,” said Mitchell, who will wear a brace on his right knee. “That’s just my mindset . . . never wanting to come off the field.”
Earlier in the week, Calgary coach Dave Dickenson was a little less optimistic, but he changed his mind after watching Mitchell run the offence during practice on Thursday.
TORONTO — Matt Nichols has a 24-hour rule when it comes to dealing with losses, but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback needed twice that long to get over last week’s collapse against the B.C. Lions.
Winnipeg couldn’t make a 17-0 half-time lead stand against the Lions, who rallied for the 20-17 win.
The Bombers (2-3) look to rebound today when they visit the Toronto Argonauts (1-3) at BMO Field.
“Usually it’s a 24-hour rule, this one might’ve been 48 hours for us, but you move on,” Nichols said. “The CFL is a long season, you’re not going to win them all.”
Toronto is also coming off a loss, a 16-15 road decision in Edmonton after downing the Eskimos 20-17 at BMO Field on July 7. But the Bombers will present the Argos’ defence with a much different challenge.
It will be a matchup of stalwart rushers as Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris takes on Toronto’s James Wilder Jr. Harris is leading the league with 449 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per rush.
Eskimos release Owens from negotiation list
Terrell Owens won’t be kick-starting his pro football career with the Edmonton Eskimos.
Edmonton released the 44-year-old former NFL receiver from its negotiation list on Friday. That leaves Owens free to sign with any other CFL team.
Earlier this month, Owens activated a 10-day window to receive a contract offer from the Eskimos by Tuesday. Edmonton had placed Owens on its 45-man negotiation list on June 19, shortly after he posted a video of himself running a 4.43second 40-yard dash.
Owens last played in the NFL in 2010.
Jason Staroszik, the Edmonton-based agent handling Owens’ CFL negotiations, said the Eskimos’ decision won’t dampen the receiver’s enthusiasm about resuming his pro football career in Canada.
“It’s definitely not over,” Staroszik said. “Terrell could still sign as a free agent with any team that’s interested. Hopefully there’s another team with an interest, I feel there is, so we’ll see what happens.”