Tag: CFL

Don’t count out Tre Roberson in Bears’ cornerback competition

While many believe rookie Jaylon Johnson has that starting CB locked up opposite Kyle Fuller, don’t rule out CFL star Tre Roberson just yet.

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This offseason the Chicago Bears signed arguably one of the best defensive players from the Canadian Football League (CFL) in cornerback Tre Roberson to the largest CFL deal with a two-year, $1.5 million contract.

Roberson spent two years in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders. In the last two years, Roberson hasn’t missed a game, recorded 10 interceptions, two touchdowns, two force fumbles and 95 tackles. The 2019 CFL All-Star would help the Stampeders win the 106th Grey Cup in 2018.

It seems that everyone is ready to rule second-round pick Jaylon Johnson as the starting cornerback opposite Kyle Fuller, but Bears defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend has some optimism for the 27-year old.

“The plays that he was able to make in Canada, those are things that are natural, those are things that you can’t teach,” Townsend said during a video call with the media. “For me, I’m excited to get a chance to see him move around, see his natural playmaking ability, and see if I can help mold him.”

Roberson started off as a quarterback in college at Indiana from 2011-13, but he would transfer to Illinois State for 2014-15. With his two seasons as a Redbird, Roberson totaled 48 passing touchdowns, 22 rushing touchdowns, 5,446 yards through the air and 1,806 yards on the ground.

It wasn’t until the Illinois State Pro Day where Roberson switched to cornerback. Roberson did so well that the Minnesota Vikings offered a tryout, then a contract for the preseason roster. Roberson would be released then added to the practice squad before being waived in September.

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2020 CFB season countdown: 78 days until Georgia football

Join us as we count down the days until Georgia football!

There are 78 days before Georgia kicks-off versus Virginia in Atlanta Sept. 7.

Former Georgia defensive tackle Trenton Thompson (2015-2018), who wore #78 for the Bulldogs, was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2015 recruiting class.

Thompson was the USA Today Defensive Player of Year coming out of Albany (GA) Westover Comprehensive High School in 2014. The previous year, he was Rivals’ Junior of the Year. He was the highest rated recruit in the country and the center of a ferocious recruiting battle among Auburn, Alabama and Georgia.

Jan 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) runs with the ball against Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Trenton Thompson (74) in the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Thompson had a great career at Georgia, recording 127 career tackles and six sacks in 37 games, but struggled to stay healthy, dealing with a lot of nagging injuries during his career.

Thompson left Georgia in 2018, signing to the Cleveland Browns after going un-drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was released just three months later.

Thompson played for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football. He was named by Pro Football Focus to their Week 1 AAF Team of the Week.

Following the ceased operations of the AAF in April of 2019, Thompson bounced around different teams from the Arena Football League, CFL and XFL.

He recently signed a deal with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

CFL postpones start of 2020 season until at least September

The Canadian Football League has decided to postpone the start of its 2020 regular season until at least September due to the pandemic.

The Canadian Football League, whose season normally kicks off in June, has decided to postpone the start until at least this September due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The CFL issued a statement on Wednesday, which reads in part:

“It now appears the earliest the CFL might return to play – for a shortened but meaningful season – is this September.

Of course, a final decision on whether that will indeed happen will depend on what governments tell us is safe for our players and fans.

But barring some huge development, like a vaccine for COVID-19, it now seems clear we can rule out playing games this summer. There are several reasons, including the continuing restrictions on assemblies, travel and border crossings. Notably, several provinces and municipalities have already decided to prohibit until September 1st, all sporting events featuring large gatherings.”

The NFL has not yet made any similar declarations, and in fact, some team facilities began to slowly open this week. With the start of the 2020 regular season still months away, the league has some time before any major decisions have to be made.

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CFL postpones season until September due to COVID-19 pandemic

The CFL will not play summer football, announcing its regular season will be delayed until September … at the earliest

One football league was knocked out by the COVID-19 pandemic, the XFL. Now, the CFL has decided it will wait until September — at the earliest — to try and play its regular season.

The CFL typically starts its season in June and it runs until the Grey Cup, which is played in late November.

“We have learned three things about running a league in a pandemic. Certainty is hard to come by. Scenarios are plentiful. And public safety is paramount.

So, while we keep our focus on safety, we want to keep our fans informed as the number of possible scenarios narrows and decisions are made.

It now appears the earliest the CFL might return to play – for a shortened but meaningful season – is this September.

Of course, a final decision on whether that will indeed happen will depend on what governments tell us is safe for our players and fans.

But barring some huge development, like a vaccine for COVID-19, it now seems clear we can rule out playing games this summer. There are several reasons, including the continuing restrictions on assemblies, travel and border crossings. Notably, several provinces and municipalities have already decided to prohibit until September 1st, all sporting events featuring large gatherings.

https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1263184679416496128

The league also addressed what will happen to its championship game, the fabled Grey Cup.

It has become increasingly clear we will not be able to host a traditional Grey Cup and Grey Cup Festival, certainly not with the size and scope that has become customary.

With that in mind, and in agreement with the Roughriders, we have made the decision to change our Grey Cup plan. The Saskatchewan Roughriders have been awarded the 2022 Grey Cup. And if we return to play this year, the host of the 2020 Grey Cup Game will be determined by a “win and host’ model. The team that qualifies for the Grey Cup and has a superior regular-season record to its’ opponent will host the Grey Cup Game. This gives all nine CFL teams a shot at hosting the Grey Cup in this unprecedented year. We are also considering moving the Grey Cup into December, as we explore every option that will allow us to play as many games as possible in 2020.

The plan for the Grey Cup in 2021 remains unchanged: the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will host for the first time in 25 years.

Former Cowboys WR Lucky Whitehead pulls semi in insane workout video

A former fan favorite in Dallas and current CFL champ, the receiver posted video online last week showing him hauling a massive trailer.

Pro football players are staying active, and they’re making sure everyone knows it. Dez Bryant’s private workouts have become a social media staple as he continues his NFL comeback bid. Just last week, Cowboys fans got a sneak peek inside rookie CeeDee Lamb’s agility training and even tackle Tyron Smith’s unorthodox get-up drills in his living room.

But former Cowboys receiver and return specialist Lucky Whitehead just raised the bar significantly. The fan favorite, who played for Dallas for the 2015 and 2016 seasons and is now a member of the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, has posted a video that shows him pulling a semi truck.

In 30 games as a Cowboy, Whitehead hauled in nine receptions for 64 yards. Due to his famed speed (check out his Twitter handle), he saw more action on reverses and jet sweeps; he racked up 189 rushing yards on 20 attempts over his tenure in Dallas. Whitehead returned 44 punts at a 4.5-yard average. He was most effective returning kickoffs, averaging 17.2 yards per return.

An undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic in 2015, Whitehead struggled to catch on with the Cowboys coaching staff due to frequent fumbling, losing two of four loose balls.

In July 2017, it was revealed that Whitehead was facing misdemeanor petty larceny charges stemming from a June arrest. The 25-year-old receiver was accused of having stolen $25 of goods from a convenience store in Virginia and skipped court summons. The charges were dropped the next day, and Whitehead was cleared by the police when it was determined that the charges were based on mistaken identity. But the damage had been done. He had already been released by the Cowboys after the team’s first training camp practice.

After a stint with the New York Jets where he did not see the field, Whitehead signed with Winnipeg in 2019. The Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in his first season with the club.

The semi footage from last week is not Whitehead’s first viral workout video. Several days prior, Lucky posted a scene where he pulled a four-door pickup.

Shortly after that video made the rounds, another CFLer, safety Stavros Katsantonis of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats posted his own footage of pulling a large delivery truck. In his reply, Whitehead vowed to up the ante.

Whitehead’s latest feat may have turned out to be a few wheels short of a full 18, but it doesn’t make the workout any less impressive.

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The Browns Wire Podcast: Browns schedule, Antonio Callaway and more

The Browns Wire Podcast breaks down the schedule release, Antonio Callaway ruining the XFL, the CFL and more

Welcome to The Browns Wire Podcast, hosted by Josh Keatley (@JoshKeatley16). This week Adam Moore (@Moore2102) and I discuss former Browns receiver, Antonio Callaway popping up in the news, the CFL season and the Browns schedule.

It’s also available on all of your favorite podcast apps, including iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher and Spotify. Thanks for listening!

Music provided by Good Reverend.

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Delvin Breaux reflects on Saints fallout, misdiagnosed NFL career-ending injury

A misdiagnosed broken leg ended Delvin Breaux’s career with the New Orleans Saints and the NFL, sending him back to the CFL’s Tiger-Cats.

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In the ideal world, every player who suits up for the New Orleans Saints would get to go out on top and move on with a sense of closure. That wasn’t the case for Delvin Breaux, the cornerback who appeared in 22 games from 2015 to 2016. Breaux appeared on the Straight-Up Saints podcast with Chris Rosvoglou to discuss his relationship with the Saints, head coach Sean Payton, and how he’s doing up in the CFL.

Breaux, a New Orleans native who starred at McDonogh 35 High School, still remains a supporter of the Saints. He and his family cheered on the Saints even in defeat in the 2019 playoffs. He said of Saints fans, “The amount of support I got, not just from my family and friends but from the fans, the Who Dat Nation is crazy. I love them man, they’re awesome. They’re my biggest supporters even now.”

While Breaux still treasures his relationship with the fanbase, his connection to the team remains rocky. The misdiagnosed broken leg that derailed his 2017 training camp and ultimately ended his NFL career remains a point of contention for him.

“About that situation, it was a tough time for me and my family,” Breaux said. “It was hard. We didn’t know where to go or what was going to happen. Everything with the misdiagnosis — I had never been through that before. And by going through everything with the doctors with the misdiagnosis, and with Coach Payton, it was a really tough time for me and my family.”

Breaux’s conflict with Payton was something especially hard for him to stomach, to a point where he still feels a sense of betrayal towards the Saints head coach.

He continued, “Me and Coach Payton during that time, we were not on good terms. It was not good. That situation with me and the head coach, man,” “I’m just going to [expletive] lay it out. There was no respect, I was telling him something was wrong with my leg, something was bothering me, I knew something was wrong with my leg.

“And he just said, ‘Oh the doctors say this and that’ and I’m like, hey man, can we address this situation in private? Instead of humiliating me in front of my team? Because that’s embarrassing. That’s something I wasn’t proud of. I felt like less than a man.”

The result of this fiasco was that the Saints fired both of the team orthopedists and overhauled the medical staff, but the damage was already done. Breaux’s NFL reputation was tarnished and this latest injury — combined with his high school neck issue — were too much for teams to take a chance on. He ended up returning to the CFL, where he’s played at an All-Star level and gone on to compete for a Grey Cup championship.

You can find Breaux’s full interview where we’ve embedded it below, or at this link. It does feature some coarse language, so be advised.

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CFL commissioner fears 2020 season will be wiped out

What fate awaits the 2020 Canadian Football League season?

CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie offered a bleak picture of the 2020 season North of the border, saying he fears it could be wiped out by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Testifying before a House of Commons standing committee on finance Thursday. Ambrosie said the league’s future is “very much in jeopardy.” He admitted for the first time the most likely scenario for the CFL is a canceled 2020 season.

“Governments coping with COVID-19 — for reasons of public health that we totally support — have made it impossible for us to do what we do,” Ambsie said. “Our best-case scenario for this year is a drastically truncated season. And our most likely scenario is no season at all.”

The CFL has canceled the start of training camps and pushed back the opening of its regular season to early July. Cancelation of games loom.

“We are currently operating on the money (of) our fans, and to a lesser extent our broadcasters and sponsors, pay us in advance for games,” Ambrosie said. “The day is fast approaching when we will have to cancel several games and perhaps the season.”

There are also issues with the players, of course. The CFL and its players have resumed meeting about potential contingency plans for the ’20 season after talks broke off for roughly two weeks. Ambrosie said the sides are scheduled to gather Friday.

Former MSU receiver, defensive back Tony Lippett signs with Saskatchewan Roughriders of Canadian Football League

The 2014 Big Ten Receiver of the Year looks to revive his football career in Canada.

After a year off from professional football, Tony Lippett is back in the game.

The former Michigan State standout has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, according to TSN. Lippett last appeared in an NFL game in 2018 with the New York Giants. He was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals at the onset of the 2019 season, but was a final camp cut before the season. Lippett has played in 28 NFL games since he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He recorded 81 tackles and four interceptions in those games. Lippett was a starter in the secondary for the Dolphins during the 2016 season, but a torn Achilles in 2017 training camp essentially ended his time in Miami and derailed his NFL career.

The 2014 Big Ten receiver of the year will look to get things going in the right direction north of the border whenever the COVID-19 pandemic allows. The CFL was scheduled to begin on June 11, but that has been postponed indefinitely.

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Former MSU Football RB Jeremy Langford signs with CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders

Former Michigan State and NFL RB Jeremy Langford has signed with the CFL’s Jeremy Langford.

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One of the best Michigan State Football running backs in recent memory is heading to Canada. Jeremy Langford, who played for the Spartans, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons, has agreed to a deal with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. The news was first reported by 3downnation.

Langford was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the Fourth Round of the 2015 NFL Draft where he played for two seasons, rushing for a total of 737 yards and 10 touchdowns. After leaving the Bears after a struggle with injuries, Langford had a brief stint with the Falcons but was waived with an injury designation.

Langford was one of the most productive running backs in MSU history, rushing for 2,967 yards and 40 touchdowns in his four-year career with the team, including a massive 1,522-yard season in 2014. Of course, Langford’s most memorable performance is likely his heroic 162 yard, 3 touchdown performance in the 2015 Cotton Bowl.

The 28-year-old Langford will join a crowded backfield in Saskatchewan but if he is now healthy should make a big impact in the league up north.

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