the 6-foot-1, 311-pound Lewis said with a laugh. | Forum
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Feb 28 '18
OTTAWA -- Henry Burris boasts an impressive CFL resume. Larry Ogunjobi Jersey . Over 15 seasons, hes twice won a league championship, been named a Grey Cup and CFL MVP and is one of just five players ever to surpass the 50,000-yard passing plateau. But even with 17 years of pro football under his belt -- he also played in the NFL with Green Bay and Chicago -- the 39-year-old Texan will experience a career first Friday night when he leads the expansion Ottawa Redblacks (0-2) into their first-ever game at TD Place Stadium against the Toronto Argonauts (1-2). Watch the Redblacks vs. Argonauts live tonight on TSN and TSN GO at 7pm et/4pm pt. "Ive never been in this position before," Burris said following Thursdays practice. "I played in the first Monday night game following 9/11 (Green Bays 37-0 win over Washington on Sept. 24, 2001), Ive played in Grey Cups and those were some pretty emotional times for me. "But I can just imagine how emotional and how much energy is going to be in this stadium and this entire city. I know this fanbase has waited since 2005 to have a true home game and a true home stadium. Its an honour to be here and able to be part of this team to break ground as far as getting this organization and city back into football." Not since the former Renegades in November 2005 has a CFL team played a home game in Ottawa and the city hasnt celebrated a Grey Cup winner since 76 when Tony Gabriels historic TD catch rallied the Rough Riders to a thrilling 23-20 victory over Saskatchewan. But a sellout gathering of 24,000 will be on hand for the Redblacks inaugural home game. "Its a big deal and weve been waiting for this day for a long time.," said Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell. "Weve had a bunch of firsts over the last several months as far as whats gone on with our franchise and (Thursday) will be a big night and were definitely proud of it." Its only fitting that Burris achieve a career first going head-to-head with Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray. The two had many memorable battles when they were with the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos, respectively, and last year Burris led the Hamilton Tiger-Cats past the Argos in the East Division final. "I feel like were in The Matrix, we keep following each other," Burris said. "It seems in the most special moments, we always go against each other. "Hes done a lot of great things in his time and I hope thats a two-way street. When we see each other on the sidelines we want to beat each other." But Ray has much more to be concerned about than outplaying Burris. Toronto will be minus its top three receivers in Chad Owens (foot), Andre Durie (clavicle) and Jason Barnes (knee), meaning youngsters Anthony Coombs, Terrell Sinkfield and Darvin Adams will all start versus Ottawa. "Thats going to be tough," Ray said. "Any time you dont have a starter in the lineup you cant rely on the production youre used to getting. "With these guys, theyve been here, theyve been through training camp, they know the offence. Its just about being out there and not thinking too much when theyre playing and trying to avoid some of those mistakes and be able to play fast. Until you have that game experience together, you dont know what to expect. Were all going to be out here learning a little bit, hopefully we can get it done." Veteran Ottawa defensive back Jovon Johnson said it doesnt really matter who the Argos have at receiver because Ray is the key to their offence. "He takes the passes that you give him, he doesnt force things downfield," Johnson said. "He doesnt do things hes not accustomed to doing, thats what makes him great. "To not have guys like Chad Owens and Andre Durie, Im sure thats big for them because they go to Owens and Durie a lot. Its one of those unknown things, you dont know who theyre going to play and just have to be ready for whatever comes your way." With Ottawas first home game generating such a huge buzz here -- a pep rally was held Thursday at city hall -- the Redblacks will definitely have the home-field advantage as they search for their first-ever win. However, that also means therell be a lot of pressure on them to perform well. "Hopefully its loud and exciting," Argos head coach Scott Milanovich said. "Our guys are looking forward to playing in the new stadium being kind of the first show in town." Toronto receiver John Chiles, who played collegiately at Texas, said a big, loud crowd can dramatically impact the outcome of a game. "Im expecting it to be crazy, Im expecting it to be loud, Im expecting the fans to be up and screaming and having a good time," Chiles said. "In college I played before 110,000 people every week and I remember when it got loud it got tough for teams and they struggled against us. "And even at some away games it was tougher for me being on the road. The crowd can definitely have an effect on the game." However, Chiles said the Argos arent looking to play the spoiler role. "No, we try not to use that term," he said. "Were just focusing in on what we need to do to win and not get too involved with the extra stuff." Campbell said while hes looking forward to the Redblacks having a rabid home crowd firmly behind them, its important his players avoid being swept up in that emotion. "We just have to make sure we keep our heads about us," he said. "I know this is going to be a great place to be, we just need to make sure were good on our assignments and what were doing and go out there and play football." That wont be a problem for Johnson. "Im never nervous," he said. "Im always even-keeled, thats just me and my personality. I always want to perform and never feel pressure on the field. "You cant look at it as extra pressure. Id call it added incentive for us to go out and play well and give them (fans) a team they can look forward to." Emmanuel Ogbah Jersey .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York. Custom Cleveland Browns Jerseys . - Erick Torres scored his 10th goal of the season on a stunning volley, and Chivas USA edged 10-man Real Salt Lake 1-0 on Saturday night.PHOENIX - New England Patriots offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer spent a good portion of his hour-long media session answering questions in German.Vollmer grew up in Germany, so it makes sense, but it also exemplifies how much of an international event the Super Bowl has become.Quite a few of the 2,000 journalists jammed across the floor of the US Airways Center at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday were from foreign outlets, including some of the more outrageous ones who gave the event some international flavour.___GERMAN CONTINGENTThough Germany hasnt quite latched onto American football, theres still plenty of interest in the Super Bowl.More than 30 German journalists travelled to Arizona this week to cover the big game and to provide updates on Vollmer.Interest is getting more and more, said Marc Behrenbeck, a reporter for Sky Sport News in Munich. In Germany, football isnt that big, soccer is huge; football is very tiny compared to (soccer), but its getting more and more popular.Behrenbeck has covered the Super Bowl seven times and connected with fellow German reporters through the years, some of them from Germany, others who relocated to the U.S.The contingent of German reporters spent most of the day around Vollmer, jumping in with questions in German.Actually, its a tiny football family thats getting bigger every year, Behrenbeck said.___VOLLMERS SUPER ROUTEVollmer took an unconventional route to the Super Bowl.Born in Dusseldorf, he grew up swimming and playing basketball, and didnt start playing football until he was 14.After leading his prep school to a pair of national championships, Vollmer played in the Global Junior Championships in San Diego, where he secured a scholarship to the University of Houston.Despite knowing no English when he arrived, Vollmer adapted quickly and was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft.Now hes making his second Super Bowl appearance.I wouldnt say it (the journey) was bizarre, but it wasnt always easy, Vollmer said. But I wouldnt trade it for anything, either.___PUPPET SHOWInternational reporters tend to be some of the wackiest at Media Day, including a Mexican TV reporter who wore a wedding dress and asked Tom Brady to marry her in 2008.This year session didnt seem to have aas many wild stunts, but there were some interesting moments involving the foreign press. Shon Coleman Jersey. .One TV team from Azteca Deportes brought along a pair of bug-eyed, bucktoothed hand puppets that helped the reporter ask questions. Two men kneeled to the sides of the reporter and held the puppets up, shouting out apparently-irreverent questions — at least based on the laughter — in Spanish.The puppets did one interview with a German reporter who had fake scars on his face like a zombie and later cornered Seahawks centre Patrick Lewis.I dont know what theyre saying, Lewis said to the reporter after one of the puppets asked him a question.They want to know how big your girlfriend is, the reporter said.Big enough, the 6-foot-1, 311-pound Lewis said with a laugh.Gina Holguin, a model and reporter for a Mexican media company Televisa, danced with Seattles Richard Sherman at the end of his session.___CANADA STRONGCanada will have a pair of players to root for in the Super Bowl for the second straight season: Seahawks tight end Luke Willson and punter Jon Ryan.Willson, who grew up outside Windsor, Ontario, made his way to the NFL after playing at Rice University, where he learned a quick lesson in how big football is in the United States.It was pretty intense, especially coming from Canada, Willson said. It was a very, very different atmosphere. Football is almost like a religion down there, so it was kind of cool in that sense to have that many people care about the game of football.Ryan, of Regina, Saskatchewan, never got to experience football in America until he ended up in the NFL — with Green Bay in 2006 — by way of the CFL and the University of Regina.Growing up in Canada, I never thought Id have the opportunity to play in the NFL, said Ryan, who threw a touchdown pass on a trick play in Seattles comeback win over the Packers in the NFC Championship. Now to have been playing here for nine years, playing in my second Super Bowl is really a dream come true.The Seahawks have one other foreign-born player on its roster: Defensive lineman Jesse Williams, who was born in Brisbane, Australia. He spent the season on injured reserve after injuring his knee during fall camp.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ;Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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