The Rouge

With a week and a half to go before training camp kicks off June 4, there is at least one Calgary Stampeders player anxious for action.

Receiver Ken-Yon Rambo was hampered by knee and Achilles injuries last season that held him to 11 games. He had just 695 yards and five touchdowns on 51 catches, way off his numbers from the year before.

After the 2011 season ended, the 33-year-old went to work getting healthy. He didn’t have surgery, but instead rehabbed to make himself better. He declared himself 100% ready to go Tuesday.

“You can expect a big season,” Rambo said. “I will be playing to the best of my ability. I will score touchdowns. That’s what I do. I make plays man.”

That’s good news for the Stamps, who will have some turnover at other positions as Drew Tate takes over at quarterback and Jon Cornish gets a full season as the starting running back. Tate and Rambo obviously have chemistry together, and they recently had a workout together in Dallas while Tate was going through town.

The Stamps should have some tough decisions to make when it comes to picking the receiving corps. Rambo, Nik Lewis and Romby Bryant return and will try to get back to the form of 2010 when all three were 1,000-yard receivers. The team signed Maurice Price this off-season, and he could emerge as a dynamic outside force. Rambo also says to watch out for Joe West, a former Dallas Cowboys receiver that is expected to be officially signed in the coming days. The two have worked out together in Dallas.

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Eskimos cut Nowacki
Clearly the Edmonton Eskimos weren’t expecting to get receiver Shamawd Chambers in the CFL draft. Chambers fell to the Eskimos at the No. 6 spot and they couldn’t pass him up.

That meant there was too many Canadian receivers than what they needed, so the Eskimos released veteran Andrew Nowacki Tuesday. Nowacki played 103 regular-season games for the Eskimos, helping them to a Grey Cup victory in 2005.

The Eskimos also cut defensive back David Pittman, who spent one season with the team and played 11 games.

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Wilson retires from Alouettes
The English-speaking Montreal media will need to find a new go-to guy. Defensive tackle Eric Wilson retired Tuesday from the Montreal Alouettes.

The chatty, extremely quotable import was known to expound on every topic reporters asked about and he was a straight shooter. He spent five seasons with the Alouettes, helping the team win back-to-back Grey Cups, during an eight-year career.

“Eric Wilson was one of the true leaders on our football team,” said head coach Marc Trestman. “His toughness, his courage and his highly efficient play resonated during his time with us. He was an integral part of our team’s success and championships over the past years.”

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Murphy lands in Hamilton
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have added a familiar name in their search to replace return specialist Marcus Thigpen.

Former Stampeders returner Deon Murphy, who spent the 2010 season in Calgary, gets reunited with Henry Burris with the Ticats. Murphy caught 25 passes for four TDs and 271 yards that season, while also leading the team with 911 kickoff return yards, 533 punt return yards and 145 missed field goal return yards.

Arguably best game actually came in Hamilton, when Murphy had a 105-yard missed field goal return to set up a touchdown.

The Ticats also signed receivers Joe Collins (Weber State) and Michael Galatas (Millsaps College).

— Buz

Brandon Isaac took his time picking a CFL team, but in the end, he went to a system where he was most comfortable.

And that wasn’t with the Calgary Stampeders.

The two-year Stamps linebacker-defensive back officially signed with the Toronto Argonauts Tuesday, spurning offers from Calgary and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

By signing with the Argos, Isaac is reunited with defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones, who left the Stamps after four years in charge of the defence.

“It’s great to be back with coach Jones,” Isaac said. “We have a solid relationship, and we are both hard-working guys who want to win. I am so fortunate to be back with him.”

Isaac has been a free agent since Feb. 15, but he waited out to see if the NFL came calling before opting to return for a third CFL season.

In 28 regular-season games, the South Carolina product had 46 sacks and three sacks.There is a good chance Isaac slides in to play the same coverage linebacker spot he occupied with the Stamps in 2011.

“He is versatile and can play six positions within our defence, plus he is able to blitz,” Jones said in a statement. “He is a hard worker with tremendous character and is a film studier. We are excited he’s decided to join us at the Argos.”

Isaac joins former college teammate Cory Boyd with the Argos, and he’s excited to switch teams.

“This is a great opportunity to be with an organization that is on the way up and doing the right things to become a winning program,” Isaac said.

“I have watched them grow as an outsider, and now I want to come in here and make big plays.”

Extra points

The Stampeders announced Tuesday they have signed import LB Deron Mayo and import DL Michael Stover while releasing import LB Daren Stone after one injury-plagued season … The Montreal Alouettes signed undrafted Canadian QB Kyle Quinlan to a two-year contract. Quinlan led McMaster Marauders to its first Vanier Cup last season … The Blue Bombers extended the contract of import LB Dustin Doe and signed non-import
OL Samuel Nemis. Doe played three games with the Bombers in 2011.
— QMI Agency

John Hufnagel has his man, and the Calgary Stampeders have filled their biggest need in terms of depth.

In a trade-filled first round of the CFL draft, the Stamps stayed with their spot at No. 5 to grab Ameet Pall, a defensive lineman out of Wofford.

“He’s a versatile player,” Hufnagel said. “He’s an explosive player who can play sideline to sideline. He’s had a bunch of sacks. He had five this past year and 12 the year before.

“His coaches can’t say enough about this young man. He’s a consistently hard worker on the football field, in the classroom and the weight room.

“They would love to have 11 Ameet Palls on their defensive team. He’s a leader both on the field and off the field. He will contribute on special teams and compete solidly at the defensive line position.”

The Saskatchewan Roughriders took Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman Ben Heenan with the first overall pick, then there was a bunch of trading.

The B.C. Lions traded up to get the No. 2 pick from the Edmonton Eskimos and selcted Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Jabar Westerman.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers traded for the No. 3 pick, getting it from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and they took offensive lineman Tyson Pencer, who played with the junior Okanagan Sun last season.

The Eskimos made a smooth move in trading down, as offensive lineman Austin Pasztor was still on the board for them at No. 4, and then they grabbed receiver Shamawd Chambers with the sixth pick.

Calgary Dinos offensive lineman Kirby Fabien then went seventh to the B.C. Loins.

— Buz

A few years ago, it would have seemed unlikely for any quarterback to go into the CFL Canadian Draft with high expectations.

Maybe things have changed. A year ago, the Calgary Stampeders used their fourth-round pick (29th overall) to snag Brad Sinopoli out of the University of Ottawa.

Thanks to Sinopoli, now a player such as Kyle Quinlan could realistically expect to hear his named called May 3. All the McMaster Marauders product is hoping for is a chance to show a CFL team what he can do during a full training camp, just as Sinopoli did when he earned the third-string role.

Quinlan, who is nominated for the prestigious BLG Award for top CIS athlete, has even more credentials from Canadian university football than Sinopoli did. He led the Marauders to the Vanier Cup title and averaged gaudy numbers (342 yards passing per game in regular season, more than 40 points per game in playoffs).

They both have similar builds being tall with strong arms. Quinlan might have more of an advantage due to his running ability. He rushed for 106 yards against the tight Laval Rouge et Or defence in the Vanier.

The problem with the CFL import ratio is quarterbacks never factor in. Teams dress 20 Canadians, 19 imports and three quarterbacks among their 42 active players. If a Canadian happens to be a non-import, he doesn’t count against the ratio. The Stampeders dressed 21 Canadians every game last season.

If the CFL were to give the teams the option of dressing another import elsewhere if they had a Canadian QB (make it just 20 non-imports and 22 imports), maybe more homegrown pivots would get put on rosters.

There are other reasons why Canadians don’t get used as QBs. The majority of the coaches in the CFL are American, and they scout the U.S. for talent. There is generally thought to be a better level of coaching in the U.S. college ranks, and kids growing up south of the border get more snaps before they turn pro.

When it comes to a Canadian advantage, Quinlan can only think of one.

“Canadian quarterbacks grow up in the game,” Quinlan said. “It should be a huge advantage on our American counterparts. We should be able to understand the nuances of the Canadian game. The only advantage we would have is that familiarity with the Canadian style.”

Still, if Quinlan does get a shot, he feels good about his chances.

“With a lot of Canadian quarterbacks getting a shot, as long as you put yourself in that position to be evaluated on an even pace as the Americans, it should be good,” said Quinlan, who would have to decide if he would go Sinopoli’s path and forego his final college season.

“If I’m lucky enough to get that opportunity, I will have to weigh the pros and cons of a fifth year at McMaster or sticking in the CFL. It would be a good problem to have if I’m fortunate enough to have it.”

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New jersey launched May 2
The Stampeders — and the entire CFL — will have a new look on the field this season. The Stamps will be unveiling their new duds May 2, a day before a handful of new players join the team through the Canadian Draft.

The Reebok-designed jerseys should be interesting as the technology in clothing has come a long way the past few years. Both home and away jerseys will be debuted at the ceremony at McMahon Stadium.

— Buz

Fiscal responsibility has taken over in the CFL.

No team broke the 2011 salary cap of $4.3 million, the league announced Thursday. With no one going over the cap, commissioner Mark Cohon didn’t need to dole out any punishment and therefore the draft order remains the same.

“The success of our Salary Management System underlines our teams’ commitment to putting a great product on the field and following sound business principles at the same time,” Cohon said.

“The work our Board of Governors and our football leaders have done on this issue is an important building block in our league’s strong foundation.”

This is the first time there was no cap breaker since the system came in during the 2007 campaign. There will be even more spending room this season, as the cap increases to $4.35 million.

— Buz