WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers started the 2014 season with plenty of question marks after a 2013 campaign that saw them win just three times.And while their 7-11 record this year means theyll miss the CFL playoffs for a third straight season and fifth time in the past six years, the Bombers did have some positives to point to as they cleaned out their lockers Sunday. One of them was finding a bonafide starting quarterback in Drew Willy.I think Drew answered that pretty early in the year, said slotback Clarence Denmark, the teams leading receiver with 65 catches for 1,080 yards and three touchdowns.He grew into a guy that were going to trust and a guy that we believe in. I think Drew is a good player and hes only going to get better.Willy was picked up in the off-season in a trade with Saskatchewan after the Bombers attempts to sign veteran quarterback Henry Burris and up-and-comer Zach Collaros didnt pan out.Although he only had four starts in two seasons with Saskatchewan, Willy guided the Bombers to a surprising 5-1 start — even if four of those victories were against poor-playing East Division teams.Willys quiet, confident leadership continued as he played through some injuries and only missed one full game. He left Saturdays game in Calgary late in the first half with what he said was an injury to his forearm that weakened his grip on the ball.He was replaced by rookie Robert Marve, who guided the club to an 18-13 win over the Stampeders that snapped Winnipegs eight-game losing skid.Willy, who turns 28 later this month, planned to return home to New Jersey and train hard during the off-season.Im going to watch every (film) clip that we have, work on different things thatll improve my play, said Willy, who completed almost 64 per cent of his passes for 3,769 yards with 14 TDs and 16 interceptions.Its a big off-season for me and Im going to come back, I think, definitely in the best shape and best mental state that I can possibly be in.Head coach Mike OShea said everyones job performance will be under review, including his own, but the quarterbacking corps was a bright spot.You go into a season with what people would describe as relatively unknowns and (wondering) how its going to work out, OShea said.We feel weve got a very good quarterback stable. Brian Brohm, Robert Marve, Josh Portis and Drew Willy at the helm for the majority of the season.Its turned out well. That area has been addressed.The kicking game also more than met expectations.Rookie placekicker Lirim Hajrullahu was good on 40 of his 46 field-goal attempts, giving him a franchise-record 87 per cent success rate. He also tied the CFL rookie record that had been set by Justin Medlock in 2009.Im not fully satisfied because I still want to play, so no matter any accomplishments cant make up for not being in the playoffs, Hajrullahu said.He also took over the punting duties after Mike Renaud was injured and said hed like to do all the placekicking, punting and kickoffs next year. He told OShea that in his exit meeting and said the response was that hed come into training camp next year and compete.The Bombers have a big goal to strive for next year as Winnipeg is hosting the Grey Cup game, a championship they havent claimed since 1990.One area that will have to improve is Winnipegs defence, especially against the run. The team was at the bottom of the league in allowing an average of 135.9 rushing yards per game.The offensive line also needs work as Winnipeg gave up a league-high 71 sacks.Some Bombers pointed to a change in atmosphere as one of the biggest differences this season that made it fun to go to work, and work hard.I think heading into this season the focus was really changing the culture in the locker-room, said veteran offensive lineman Glenn January, one of the teams 16 potential free agents.I can tell you first-hand that mission was accomplished.And that was seen on the field, too.Just games that we were down, you could just see it, that we still had fight, Denmark said. No quit in these guys. I think that last game showed a lot of character about our team.Both players said the change began with OShea, a man who earned their respect.Its easy to go out and put it all on the line for a guy like that, Denmark said. Thats what its all about. . Steve has built a solid reputation throughout the years - first as a hockey player, then as an NHL general manager and now as a scout. . Asdrubal Cabrera had four hits and three RBIs, Michael Brantley also homered and the Indians beat the injury-riddled Minnesota Twins 9-4 Thursday for their first three-game winning streak this season.
http://www.airmaxoutlet.nl/. Three pitches later, he was hugging Mike Napoli at home plate after his teammates winning home run. Napoli and Ortiz hit consecutive homers with one out in the 10th inning and the Boston Red Sox rallied past Minnesota 2-1 Wednesday, sending the Twins to their fifth straight loss. . The 21-year-old Canadian earned a spot in his third career ATP final on Saturday thanks to his first Top 10 victory of the new tennis season, a 6-4, 6-4 win over world no. 10 Nicolas Almagro of Spain. . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday.Some will continue to argue the womens hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics remains a two-team race between Canada and the United States. That may indeed be the case, but Finland threw a mighty scare into Team Canada on Monday. The Finns matched Canadas speed and were the more aggressive team through the first two periods, but Canadas offence took control in the third period scoring three goals, blanking Finland 3-0. Canada outshot Finland 27-10 through 40 minutes, but couldnt beat goaltender Noora Raty. Meghan Agosta-Marciano finally gave Canada a 1-0 lead on its fourth power pay of the game when she drilled a slap shot to the top corner at 9:27 of the third period. That was followed by a goal by anothher veteran, Jayna Hefford, who deked two Finnish defenders and then fired a high shot from in tight.dddddddddddd Late in the third Rebecca Johnston scored her second goal of the 2014 Olympics, converting a three-on-one. Finland has finished third or fourth at every Olympics and World Championship tournament since it began international play, so the Canadians knew they were in for a tough game. "They just never give up," said Canadian forward Brianne Jenner. "They are a hard-working team and they clog the middle of the ice. We knew that coming in so our game plan was to not be impatient and stick with what we wanted to do and it turned out that it worked in the third period." ' ' '
