Mini Spiele » mer team. The Bobcats started the gam

Helmet-to-helmet hits and their devastating effects are back in the CFL spotlight but league president Michael Copeland doesnt believe they are becoming an epidemic. Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly took a nasty hit to the back of his head from Toronto rookie defensive lineman Cleyon Laing in the Argonauts 34-22 win Saturday night. Although appearing wobbly upon getting up, Reilly remained in the contest after being evaluated by Eskimos medical staff. On the next play, Reilly dropped the direct snap but recovered and threw a 17-yard TD strike to Shamawd Chambers. When he came to the sidelines, Reilly was re-evaluated and replaced by veteran backup Kerry Joseph. On Sunday, the Eskimos confirmed Reilly had suffered a concussion and hes out indefinitely. That leaves Hamiltons Henry Burris, 38, the lone CFL starter still standing. The six-foot-three, 280-pound Laing was flagged for his hit and the Edmonton native is expected to be fined this week by the CFL. Its an approach, Copeland says, thats working. "Concussions, according to our records, are flat this year relative to last and man-games lost to concussions are down, which I think speaks to better concussion management," he said. "I think its having an affect because when we talk to our officials, they tell us they see more players changing the way they tackle and that the culture among players is changing. "Youre going to see certain plays happen and again theyre fairly high profile. But theres many things people necessarily dont see that I think speak to the success of what weve been doing." On Monday, Edmonton head coach Kavis Reed left it up to the CFL to assess the Laing hit. "I truly believe we dont want to see our players exposed to those kinds of hits," he said. "I trust the (leagues) decision-making process that theyre going to go through in making an assessment as to the severity of that hit and the decision theyll come down with." While the 2013 campaign has been tough on CFL quarterbacks, Montreals Anthony Calvillo is the only other starter out with a concussion. He was injured in a game in August when his head struck the Mosaic Stadium turf following a legal hit by Saskatchewan defensive end Ricky Foley. But the issue of helmet-to-helmet hits is one the league has had to face often this season. On Sept. 18, Saskatchewan Roughriders safety Tyron Brackenridge was fined by for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Torontos Chad Kackert that left the running back with a concussion. Roughly a month earlier, Brackenridge was involved in a helmet-to-helmet collision with Montreals Brandon London that left the Alouettes receiver concussed but Brackenridge wasnt fined for the hit. However, the league slapped Hamilton defensive back Dee Webb with an undisclosed fine for hitting B.C. Lions receiver Marco Iannuzzi in the head on a kickoff in the Tiger-Cats 37-29 win Sept. 7. Iannuzzi suffered a concussion on the play. Webb was also fined last year for a hit on Iannuzzi that left the Lions player with a concussion. And Saskatchewan defensive lineman Levi Steinhauer was fined Aug. 1 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Hamilton kick-returner Lindsey Lamar in the Riders 32-20 win in Guelph, Ont., on July 27. Mike Morreale, a former CFL slotback now heading up the CFL Players Association, doesnt believe head injuries are on the rise in the league. However, he said public awareness about the issue of concussions makes it seem that way. "My gut feeling is because of the awareness level and increase in terms of camera angles, were now becoming more and more aware of it and it looks like its happening more and more often," he said. "I also think theres truth that the bigger, stronger and faster these guys are and the increase in protection levels regarding the equipment they wear would allow someone to play more aggressively as well." Often, the CFL fines a player for a helmet-to-helmet hit but Copeland said the league can issue a suspension if warranted. However, Copeland feels hitting offenders in the wallet is a suitable punishment. "Judging by the reaction of players when they get fined, its certainly working," he said. "I absolutely think its having an effect and changing the way the guys think and I believe thats whats causing the change in culture and mechanics on the field. "The objective of discipline is to change behaviour and at the point we see its not having an affect thats when we have to take a look at the size of our penalties . . . Should we feel the need to continue to increase them well do that. Its a conversation we have with the (CFL Players Association) and we dont think were there yet but its not a place were afraid to go if we feel we have to." Morreale said the CFLPA has been very active in educating players on the dangers of helmet-to-helmet hits but admits the union faces a stiff challenge trying to get some of their constituents to change how they play the game. "In some cases you have to change 20 some-odd years of conditioning on how to play the game of football," Morreale said. "A lot of times, a defender is going for a shoulder and the (ball-carriers) head dips and you have incidental head-to-head contact." However, Morreale believes more can be done to enhance player safety in the CFL and said fortunately both the union and league are on the same page regarding the issue. "I think more needs to be done, which means we have to collectively as players and coaches and management come up with better rules that surround not only fines and suspensions but maybe possibly the rules of the game as well," he said. "Thats what I hope would create part of our discussion around negotiation time. "The league and us are on the same page so theres not a lot of head-to-head on, No, we cant do this, we cant do that. I think we both jointly agree the health of our players is the most important thing." Education, Copeland said, is a key. "Football is a contact game but it can be a very safe game when played properly," he said. "Thats what were trying to communicate to everyone involved." --- HALL OF FAME: Former CFL players Brian Fryer, Dan Ferrone, Miles Gorrell and Earl Winfield, along with builders Jake Ireland and Don Loney, will be formally inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame this week in Edmonton. Theyll be presented their jackets Wednesday and have their busts unveiled Thursday morning before the Hall of Fame gala dinner later that night. The festivities will culminate with the Edmonton Eskimos hosting the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday afternoon. Austin Rivers Jersey . Its been a successful Games for Canada, which will finish near the top of the medal standings again. From repeat gold medal winners to multiple medal winners to undefeated teams to acts that define the Olympic spirit, there are many solid candidates who could be considered to receive the honour. Clippers Jerseys . Hes even holding a bat on one of his 2014 baseball cards. So far, hes playing like his picture. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.info/dean...lippers-jersey/. "He started putting me on the ice to strengthen them at the suggestion from a doctor," he said. Weight said it wasnt a pretty sight at the rink in St. Clair Shores, Mich. "I looked like Forrest Gump," he joked. Luc Mbah a Moute Jersey . The eighth-year point guard played in his 500th career game on Sunday, a 98-93 win over the Orlando Magic. Does he feel like hes played in that many games? "No," he said initially, before reconsidering. Louis Williams Jersey . -- Byron Scott is taking over the Los Angeles Lakers with the vocal support of his fellow Showtime greats.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Al Jefferson knows few people will be giving the Charlotte Bobcats a chance to upset the Miami Heat in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. That doesnt matter to the veteran centre. "They didnt give us a chance in October, if you remember," Jefferson said. "We were going to be last in the league, right? So we dont worry about what is said outside of these walls right here." The Bobcats defeated the Chicago Bulls 91-86 in overtime on Wednesday night to finish the season 43-39 and as the seventh seed in the East. Not bad for a team that was a combined 28-120 over the previous two seasons. But now there is the monumental task of beating the two-time defending NBA champions, something the Bobcats havent done in the LeBron James era. The Heat are 15-0 against the Bobcats since James signed. "Its going to be a challenge, but its the playoffs and anything can happen," Bobcats guard Kemba Walker said. "Its not going to be easy. Were going to go out there and give it all we got just like we have been doing all year." The series starts on Sunday. "Its going to be a dogfight," Jefferson said. The Bulls finished as the No. 4 seed in the East and will face the Washington in the first round after the Wizards leap-frogged the Brooklyn Nets on the final night of the season to grab the fifth spot. "They are a great transition team with a lot of shooters and size," Bulls forward Carlos Boozer said. "To make the playoffs you have to be a good team, and theyre a good team." After missing a jumper that would have won the game in regulation, Walker scored eight of his 22 points in overtime to help the Bobcats beat the Bulls for the first time this season and finish the regular season with eight wins in their final nine games. Jefferson added 10 points and 18 rebounds for Charlotte, and Chris Douglas-Roberts finished with 13 points after being held scoreless for the first three quarters. Josh McRoberts made a key play in overtime, his block of D.J. Augustins 3-point attempt leading to a fast-break layup by Walker that gave the Bobcats an 888-81 lead with 1 minute left.dddddddddddd "This was the type of game we needed going into the playoffs," Jefferson said. "Thats a playoff team and thats a playoff game that we played tonight." Joakim Noah finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago, Boozer added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Augustin scored 17 points. The Bulls came in having won 10 of their last 11 against the Bobcats, including five straight in Charlotte by an average of 22 points per game. And it looked early on like this would be another road blowout for Michael Jordans former team. The Bobcats started the game cold, missing 21 of their first 29 shots from the field to fall behind 33-23. But Jefferson hit a short jumper and the Bobcats made 11 straight shots to take 43-37 lead at halftime. After a back-and-forth third quarter, the Bulls entered the final period leading 60-59. Every time Chicago attempted to pull away, Douglas-Roberts seemed to have an answer. Two nights after a buzzer-beater to sink the Atlanta Hawks, Douglas-Roberts had 12 points in the fourth period, including a left-handed layup off an offensive rebound with 3:42 left to tie the game at 75. After Taj Gibson missed a jumper with 25 seconds left, Walker had a chance to win the game but missed an open step-back jumper from 18 feet at the buzzer. "I had a great look at it," Walker said. "Just missed it." Walkers big overtime helped the Bobcats improve to 20-9 since the All-Star break. "The guys have done a great job," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said. "We wont think about it right now, but when we reflect back on the year we will. We didnt have a definitive number because I didnt know how good we could be. Its a good group and hopefully we have a lot more in us. It was good to see the locker room tonight. Theyve worked hard. Theyve been grinding from the jump." NOTES: Jefferson was taken to the locker room for observations with a left knee contusion midway through the third quarter. He did return to the game and played the entire fourth quarter. ... With the win, the Bobcats avoided a season series sweep by the Bulls. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '