Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and the B.C. Lions have added incentive to win the 2024 Grey Cup.
The game goes Nov. 17 at B.C. Place Stadium. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the last CFL team to win a championship on home soil, doing so in 2013.
The path to the B次元官网网址�24 Grey Cup begins Sunday with the opening of CFL training camps.
B次元官网网址淚t would be huge for the organization and city if we could make that happen but we have to take it one practice, one game at a time,B次元官网网址� Adams said. B次元官网网址淚t could be added pressure but it could also be, B次元官网网址楲etB次元官网网址檚 look it right in the face and letB次元官网网址檚 go.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the type of mindset I want to try to instil into the guys. Pressure is a privilege, not everyone gets this pressure B次元官网网址� so letB次元官网网址檚 look it in the face and attack it.B次元官网网址�
B.C. won its last Grey Cup in 2011 and it came at B.C. Place Stadium after an 0-5 start that season.
B.C. has posted 12-6 records the last two years, ultimately losing in the West Division final both times to Winnipeg.
The five-foot-11, 200-pound Adams completed 68.2 per cent of his passes for a CFL-best 4,769 yards and 31 touchdowns (second to WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 Zach Collaros, who had 33) last season. He guided B.C. to second in the West Division behind the Blue Bombers (14-4).
In February, Adams signed an extension with B.C. through the 2026 season. Although the Lions lost receiver Dominique Rhymes (Ottawa) and defensive Mathieu Betts (NFLB次元官网网址檚 Detroit Lions), it re-signed receivers Keon Hatcher, Alexander Hollins and Jevon Cottoy, receiver-returner Terry Williams, punter Stefan Flintoft and defensive back Marcus Sayles.
B.C. also added running back William Stanback, receiver Jake Harty, defensive back Ciante Evans and veteran quarterbacks Jake Dolegala and Dakota Prukop.
B次元官网网址淢any teams look good on paper, us and everyone else in the league,B次元官网网址� Adams said. B次元官网网址淏ut at the end of the day, youB次元官网网址檝e got to go earn it, prove it, put in the work and trust your preparation.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what training camp is for, you come together and grind it out. There will be good days, bad days but you stick together as a team and keep getting better and thatB次元官网网址檚 our goal this year.B次元官网网址�
A look at the other CFL teams heading into the start of their camps:
WEST DIVISION
Calgary Stampeders
Calgary chases a 19th straight CFL playoff berth but comes off its first losing season (6-12) since B次元官网网址�07. An interesting off-season move was the hiring of quarterback coach Beau Baldwin, who coached Adams, Bo Levi Mitchell and retired stars Matt Nichols and Mike Reilly, during their college tenures. That should bode well for Stampeders starter Jake Maier.
Edmonton Elks
Veteran quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson marks his CFL return after signing a one-year deal this off-season. Bethel-Thompson led the CFL in passing in 2022 and helped the Toronto Argonauts win the Grey Cup before spending B次元官网网址�23 in the USFL. Edmonton (4-10) last made the playoffs in 2019 and has managed just 11 regular-season wins since
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Corey Mace begins his first season as a CFL head coach with a healthy Trevor Harris at quarterback. Harris, 37, missed most of last season with a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee as Saskatchewan (6-10) missed the playoffs for a second straight year. The club added running back A.J. Ouellette (1,000-yard rusher last year with Toronto), tackle Jermarcus Hardrick (B次元官网网址�23 West Division top lineman with Winnipeg) and defensive back Jalon Edwards-Cooper (last three years with B.C.).
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg chases a fifth straight Grey Cup appearance but first victory since B次元官网网址�21. GM Kyle Walters re-signed key players like CFL rushing leader Brady Oliveira and receiver Dalton Schoen but the club lost Hardrick, quarterback Dru Brown (trade, Ottawa) and defensive back Demerio Houston (Calgary). Zach Collaros remains under centre with Chris Streveler returning as the backup.
EAST DIVISION
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Mitchell attended rookie camp with a walking boot on his right foot. He started just six games last season, his first with Hamilton, due to an adductor injury and right leg fracture that required surgery. Ticats coach Scott Milanovich said MitchellB次元官网网址檚 boot was precautionary and Mitchell was expected to begin practising Monday. Linebacker Jordan Williams, obtained from Toronto this off-season, has retired.
Montreal Alouettes
Quarterback Cody Fajardo, the MVP of MontrealB次元官网网址檚 28-24 Grey Cup win over Winnipeg, will see plenty of familiar faces when camp opens. GM Danny Maciocia re-signed Fajardo along with linebackers Darnell Sankey and Tyrice Beverette, running backs Jeshrun Anwti and Walter Fletcher, offensive linemen Philippe Gagnon and Kristian Matte B次元官网网址� to name a few B次元官网网址� to extensions.
Ottawa Redblacks
Ottawa last made the CFL playoffs in 2018. The B次元官网网址�24 campaign is a big one for GM Shawn Burke, whoB次元官网网址檚 entering his third season at the helm. Quarterback Dustin Crum was a bright spot last year, but Burke acquired Brown and re-signed veteran Jeremiah Masoli. Rhymes and linebacker Adarius Pickett (East DivisionB次元官网网址檚 top defensive player with Toronto) were key additions.
Toronto Argonauts
ItB次元官网网址檚 been a tough off-season for Toronto, which has finished atop the East Division three straight years and won the B次元官网网址�22 Grey Cup. Pickett, Ouellette, returner Javon Leake (Edmonton) and cornerback Jamal Peters (Hamilton) were among the departures, although Canadian kicker Lirim Hajrullahu returns. Quarterback Chad Kelly, the CFLs B次元官网网址�23 top player, was suspended by the league for the pre-season and at least nine regular-season games for violating its gender-based violence policy. The punishment came after a CFL investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against Kelly for sexual harassment and the Argos for wrongful dismissal.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2024.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
