MAKE IT OR BREAK IT TIME
The beast known as the National Football League is ramping up for its regular season and so are the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-13 in their exhibition opener at Lumen Field in Seattle on Thursday night.
There is a real irony in pre-season football both south and north of the border. Most fans and media members will downplay the importance of pre-season games, looking at them as a necessary evil until the season starts. After all, the Seahawks only played five starters against the Vikings and they were all gone by halftime.
Yet each of these games are like the Super Bowl for players trying to earn a spot on the squad B次元官网网址� or at least get enough good tape for another team to be interested in their services should things not work out with their current team.
For some, these exhibition games may be the last time they ever step onto the football field. For others, itB次元官网网址檚 the launching point for a solid career.
Either way, try not telling these players that exhibition games B次元官网网址榓renB次元官网网址檛 importantB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� it could be the difference between joining the family business or continuing to play a game that they love at the highest level.
SO YOUB次元官网网址橰E SAYING THEREB次元官网网址橲 A CHANCE
You have to feel for the Edmonton Elks. Up 22-0 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night, the Elks saw the Bombers rally for a 38-29 win and, in the process, the Elks home losing streak was extended to 22 games.
It was a classic case of a veteran team that has been in some big games versus a young inexperienced team that is learning what it takes to win. Football games are decided over the course of 60 minutes B次元官网网址� not 15, 35 or 42 minutes. The Bombers just keep grinding away while it looked like the Elks were just trying to hang on.
A telling sign for me was Elks quarterback Tre Ford running the length of the field in jubilation after a 53-yard strike early in the third quarter to Dylan Mitchell which gave the Elks a first-and-ten at the Bomber 22. Ford was acting like they just won the game.
The very next play, running back Kevin Brown fumbled the ball and the Bombers marched the field to score a touchdown to cut the deficit to 22-17. Every successful coach will talk about how having an even keel approach throughout the game is essential. Ford and the Elks got caught up in the emotion of their start and forgot that there was still a lot of football to be played.
Once they learn to finish, theyB次元官网网址檒l learn to winB次元官网网址nd thatB次元官网网址檚 coming.
LIONS LOOK TO REBOUND
After a 50-14 drubbing in Winnipeg last Thursday, the Lions look to get back on track when the Calgary Stampeders visit BC Place Stadium this Saturday.
The Leos will welcome back quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. after a two-game absence due to a knee injury. Head Coach Rick Campbell says that the Leos will not be limited in what they can do offensively with B次元官网网址楤ig Play V-AB次元官网网址� although one wonders what type of mobility Adams Jr. will have after coming off the injury.
Adams Jr. will be without the services of wide receiver Dominique Rhymes, who is now on the six-game injured list with a foot injury that has been troubling him all season long. The hope is that some extended rest will get Rhymes back to 100%.
It will be interesting to see how the Lions handle the Stamps running attack, which should be bolstered by the return of KaB次元官网网址橠eem Carey. Carey was a full participant in practice this week and is expected to play. The CFLB次元官网网址檚 leading rusher a year ago with 1,088 yards along the ground, Carey has been out of the lineup since being injured in the season-opener against the Lions.
DIDNB次元官网网址橳 YOU GET THE MEMO?
On Aug. 1 B次元官网网址� MLB trade deadline day B次元官网网址� the Seattle Mariners were 55-52 and 3.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the final wildcard spot. What made that wildcard spot look even more distant was that there were three teams ahead of them in that race B次元官网网址� Boston, Los Angeles and New York.
Looking at the big picture, the Mariners went into sell mode B次元官网网址� trading closer Paul Sewald to Arizona while also shipping outfielder A.J. Pollock to San Francisco and DFAB次元官网网址檌ng infielder Kolton Wong. It was a total vote of no-confidence in the team by Mariners management yet someone forgot to tell the Mariners players. After losing to Boston 6-4 on August 1st, the MB次元官网网址檚 have reeled off seven straight wins to creep within 1.5 games of the Blue Jays B次元官网网址� passing the Red Sox, Angels and Yankees in the process.
You have to give this team credit. Their own management group didnB次元官网网址檛 believe they have what it takes to make a push but they have fought through it all to be contenders down the stretch. It appears that trading Sewald may have galvanized the MB次元官网网址檚 for the stretch run B次元官网网址� and that could make them dangerous.
PRAYERS FOR HAWAII
As youB次元官网网址檝e probably seen in the news, wildfires in the state of Hawaii have caused the loss of life and incomprehensible property damage. I had the opportunity to visit Maui for the first-time last year and fell in love with the city of Lahaina and the charm of its historic Front Street. Now thatB次元官网网址檚 all gone.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of those impacted.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at Today in B.C. or your local Black Press Media website.
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