History and Controversy in Week 2 The Ottawa Redblacks will go through a lot of firsts this year. Kevin Hogan Jersey . On Thursday we witnessed the first game played by the new franchise, the first touchdown scored, (Chevon Walker, who will one day be the answer to a trivia question), and almost the first win. The Henry Burris-led expansion franchise got out to a 14-point first quarter lead, but couldnt hold on against a Blue Bomber team that is for real. More on the Bombers shortly, but it was fantastic to see and call a game involving Ottawa again. Football teams in our nations capital never had bad fans, just bad owners, and that is not the case this time around. The business model is sound, the league is strong, and football fans in Ottawa can trust that this team will be around for decades to come, and get emotionally invested. The players on this team are certainly "all in". They played hard, on the road, in a hostile environment, and almost got it done. It wont be long until we see some more firsts. Like the first game at home which is already sold out on July 18, and based on Thursdays game it wont be long until we see their first win. The Real Deal Now to the Bombers, and yes they are for real! On paper there still may be some who are suggesting other teams in the league are more talented, or maybe more experienced. However, this is a "what have you done for me lately?" business so experience only helps you if you are executing. Also, at the pro level every player is talented, and the difference between winning and losing is smaller than third and inches, so the culture you create for those talented players is what gives you the edge. The difference in Winnipeg this year is that head coach Michael OShea is a team first guy to the core. It oozes out of him when he talks and it is the main reason the Bombers are off to a 2-0 start. Yes, Drew Willy has looked excellent and they have found a tailback in Nic Grigsby but lots of teams have good QBs and tailbacks. OShea is teaching that the team is the priority and that all decisions must be made with the team considered before any personal agendas. It sounds simple but there are many examples of coaches that couldnt get the message across to their players. OShea has not been perfect. He kicked around the handling of veteran Korey Banks for longer than he had to, but his teams record is perfect so far, and that is what matters more than anything. Oh, and in the end the Bombers new head coach did eventually make the right decision when it came to Banks when he cut him loose. Banks wasnt happy with his role and that may have affected the culture in the locker room. By cutting Banks and letting him continue his career somewhere else, OShea made a team-first decision. Reaction to Willis hit on Collaros There are lots of differing opinions on the hit from Odell Willis of the Edmonton Eskimos on Zach Collaros of the Ticats. On one side there are those that argue the game is fast, physical and played by tough men who know what they signed up for, which is all true. It is an old school mentality and its not wrong. However, we live in a new world where player safety has become a priority in contact sports. Finding ways to make hockey and football safer for those who participate is not just dominating league meetings, but is also very important to the players associations. So what about the hit from Willis? First, it looked like the Esks defensive end did try and turn his head and avoid helmet-to-helmet contact. Second, it also looked like he tried to lead with his shoulder, therefore you can assume that there was no intent to target Collaros head. It is also true that if there is a penalty flag thrown every time helmets collide than there would be a penalty called on every play. Having said all of that, if in fact Willis did contact the head of Collaros - whether it was an accident or not - a penalty had to be called. Many times a defensive player gets pushed or trips into the quarterbacks legs accidentally, and that has to be called as well. The league will also review the hit and there could be supplementary discipline handed down in the form of a fine. It is no longer acceptable to say that it is a tough game and things happen at light speed so you have to let the guys play. Improving player safety is priority number one, and has become a legal issue. In fact you could take the discussion even further. The Players Associations in hockey and football are negotiating the player safety agenda into new CBA agreements, and yet dont self-govern when it comes to questionable hits in a game. How many times have we heard the CFLPA announce that they are appealing a fine by the league on a player who has made a questionable hit? It happens virtually every time a player is fined or suspended. Meanwhile the player that took the hit, in this case Zach Collaros, missed the rest of the game and could possibly miss more due to concussion issues. How many times has the Players Association announced a fine within their own organization to a player/member for a questionable hit? That to my knowledge has never happened. The players associations in contact sports have got to start imposing their own fines to players that cross the line, and show the league that improving player safety is not just the responsibility of the leagues head office, but the associations as well. It looks like the hit by Willis was an accident with no intent, but it was to the head of a quarterback, and that is a penalty and should also result in a fine. There is no provision in the rule book that says, "if the player hits a quarterback in the head by accident, or if he didnt mean to do it, then the hit becomes legal." The only way that Willis could avoid a fine here is if the league determines that Collaros didnt actually get hit in the head but it was the whiplash effect that caused his concussion symptoms, and of the TV angles shown so far that doesnt seem feasible. The tougher rules in contact sports these days are designed to change the behaviour of players to protect them from themselves. Those rules are not going away anytime soon, in fact they are getting tougher. We might as well all get used to it and drop the tough guy talk. If the league lets the Willis hit go without supplementary discipline, it will set a precedent for every other time a defensive player hits the head of a quarterback accidentally. There cant be any more grey area. If a defensive player hits the head of a QB, it is a penalty and a fine or suspension - thats the new reality of football. So much so, it is hard to see why there was even a debate on this hit in the first place. Troy Apke Redskins Jersey . The attacking midfielder arrives on a free transfer from Spains Malaga. The 28-year-old joins Scottish striker Kenny Miller and Argentine midfielder Matias Laba as designated players on the Whitecaps roster. Washington Redskins Jerseys . Buffalos defensive co-ordinator had his second interview with Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner on Tuesday night, a person familiar with the Browns plans told The Associated Press. http://www.cheapredskinslockroom.com/AUTHENTIC-DERRIUS-GUICE-REDSKINS-JERSEY/ . Arsene Wenger reportedly wants to convert the player into an attacking force, much like he did with Robin Van Persie.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Sheldon Richardson felt helpless as he watched the scenes near his hometown unfold on TV and social media.The New York Jets defensive tackle was born and raised in St. Louis, just a few minutes away from the suburb of Ferguson, Missouri, where police officer Darren Wilson was not indicted by a grand jury last week in the shooting death of Michael Brown on Aug. 9.Protests, looting and burning buildings followed, and Richardson couldnt do a thing about it.Destroying Ferguson was not what I wanted to come from the verdict of the grand jury, Richardson said Thursday. I actually wanted my whole city to stay intact and I dont think well bounce back from that. Well, the area of Ferguson, anyway. Thats just how I feel about it. I just want my hometown to stay as peaceful as possible, but I dont blame them.I know where theyre coming from and I understand, he added, but thats not the solution.Richardson found out about the ruling after the Jets lost 38-3 to the Buffalo Bills in Detroit on Nov. 24. He wrote that night on Twitter that he wasnt a happy camper because of the game, and because they let this pig get off.Last seasons AP Defensive Rookie of the Year reiterated his frustrations — along with his pig comment — in an interview with the New York Daily News published Wednesday night. He stood by them again in the Jets locker room after practice Thursday.Dont get the word pig wrong, said Richardson, wearing a navy St. Louis Cardinals sweatshirt. I mean, I meant that, but dont take away from my message.And, that message is?A guy got murdered and a guy got off for it, Richardson said. Its just that simple. It just happened out here in New York, too, so its not just in St. Louis. Its pretty bad everywhere now. So much for the justice system.Richardson also clarified that his derogatory comment regarding police officers was not a blanket statement, but rather just aimed at Wilson.Hey, man, Ive got friends who are cops, Richardson said. They laughed about it and said, I cant believe you actually said it, though. I was just referring to one guy. If you want to take it personal (or) make it personal, you know where I work at.Since his arrival last season as a first-round ppick from the University of Missouri, Richardson has never been afraid to speak his mind. DaRon Payne Jersey. Why would I be? Its just words, you know? he said. The actions are being done by the police officers, who I feel are doing wrong. Youre supposed to protect and serve, but youre out killing people. And, Im not even talking about Darren Wilson. That was with the cop in New York.Richardson was surprised to hear Wednesday that a grand jury cleared police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner in Staten Island. That decision also sparked demonstrations around the city and the rest of the country.Thats pretty much, as they say, a closed-and-shut case, isnt it? Richardson said. A guys telling you he cant breathe and he wasnt doing anything. I saw the video and its pretty bad. Its just the way it is, man.Richardson and some of his teammates have discussed the cases, and he said he respects both sides of the debate.He also supported the five St. Louis Rams players who made the Hands up. Dont Shoot! gesture before a game last Sunday that protesters in Ferguson have been using. Some witnesses said Brown, who is black, had his hands up before being shot by Wilson, who is white and told the grand jury that he shot Brown in self-defence.It just speaks volumes that somebody else was willing to do something, a peaceful protest, didnt have to say anything. They just went out there and did it, he said. Everybody has their right to an opinion, and its my opinion. Its up to you if you respect it or not, but just dont disrespect me.Richardson was also adamant that his opinion of the Ferguson incident is not a racial issue.Im not trying to make this a white or black thing, he said. Someone got murdered. Its just that simple. Cold blood. Theres been a lot of victims or people who committed crimes that have been apprehended with guns in their hands.After the season, Richardson plans to help the people of his hometown rebound from the unrest while checking on his family regularly.I dont know exactly what I need to do right now, Richardson said, but I need to do something when I get back home — positive.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Wholesale Jerseys 2019 Wholesale Jerseys From China Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping ' ' '