globeandmail.com: Football

Toronto Argonauts

Argos are high on Pickett4

The story of how Toronto Argonauts quarterback Cody Pickett became elevated to the No.1 job overnight appears to have its roots back in May, when the Argos' offensive co-ordinator, Steve Buratto, was in Oregon and dropped in on his long-time friend Don Matthews. Over lunch, Buratto told Matthews, who was then happily enjoying retirement, how excited he was about Pickett, who had joined the Argos at the end of the previous season after a brief time in the NFL. 16/09/08 10:59 PM 4

Ticats drop another close game8

EDMONTON — This script the supporters of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats already know by heart. Casey Printers giveth, and Casey Printers taketh away. Jesse Lumsden shows a bit of his speed and power, and then finishes the game on the sidelines, hurt once more. 13/09/08 10:37 PM 8

Als look unbeatable in East6

MONTREAL — For evidence of the gulf separating the Montreal Alouettes from the rest of the CFL's East Division, look no further than Sunday's clinical 45-19 dismantling of the Toronto Argonauts. The Alouettes strolled to their seventh victory of the season — against three defeats — behind a sterling effort from quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who threw three touchdowns and scored a fourth on an eight-yard scamper. 07/09/08 9:13 PM 6

The fixer is in

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Thomas Dimitroff Jr. stands on the sidelines of a football practice in suburban Atlanta, crouching to study the nuances of each snap, processing exactly how the play develops and how it ends. It's a hot, humid day under the Georgia sun and Dimitroff, 42, is midway through his first training camp as the general manager of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. 06/09/08 2:02 AM

'Riders romp in Bishop's debut21

REGINA — With a little assistance from his kicker and plenty of help from the vaunted Saskatchewan defence, Michael Bishop's debut in a Roughriders uniform was a successful one. Bishop overcame a spotty passing performance yesterday with a nine-yard touchdown run as the 'Riders silenced the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 19-6 in the Labour Day Classic. 31/08/08 6:40 PM 21

Argos, Bombers to have retro look

The CFL often touts its history. Now it's going to wear it. The league will follow the lead of other major-league sports on Sept. 12 when the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers sport retro uniforms reflective of the 1950 Grey Cup game, known as the "Mud Bowl" and played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. The Argos will also try to adapt the Rogers Centre to a 1950s theme for the game, as much as that is possible in an artificial turf stadium built in the late 1980s. 26/08/08 10:30 PM

Argonauts release veteran safety Steinauer1

MISSISSAUGA — The Toronto Argonauts dropped quite the bombshell Monday. The CFL club released veteran safety Orlondo Steinauer two days after trading quarterback Michael Bishop to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a conditional draft pick. Steinauer, 35, was a three-time CFL all-star and in his eighth season with Toronto. Last year, the defence was the league's best but the Argos (3-5) have struggled on both sides of the ball in 2008. 25/08/08 5:16 PM 1

Bishop goes from backup to back on top19

Michael Bishop, frustrated and demoralized through the first nine weeks of the 2008 CFL season as a backup in Toronto, will get the chance to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders back to the Grey Cup. According to sources, 'Riders head coach Ken Miller told his players yesterday that veteran quarterback Marcus Crandell was being released, and newly acquired Bishop will be Saskatchewan's starter for the Labour Day weekend clash against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. 25/08/08 10:09 AM 19

Argos trade Bishop to 'Riders20

Bombers turn back the clock2

WINNIPEG — For the struggling Winnipeg Blue Bombers, everything old is new again. At 1-6, the Bombers hope reinstating starting quarterback Kevin Glenn and veteran receiver Milt Stegall, who was out with a sore knee, will be the necessary spark to snag a win Thursday when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-5). "There's still opportunity for us, and there's still time to wake up," said Bombers head coach Doug Berry. 13/08/08 7:27 PM 2

Not-so-premium game at a premium price34

TORONTO — Just days before the eight-games-in-five-years Buffalo Bills in Toronto series kicks off, there is much debate as what to make of it all. Sluggish ticket sales, a somewhat cynical marketplace and a team of mostly no-names haven't exactly made the Bills the talk of the town. And that's led to suggestions this whole NFL-in-Toronto thing was just a little overhyped in the first place. 12/08/08 11:01 PM 34

BMO built with football in mind143

TORONTO — Toronto Argonauts co-owner Howard Sokolowski insists the notion that BMO Field was intended to be a soccer-specific stadium is incorrect. And there appears to be evidence to back him up. Toronto city council minutes from the fall of 2005, at which $9.8-million of city money was committed to the complex, note that the stadium proposed for the exhibition grounds was to be "capable of a conversion to a football format. 12/08/08 10:17 PM 143

Dawson watch goes on for Argos

The Toronto Argonauts drafted Canadian running back Clifton Dawson in 2006 knowing they'd have to be patient to get him into their uniform. They're going to have to wait a little longer now. Two CFL sources requesting anonymity said Tuesday the Indianapolis Colts have re-signed the former Harvard star after releasing him prior to their 23-20 overtime exhibition loss to the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night. 12/08/08 8:01 PM

Argos ask ticket holders for opinion on potential stadium swap115

The Toronto Argonauts want to know what their fans think of potentially moving from the Rogers Centre to BMO Field, the home of Major League Soccer's Toronto FC. 11/08/08 9:10 PM 115

Canadian released from Indianapolis Colts

Canadian running back Clifton Dawson has been released by the Indianapolis Colts. The five-foot-10, 212-pound Toronto native was entering his second season with Indianapolis. But when Dawson arrived at camp he found a surplus of running backs on the Colts roster looking to become the club's backup behind incumbent Joseph Addai. 10/08/08 4:01 PM