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• CALGARY -- The Calgary Stampeders fortunes this year rest largely on Drew Tates ability to handle a full season at starting quarterback. Peyton Manning Jersey . Tate got a taste of that weighty responsibility when coach and general manager John Hufnagel handed him the ball in October for Calgarys last four games of 2011. Supplanting Henry Burris, the clubs all-time leading passer, was a significant changing of the guard for the Stampeders. Calgary gave Tate, 28, a three-year contract extension and traded Burris, who turns 37 in June, to Hamilton in the off-season. For the first time since Calgary signed Tate in 2009, theres no other quarterback ahead of him on the depth chart when training camp opens June 3. "He doesnt have a lot of experience in the Canadian Football League though he has experience and when hes been on the field, very productive and I dont see that changing," Hufnagel said Thursday during a CFL conference call previewing the 2012 season. "As with any young quarterback, theres a little bit of intrigue and mystery to things." The Stampeders tied with B.C. and Edmonton at 11-7 in the West Division last season. Seeded third for the playoffs, Calgary lost 33-19 to the Eskimos in the semifinal. Tate threw for four touchdowns and 791 yards with 65 per cent accuracy in Calgarys three wins to conclude the regular season. His inexperience surfaced in Edmonton as he completed half of 10 pass attempts in the first half. Tate dropped the ball after a snap with no Eskimo near him, which the hosts turned into a pivotal touchdown en route to victory. But when Burris couldnt rescue a win in the second half, the torch was effectively passed to Tate. The Iowa product finished 2011 with 101-of-158 passing (63.9 per cent), 1,346 passing yards and eight TDs while also throwing five interceptions. Hufnagel says Tate has spent the off-season training in the Cleveland area. "He needs to have a full season under him," Hufnagel said. "Winning football games is very important to him. Im very comfortable with Drews attitude about the game. Im very comfortable with Drews understanding of our playbook. "The only thing Im going to ask Drew is what I ask from any quarterback that plays for me: manage the game plan and make smart decisions, get the ball to the playmakers and hopefully we can do that enough during football games to win the game." Hufnagel does have insurance at pivot. Veteran Kevin Glenn came to Calgary in the Burris trade and starts the season as Tates backup. "Drews been a starting quarterback in college, in high school. Its not foreign to him," Hufnagel pointed out. "I just think the week-in, week-out drudgery of playing 60 minutes a game may have some wear and tear on him, but Im confident in the depth I have at the quarterback position also." The offence at training camp will look familiar, led by veteran slotbacks Nik Lewis and Ken-Yon Rambo. Theres a question mark hanging over 33-year-old Rambo, however, after an injury-plagued 2011. "Ken-Yon is a very explosive player when hes right," Hufnagel said. "Im hoping to see a right Ken-Yon Rambo come June." Calgarys all-time leading rusher Joffrey Reynolds wont be at camp for the first time in eight years. Jon Cornish completed the transition to No. 1 running back last season and Cornish was released in January. Competition for jobs on defence should be tight. Rick Campbell, who came from the Eskimos, is the new defensive co-ordinator. Calgarys front seven was a revolving door last season due to injuries. "I would like to see by the end of training camp either the starters that were here last year, who are now healthy, resume the type of play that made them the starters in the first place, or the players we brought in . . . to show they have the right to be starters," Hufnagel said. Ameet Pall will start camp at defensive end, although Hufnagel is ready to move his first overall pick this year to another position that suits him. Improving on a 5-4 home record, reducing a league-leading 33 fumbles and cutting down on penalties are areas requiring urgent attention this year, according to the coach and GM. "I want to try to instill that discipline type play from the outset of training camp so we know how to play the game by the rules and actually do play the games by the rules," Hufnagel said. The Stampeders also announced the signing of import defensive lineman Renard Williams. He played four seasons of college football with the Eastern Washington Eagles and was named to the all-conference team in 2009 and 2010. Williams compiled a career 139 tackles, 22.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 48 games for the Eagles. Peyton Manning Signed Jersey . -- Kenny Perry and Sean OHair birdied five of the last six holes to win the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Sunday. Denver Broncos Jerseys . Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. Washington stayed alive in dramatic fashion on Thursday, as Jayson Werth belted a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Nationals to a dramatic 2-1 victory. "Its what you play all season for and what you work out all winter for and what you get to spring training early for," said Werth of the winner-take-all showdown. http://broncosjerseys.ucigreeks.com/ . -- With two words, Jay Cutler dismissed the notion that the Green Bay Packers would be able to disrupt the Chicago Bears new-look wide receiver corps with physical play: Good luck. Von Miller Womens Jersey . Join our Game Night Blog at 9pm et/6pm pt. The eighth-seeded Kings jumped out to a 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven series before losing Sundays home contest by a 2-0 score. It was just the second loss for Los Angeles in 13 playoff games this postseason and both setbacks have come on the road, L. Broncos Autographed Jerseys . The same thing happened after seasons in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2010. One day after another dismal, double-digit loss season ended, the Browns fired coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert, the initial off-season moves by new owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner, who intend to put a stop to the franchises never-ending cycle of change.ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins defensive tackle Chris Neild is out for the season with a knee injury. Coach Mike Shanahan said Tuesday that Neild has a torn left ACL. The second-year player was injured during Mondays practice. He haad the knee wrapped and did some running after he was hurt, but he was unable to return. Von Miller Signed Jersey. Neild was a seventh-round draft pick out of West Virginia last year. He played in all 16 games last season and had two sacks. ' ' '

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  Posted 2013-07-25
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