Around the CFL: Flutie returns for Hall of Fame induction

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09/14/2007 - Hamilton, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's Hall of Fame weekend in the CFL, and for Darren Flutie that means a homecoming of sorts.

Flutie, the younger brother of former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, will be one of five new members of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. The first order of business will be the formal unveiling of the busts Friday.

The other inductees will be former Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman and Hamilton native Rocco Romano, former Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes offensive lineman Pierre Vercheval, former Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Greg Battle and Dave (Tuffy) Knight, who built powerhouse university programs at both Wilfrid Laurier and Waterloo.

Flutie surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving plateau in nine of his 12 CFL seasons. He spent time with the B.C. Lions, Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton, winning Grey Cups with the Lions in 1994 and Hamilton in '99.

The CFL championship in Hamilton was the organization's first in 13 seasons.

AILING TICATS: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats might be unveiling quarterback Casey Printers this weekend, but he won't have running back Jesse Lumsden or receiver Jason Armstead to lean on Saturday night against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Lumsden will miss his third straight start due to a clavicle injury, and Armstead is expected to miss the game due to sore ribs.

The loss of Lumsden is a big one for Hamilton. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound running back was for a time the CFL's rushing leader, and still has run for 627 yards and is averaging over eight yards a carry.

Armstead, acquired last month from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, is third in the CFL in all-purpose yards with 1,070.

Hamilton heads into the weekend with a CFL-worst 1-9 record, but its lone win came against the Bombers. And the Ticats have enjoyed some success against Winnipeg.

Last year, the Bombers beat Hamilton 29-0 at Ivor Wynne Stadium, only to lose 26-11 in Winnipeg. And in 2005, the Ticats lost their first eight games of the season before registering their first win of the year against -- you guessed it -- the Bombers.

ABDULLAH RELEASED: The Edmonton Eskimos released defensive end Rahim Abdullah, but in a rather roundabout way.

First, the club sent him home after its 20-17 loss to Calgary, which came, in part, due to bad penalties taken by Abdullah and teammate Adam Braidwood. Originally, the Eskimos decided against releasing Abdullah because his salary is guaranteed through the end of the season and the club didn't like the idea of having to pay Abdullah even if he found employment elsewhere.

Finally, though, the Eskimos relented and gave Abdullah his outright release.

LIKE FATHER...: Receiver Brad Smith will be in uniform Friday night for the Montreal Alouettes, completing an interesting circle.

Smith's father, Larry, is the Alouettes president and also was a former player with the CFL club.

Brad Smith was originally drafted this year by the Toronto Argonauts. Although he didn't make the club out of training camp, he was placed on the practice roster.

But when Alouettes veteran receiver Ben Cahoon was injured last week, the club needed a Canadian receiver. So Montreal plucked Smith off of the Argos' practice roster and he will see action on Montreal's specials teams.

FAN VOTE: CFL fans will be able to have a say as to what players are named to the league's all-star teams this year.

This week, the league announced that it will allow fans to participate in an Internet vote for its all-star teams. It will mark the first time in CFL history that fans will be able to participate in the all-star team balloting.

Fans will account for 25 percent of the final vote, with the remaining 75 percent divided among voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada and the eight CFL coaches. In the past, FRC members voted for the all-star selections while coaches were added just recently.

The East and West Division teams will be announced October 24, with the league all-star squads unveiled during Grey Cup week in Toronto.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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