CFL, Blue Bombers monitoring Winnipeg air quality ahead of game against Argonauts
Forest fire smoke from northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba has drifted into the Manitoba capital. Winnipeg's Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) was at 10-plus — or very high risk — as of 10 a.m. local time.
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National Post
a minute ago
- National Post
Up Close: Meet Roughriders defensive back DaMarcus Fields
Although it took a little convincing, DaMarcus Fields is as happy as ever that he came to the CFL. Article content Following a college career at Texas Tech, the Texas product signed with the NFL's New Orleans Saints in 2022, playing two games for the club that season, before signing with the Washington Commanders that same year. Article content Article content After attending training camp in 2023 with the Commanders, Fields was among the final cuts prior to the season. Article content In March 2024, the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced the signing of Fields, who earned a starting cornerback spot in his rookie season and has gone on to become a mainstay in Saskatchewan's lineup. Article content With the Roughriders currently on a bye week, we caught up with Fields to discuss his journey to the CFL and what it took to get him here: Article content Name: DaMarcus Fields Article content Position: Defensive halfback Article content Number: 22 Article content Age: 27 Article content Height and weight: 6-foot-0, 200 pounds Article content Hometown: Taylor, Texas Article content 'It's like 45 minutes outside of Austin, Texas.' Article content When did you get into football? Article content 'Four years old. I started at a very young age. My mom played football as well. So that's really one of the main reasons why I played football. Article content 'It was flag; Pop Warner. I was in that for a minute until tackle and everything. Article content 'I played wide receiver (and) running back. I think my junior year is when I started playing cornerback. Article content 'They hit you with that, 'Oh, everybody can't be a wide receiver, you know you might be just good at DB.' So I went to DB, and it was probably the best choice for me.' Article content 'Football, basketball, track. I tried baseball, but I ended up with like two black eyes. Article content 'I was really good at track. I probably ran with the fastest person on the planet. His name is Fred Kerley (2020 Olympic silver medallist, 2022 world championship gold medallist and 2024 Olympic bronze medallist in the 100-metre sprint).' Article content Article content 'I was able to start all my years in college, and I started at cornerback and played nickel as well. Ended up going to the (NFL) where I went to New Orleans Saints undrafted. And then I went to the (Washington) Commanders after a year. And now I'm here in the CFL, where this is the best part of it. Article content 'I played like three games for the Saints. My last game was in London (England) so it was crazy. I would never forget it.' Article content How did you end up signing with the Roughriders? Article content 'I got a call from (head coach Corey) Mace. At first, I really didn't know. I didn't have enough information or knowledge about the CFL, so it took me a minute. But then I started hitting up some friends, some guys over here.
Global News
17 hours ago
- Global News
The NFL has banned smelling salts. Could Canadian football follow suit?
The National Football League in the United States is banning the use of smelling salts during games, saying the products aren't proven to be safe and also could mask signs of a concussion. Sniffing the ammonia product is thought to give players a short-term mental boost. While the Canadian Football League isn't making the same decision right now — in the middle of the season, it is on their minds. 'The Medical Committee will review the literature and consult with league physicians in the off-season during Medical Meetings in Edmonton next January before determining a course of action,' the CFL said in a memo to Global News. In Edmonton, Elks defensive lineman Jake Ceresna said he started using smelling salts in college and now he, along with many others Elks players, take a whiff from a team bottle before kickoff. Story continues below advertisement It just feels like you kind of wake up, if you're a little tired or if the moment is big and you're a little anxious, it wakes you up and gets you ready to go,' Ceresna said on Wednesday. He hopes players will have a say in whatever direction the CFL goes in. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Ceresna said while smelling salts are part of his pregame ritual, it wouldn't be the end of the world if they were banned — he says it's just something players would have to get used to. 'We're always concerned with player safety and their health, so if there is research that shows that they have negative effects and they can mask concussions, then maybe it's time we look at it in the off-season.' 'Obviously it's something where we have to look at the science and see what's best.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Obviously it's something where we have to look at the science and see what's best." 2:03 Sport-related concussion symptoms still present one year later, researchers find The NFL sent a memo to teams on Tuesday explaining the decision to ban smelling salts and any other ammonia inhalant during pregame activities, games and halftime on the sideline or locker rooms. Story continues below advertisement 'In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy,' according to the memo obtained by The Associated Press. 'The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL.' San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle first disclosed the ban during an interview with NFL Network on Tuesday, adding that he hoped the league would relent and 'figure out a middle ground.' That won't happen, according to the memo, which explicitly prohibits any club personnel from providing or supplying products such as ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, and any form of 'smelling salts.' Smelling salts and other similar products have been a staple on NFL sidelines for years with many players believing they can provide a sudden jolt of energy or alertness. — With files from Karen Bartko and Sarah Ryan, Global News
Winnipeg Free Press
17 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Second chance sweet for Lawson Jr.
Dexter Lawson Jr. could be the scratch to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' itch. The 25-year-old defensive back had just finished up a two-week stint with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League — about two hours north of his home in Bloomfield, Conn. — when the Bombers rang his line. Lawson, who was in training camp with Winnipeg this spring, was doing anything to stay ready for another opportunity, even if that meant playing the arena-based game for the first time. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Dexter Lawson Jr. said the timing of his inking a deal with the club 'worked out perfectly.' 'I said, 'Heck, why not?' I'm still active and things like that, just want to continue to run around and put the pads on while I wait for another opportunity to come around,' Lawson said earlier this week. 'That was my first experience in arena. It was different. It was a culture shock, to say the least, but it was definitely cool — another experience, another step in the journey. It's something I'm definitely appreciative of, because it's a part of my story. That's just the way the cards felt, and I'm just so grateful that I am where I am.' Perhaps that experience made inking a new contract with the Blue and Gold recently even sweeter. It's a scenario that Lawson said 'worked out perfectly,' as his last game with the Pirates was on July 25 and the Bombers called two days later to bring him back. A week later, Lawson is getting extensive run at field-side corner with the Bombers' first-team defence, signalling that he could be in line to suit up for the Bombers when they travel to face the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Saturday (6 p.m. CT). Winnipeg's defence is allowing explosive plays at an exorbitant pace and searching for some level of consistency at field cornerback. It's possible that they turn to the third-year pro for the fix. 'We're fortunate,' head coach Mike O'Shea said about Lawson still being available. 'He's in good shape. He had good eyes and made a nice breakup ball (Monday), and he had another one (Tuesday), and he lays off because it's going to be a hell of a collision if he tries to pick it. But I thought he had a hell of a break (on Tuesday), and probably could have got one, which would have been nice.' Lawson is maintaining a professional approach in his second stint with the club. 'I'll just try to make everybody else's job a lot easier, because I know what I can do, and I think that's my biggest asset, is just understanding the jobs of the people around me, so that way I can help where I need to and scratch where it itches,' he said. 'Wherever the guys need me to be at or however I could take some stress off of their plate, especially if I feel like my job is a little less tedious than theirs, I try to help them in that way.' Those are sweet words to halfback Evan Holm, who has watched a revolving door of players at field cornerback over the last two weeks. Marquise Bridges, who was cut on Wednesday, started the first six games of the year but was benched halfway through the Bombers' Week 8 road contest in Toronto. Rookie Trey Vaval replaced him but got nicked up, which forced Bridges back into action. Last week, amid several changes in the secondary, Jamal Parker Jr. started but exited the game early with a leg injury. Vaval once again jumped into action. Now it's perhaps Lawson's turn. He has the experience and the versatility that, Holm explained, have made for an easy transition. 'He's played half before, too, so he knows my struggles or things that are tough for me,' Holm said. 'So then he can play corner to help me out, and then that makes us stronger together, where new guys, you don't know what you don't know until you make those mistakes. So it's nice to have him. He's really smart, he's seen a lot of football, so he can play with his eyes a little bit more.' Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger said Dexter Lawson Jr. 'was one of the tough cuts in training camp' as the defensive back had made 'a lasting impression.' Lawson, who said his versatility is one of his best skill sets, made nine starts at field-side halfback and another seven at field-side corner during his two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, recording 29 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and one interception. His traits were evident in training camp as he pushed for a roster spot in a crowded defensive back room. Lawson was among the last round of cuts entering the regular season. 'It was one of the tough cuts in training camp,' said defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger. 'At the time, we were set with the people we had, but he made, obviously, a lasting impression. He was able to play at multiple positions, so he fits that mould of the type of player we like: easy to get along, does the work, self-motivated, has the skill athletically and, now, there was just a need.' A mutual interest remained. Lawson said he knew someone would eventually reach out for his services, and it was a bonus that it was the Bombers. 'It was a good feeling. Just going in, I knew that this team, it felt different throughout training camp. I even stayed in touch with the guys throughout the beginning of the season, just being positive about everything and things like that. So everything just kind of worked out how it was supposed to,' Lawson said. 'It's hard to explain. I think from day one, when I came here, just all the team camaraderie, everybody just being together and moving as a family, on and off the field, I think it's something that I like to be a part of and probably is the reason why we are so successful the past few years.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Lawson said he will be ready if his number is called on Saturday. Second chances like this don't happen for everyone. 'I like to think that no matter what opportunity I am given, I like to take full advantage of it,' he said. 'I'm understanding of this professional world that at the end of the day, all you can do is control what you can control, and then things after that, they fall where they land. We've seen plenty of guys who felt like they were good enough, or whatever the case may be, but politics are politics and some things that you just can't get away from. So as long as I'm putting my best foot forward, taking advantage of every opportunity that I get, I can't be mad at myself.' X: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
