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BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Irish kicker McNamee signs NFL deal with Packers
Irish kicker Mark McNamee has signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers in the 25-year-old from Wicklow was part of the 2025 International Player Pathway programme and took part in the NFL Combine in March.A former goalkeeper for his Gaelic club Ballyboden St Endas, McNamee spent June with the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League before signing with the Packers on becomes the second Irish kicker on their roster, joining Wicklow-born Dan Charlie Smyth (New Orelans Saints) and Jude McAtamney (New York Giants), there are now four kickers from the Island of Ireland plying their trade in the Packers are one of the most successful American football teams with a record 13 league championships and have won the Superbowl four times.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Davis: Saskatchewan Roughriders change styles to dominate B.C. Lions
The Saskatchewan Roughriders badly needed a mid-season makeover. Even while winning four of their first five CFL games this season the Roughriders had been slow starters who eschewed deep passes, rarely blitzed opposing quarterbacks, got caught being too enamoured with themselves and were heading to an unfriendly stadium to play the red-hot B.C. Lions. So the Roughriders made some strategic changes and beat the Lions rather easily on Saturday, grabbing a 16-point lead and — despite some late-game foibles — cruising to a 33-27 victory inside B.C. Place Stadium, where Saskatchewan had lost its three previous contests. The Lions were also on a two-game streak, with victories in their last two road games, before falling to 3-4. Instead of relying solely on their predictable short-passing attack, Riders quarterback Trevor Harris took advantage of decent protection by his offensive line to complete four long passes of 30-plus yards, which included 50- and 30-yarders that Dohnte Meyers caught for touchdowns. Harris wasn't sacked and, despite Darius Washington making his first CFL start at left tackle against a strong defensive line, the Roughriders also got 72 rushing yards from A.J. Ouellette and 12 from Ka'Deem Carey, who left the game with a gruesome knee injury in the third quarter. 'We know we're an explosive offence,' said Meyers, who led all receivers with 132 yards on seven catches. 'That's what we want to do and continue to be explosive throughout the game. 'Just because you may start fast, we want to finish fast also. That was the goal this week.' It didn't happen exactly like that. Meyers' touchdowns came on Saskatchewan's opening possession of each half, so after his third-quarter major put the Roughriders ahead 30-11 they scored only one more field goal from Brett Lauther, whose 4-for-4 day outing improved his season success rate to 70 per cent (14-for-20). While completing 23 of 30 passes for 395 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, Harris said during a halftime interview the Roughriders' offence needed to keep attacking its opponents. Instead the Roughriders became more conservative and subsequently replaced Harris with short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens in an ill-advised attempt to kill the final minutes of the fourth quarter. That silly strategy actually set up Lions QB Nathan Rourke's third TD pass and ensuing two-point convert, which pulled the Lions within six points and a failed short kickoff away from somehow winning a game that shouldn't have been that close. On defence the blitz-adverse Roughriders repeatedly blitzed Rourke, who sometimes escaped but often overthrew open receivers because of the pressure. With a penchant for playing zone defences, it was surprising to see the Roughriders blitzing different linebackers and defensive backs while sometimes deploying a three-man front. Rourke was sacked once, completed 27 of 41 passes for 337 yards and was intercepted when Riders linebacker A.J. Allen, who led his team with six tackles, tipped a ball to teammate Marcus Sayles. Everyone is calling it a 'bounce-back game,' a 'rebound' from the Roughriders' lacklustre performance one week earlier, when a match against the visiting Calgary Stampeders was rescheduled from Friday night to Saturday afternoon because of smoky air. The home team barely quivered while being eviscerated 24-10 in that contest. 'Do we have a glass jaw or not?' Riders head coach Corey Mace had wondered afterwards, using an old boxing analogy, following his team's first loss of the CFL season. It turns out the Roughriders are more tough-to-knockout George Chuvalo than glass-jawed Gerry Cooney. They were angry after the loss to Calgary. The offensive and defensive lines had been dominated in the trenches, a fact noted by Mace and validated by the players. They also thought they may have become too egotistical about their unbeaten record. They began last week's workouts with a rare, pads-on practice that featured lots of popping. The players told reporters afterwards they had learned a lesson from the loss and they vowed to work harder, which allowed them to keep pace with the 5-1 Stampeders atop the West Division. They didn't mention the strategy changes, a little nip-and-tuck that lets the Roughriders look at themselves in the mirror again. Related Davis: Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive linemen are ticked off ... at themselves 10 Thoughts: Roughriders put together redeeming performance against Lions The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘I feel young again': Running back James Butler hitting new highs with B.C. Lions
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke (12) hands off to James Butler (20) during first half CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press) VANCOUVER — James Butler doesn't mind standing outside of the spotlight. And on a B.C. Lions offence featuring the likes of quarterback Nathan Rourke and receivers Justin McInnis and Keon Hatcher, a running back might skirt attention. Not Butler. The 30-year-old American has been a star for B.C. this season. He leads the league in rushing yards with 474 and will look to add to the total Saturday when the Lions (3-3) host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1). Last week, Butler amassed a career-high 171 rushing yards, 35 receiving yards and a touchdown as B.C. downed the Edmonton Elks 32-14. 'I feel young again, wearing my college number (20),' the running back said. 'It's easy for me to just fly under the radar and just try to be the little spark I can be.' Butler's success follows a difficult 2024 campaign where the University of Iowa product saw action in just 10 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, tallying 522 rushing yards and two TDs. The numbers were well off the career-high 1,116 yards and seven majors he logged for the Ticats in 2023 and he was released by Hamilton in January. Just hours later, Butler signed with the Lions, the team where he started his CFL career in 2021 before breaking out with a 1,060-yard showing in 2022. The move reunited him with Rourke and the duo wasted little time in picking up where they left off. 'For us, there's so much trust,' said the Canadian QB, noting that Butler has found a way to up his game this season. 'I think he's been playing out of his mind. He's been playing better than I think he did in '22. … A lot of the times, I'm just watching. I've got the best seat in the house for watching him get to work." The admiration goes both ways. 'I feel like when you've got No. 12 back there, he just gives you a chance. Nate just gives you a chance, and he just makes plays,' Butler said. 'We always knew he's going to be destined for a great thing. 'So just being there, being back with him is nice. Even when I was with Nate (back in 2021 and 22), I was a little bit younger. So I just feel younger. I feel young again. It's nice.' Butler and Rourke will be in for a challenge Saturday when the Lions go up against the Riders. Saskatchewan is coming off its first loss of the season after dropping a 24-10 decision to the Calgary Stampeders last week. The Lions have already gone up against the Roughriders once this year, taking a 37-18 loss in Regina back on June 28. Despite the final score, B.C. felt the game easily could have had a different result if they'd done a few things differently, Butler said. 'I don't remember the score, but I never felt like we were really out of it, except maybe towards the end of the game,' he said. 'So I just feel like if we take care of the ball, I just feel like it'll be a different game.' The Riders will be without a star returner Mario Alford for the contest. The speedster left the game against Calgary in the first quarter due to an injury and did not practice with his teammates this week. 'That's Super Mario, man. That's a tough one to lose,' said Riders head coach Corey Mace. 'Certainly he's been playing out of his mind, I thought, to this point in the season. It just sucks. But ultimately, it sucks for him.' Alford will be replaced in the lineup by Drae McRay, a first-year receiver out of Texas Tech. The game will be an opportunity for a rookie who showed 'fearlessness' in pre-season play, Mace said. 'We all have confidence in Drae to be able to go out and execute and make plays,' the coach said. 'He showed to be really dangerous in the pre-season.' SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (4-1) AT B.C. LIONS (3-3) Saturday, B.C. Place MILESTONE WATCH: Lions linebacker Micah Awe leads the league in total tackles with 46 on the season. He's now two away from 500 across his CFL career. HISTORY BOOKS: Saskatchewan holds a 107-94-6 edge in all-time matchups between the two teams. The Roughriders have fared well in Lions' territory, too, going 51-50-2 at B.C. WHYTE HOT: B.C.'s Sean Whyte has made all 12 of his field goals this season and, alongside Hamilton's Marc Liegghio, is one of just two kickers who haven't missed this season. Whyte has made 25 consecutive field goals going back to last year, marking the sixth streak of 25+ over his CFL career. This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith of The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
National Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
'I feel young again': Running back James Butler hitting new highs with B.C. Lions
Article content James Butler doesn't mind standing outside of the spotlight. Article content And on a B.C. Lions offence featuring the likes of quarterback Nathan Rourke and receivers Justin McInnis and Keon Hatcher, a running back might skirt attention. Article content Article content Not Butler. Article content The 30-year-old American has been a star for B.C. this season. He leads the league in rushing yards with 474 and will look to add to the total Saturday when the Lions (3-3) host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1). Article content Article content Last week, Butler amassed a career-high 171 rushing yards, 35 receiving yards and a touchdown as B.C. downed the Edmonton Elks 32-14. Article content 'I feel young again, wearing my college number (20),' the running back said. 'It's easy for me to just fly under the radar and just try to be the little spark I can be.' Article content Butler's success follows a difficult 2024 campaign where the University of Iowa product saw action in just 10 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, tallying 522 rushing yards and two TDs. Article content The numbers were well off the career-high 1,116 yards and seven majors he logged for the Ticats in 2023 and he was released by Hamilton in January. Article content Just hours later, Butler signed with the Lions, the team where he started his CFL career in 2021 before breaking out with a 1,060-yard showing in 2022. Article content The move reunited him with Rourke and the duo wasted little time in picking up where they left off. Article content 'For us, there's so much trust,' said the Canadian QB, noting that Butler has found a way to up his game this season. Article content Article content 'I think he's been playing out of his mind. He's been playing better than I think he did in '22. … A lot of the times, I'm just watching. I've got the best seat in the house for watching him get to work.' Article content Article content 'I feel like when you've got No. 12 back there, he just gives you a chance. Nate just gives you a chance, and he just makes plays,' Butler said. 'We always knew he's going to be destined for a great thing. Article content 'So just being there, being back with him is nice. Even when I was with Nate (back in 2021 and 22), I was a little bit younger. So I just feel younger. I feel young again. It's nice.' Article content Butler and Rourke will be in for a challenge Saturday when the Lions go up against the Riders. Article content Saskatchewan is coming off its first loss of the season after dropping a 24-10 decision to the Calgary Stampeders last week. Article content The Lions have already gone up against the Roughriders once this year, taking a 37-18 loss in Regina back on June 28. Article content Despite the final score, B.C. felt the game easily could have had a different result if they'd done a few things differently, Butler said. Article content 'I don't remember the score, but I never felt like we were really out of it, except maybe towards the end of the game,' he said. 'So I just feel like if we take care of the ball, I just feel like it'll be a different game.' Article content The Riders will be without a star returner Mario Alford for the contest. The speedster left the game against Calgary in the first quarter due to an injury and did not practice with his teammates this week. Article content 'That's Super Mario, man. That's a tough one to lose,' said Riders head coach Corey Mace. 'Certainly he's been playing out of his mind, I thought, to this point in the season. It just sucks. But ultimately, it sucks for him.' Article content Alford will be replaced in the lineup by Drae McRay, a first-year receiver out of Texas Tech. Article content The game will be an opportunity for a rookie who showed 'fearlessness' in pre-season play, Mace said. Article content 'We all have confidence in Drae to be able to go out and execute and make plays,' the coach said. 'He showed to be really dangerous in the pre-season.' Article content Article content When: Saturday, July 19 at 4 p.m. Article content Where: B.C. Place Article content WHYTE HOT: B.C.'s Sean Whyte has made all 12 of his field goals this season and, alongside Hamilton's Marc Liegghio, is one of just two kickers who haven't missed this season. Whyte has made 25 consecutive field goals going back to last year, marking the sixth streak of 25+ over his CFL career.
National Post
15-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
B.C. Lions' offensive line earns CFL weekly honour roll selection
TORONTO — Hamilton Tiger-Cats cornerback Jamal Peters, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris and the B.C. Lions offensive line earned top honours Tuesday in the CFL's weekly honour roll. Article content Peters was the top defensive player, earning a grade of 90.9 both overall and in coverage snaps in Hamilton's 23-20 win over Ottawa. Peters had two tackles and two interceptions — his third career game with multiple picks — to solidify the Ticats' third straight victory. Article content Article content Article content Harris was the top offensive player, registering a grade of 87.9 in Saskatchewan's 24-10 loss to Calgary. Harris completed 36-of-44 passes for 425 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Article content The Lions' offensive line had a grade of 64.6 for its play in B.C.'s 32-14 win over Edmonton. The unit's top three performers were Jarell Broxton and Ilm Manning (both 73.0) and Chris Schleuger (62.9). Article content Broxton earned the top individual honour among offensive linemen. Article content
