Latest news with #VernonAdamsJr
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Vernon Adams Jr. and Dominique Rhymes reunite as Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. throws a pass against the Edmonton Elks in Calgary on May 24, 2025. Adams and Dominique Rhymes (15) have reunited as Calgary Stampeders after a season and a half as B.C. Lions teammates. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and receiver Dominique Rhymes want their shared history to be an advantage, for each other and their new team, as both men settle into becoming Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders acquired Adams in a trade with the B.C. Lions in November. Calgary and Adams, 32, quickly agreed to a restructured contract for this season and 2026. Rhymes compiled more than 1,000 receiving yards for the Ottawa Redblacks last year, but he and Adams were Lions teammates for a season and a half after B.C. acquired the quarterback from the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 31, 2022. 'When I got traded to B.C., he was probably the only person on that team who made me feel like I was part of the team,' Adams said Tuesday at Stampeders' training camp. 'I get traded there, I get thrown into the starting spot right away. I don't know the offence, I'm struggling a little bit. The position at quarterback is different. Everyone, they love you when you're winning and then, everyone blames you when you're losing. 'He was the only one after a bad game, after anything, he would always be there by my side. I'll never forget that from him. For that, I owe him everything.' The Lions swung the deal with the Als because starting quarterback Nathan Rourke was injured. Rourke's return to B.C. last season after his NFL stint essentially put Adams on the market, and Calgary was a motivated buyer. Adams threw the ball to Rhymes more than 100 times and for more than 1,000 yards over the combined 2022 and 2023 seasons after the quarterback's arrival in Vancouver. Rhymes sat out eight regular-season games in 2023 because of knee and foot injuries. 'We've been good brothers ever since then and, yeah, playing together in '23 really helps when we came here to Calgary,' Rhymes said. The 31-year-old receiver says Adams joining the Stamps was a compelling reason for him to sign with Calgary in February. 'I've had success with him in the past and history repeats itself,' Rhymes said. 'We challenge each other. If I'm not doing it right or catching the ball right, he'll let me know. If he's not throwing the ball, I'm going to let him know. 'We want to be great for our team. We have that relationship where we're not afraid to critique each other, because we know we want the best out of each other.' Adams asked Calgary's head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson in the off-season if the team could find a big receiver, and the Stampeders managed to reunite him with the six-foot-four, 215-pound Rhymes. 'We did want to surround Vernon with at least one guy he's familiar with, with size,' Dickenson said. 'There were some options out there and I didn't know if Dom was going to be available, but he was and happy to have him.' Adams and Rhymes put in advance work before training camp getting to know their other receivers by congregating in Houston with Reggie Begelton, Jalen Philpot, Daylen Baldwin and Tevin Jones. 'We're there for the week and speed training, receiver training, quarterback training,' Adams said. 'Just getting that timing down.' While Dickenson has several decisions to make before Saturday's roster cut-down day, there's less mystery at receiver because Philpot, Begelton and Rhymes are established veterans. Calgary opens the regular season June 7 at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and former Stampeder quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. The Stampeders completed their pre-season early with Saturday's 31-4 win over the Edmonton Elks, so Dickenson says players still need to prove themselves in camp. 'We're using this still as heavy evaluation. I don't know if you noticed, but it was a very physical practice,' the coach and GM said. 'We put our pads on, we went after each other, and it was high-tempo. That's when you usually separate things.' Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five takeaways as Calgary Stampeders pummel Edmonton Elks in final preseason game
A first-play first down followed by a first-drive touchdown. That's the way to get the home fans feeling good about the Calgary Stampeders for the 2025 Canadian Football League campaign. Even better was parlaying that early success into a convincing win over the rival Edmonton Elks in the CFL pre-season final for the Stampeders — a 31-4 decision Saturday night in front of 15,531 fans at McMahon Stadium. Strong performances? Check. A desired result? Double check. The Elks didn't offer much in the way of starters — 40 rookies peppered the visiting team's roster — but it still makes for a feel-good start for a franchise in need of it this season. And with that the Stampeders are off to the regular season — with a monster break between now and their first game Saturday, June 7 against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon (5 p.m., CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge, TSN). Here are five takeaways from the Stamps win in Langford, B.C. … 1) BIG-START V.A. Fans at McMahon got their first look at Vernon Adams Jr., and the much-heralded quarterback acquired in the off-season strutted his wares. The prized QB — nicknamed 'Big-Play V.A.' — was gunning right from the start and moving the ball with authority, instantly wiping away the stumbles seen at the position of previous years which have maligned the offence. Points were scored on all three drives Adams engineered — a couple of touchdowns on QB sneaks by fellow pivot Logan Bonner and a 52-yard field-goal bombed by veteran kicker René Paredes. After that, it was P.J. Walker's chance to show his wares at quarterback for the Stampeders. And he marched the club downfield on a handful of drives, hooking up with receiver Daylen Baldwin on a 13-yard TD on a third-and-long gamble in the fourth quarter. Josh Love mopped up at QB for the Stamps. 2) RUN, JESHRUN, RUN! Running back Jeshrun Antwi looked right at home in his return to McMahon a few years after starring for the U SPORTS' Calgary Dinos. The local product, who's put together some early-career success in his first few CFL seasons, signed with the Stamps over the winter in hopes of catching on in the backfield. After Saturday's showcase, it looks like he's got a gig with the Red and White. His Canadian citizenship helps, but Antwi's performance — hitting holes with patience and dialling up the speed in the open field — did plenty to help his case. Antwi's actions were part of the larger success put in by all the running backs on the night. American back Eno Benjamin was also dynamic, making a brave catch off an Adams' shovel-pass as part of his solid effort. He also had a dynamic punt return — or two — on the evening, as did receiver Terrell Vaughn. 3) O-LINE, OH YEAH! It's hard to have that kind of success from the backfield without a contribution from the offensive line. And so the Stamps got that, too, with a young but experienced bunch pushing around the Elks defensive line in the trenches. For the early drives, it was centre Rodeem Brown, guards Zack Williams and Christy Nkanu and tackles D'Antne Demery and Josh Coker — a could-be starting five on the o-line. Later on, the others stepped up and continued the excellence and their own individual pushes for roster spots. Bryce Bell, a third-year centre pencilled in at that position, missed the pre-season due to injury. So he'll add more experience to a unit that's gelled well through training camp. 4) DEFENSIVE DECISIONS With pretty much an entirely new defence set to be in place for the Stampeders, there are plenty of decisions to be made. And those who got the reps Saturday didn't do the coaching staff any favours. There were simply many gamers. Returnee Clarence Hicks, fellow defensive end Shaun Peterson Jr. — with speed and a sack — middle linebacker Marquel Lee and defensive back Jeremy Lucien were among the staunch performers. 5) FLAG-FREE STAMPS The Stampeders put up another disciplined display of football, just as they did a week ago in the 26-16 win over the host BC Lions on Vancouver Island. That wasn't the case on the Elks' side of the field, however. The difference perhaps in why the Stamps haven't taken many penalties was the extended training camp visit of former CFL referee Bud Steen. The Edmontonian came to Calgary to help the Red and White in practice, helping to quickly acquaint the many new players to the team — especially those more familiar with the American game — to the Canadian rules. It seems to have helped big-time for the Stamps, and that should put them ahead of other clubs early in the regular schedule. tsaelhof@
National Post
12-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Calgary Stampeders main camp: Day 2 back at McMahon, where new turf has everyone smiling
Article content Never mind the welcome change of player talent at Calgary Stampeders training camp. Article content Article content The real star addition these days for the Red and White is the brand new turf of McMahon Stadium. Article content It's a greener, more body-friendly surface that is bringing on smiles from the current crew of the CFL franchise … Article content Both on and off their freshly installed field. Article content 'It's awesome, man — it feels so good,' said star quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., during Monday's second day of main camp but first session at McMahon for the club. Article content 'I walked out here, and I'm like, 'This feels good,'' continued Adams, the Stamps' prized pickup of the off-season. 'Last year when we were coming here as the away team, it was tough. But it feels amazing.' Article content 'I love it,' agreed defensive-line star Flo Orimolade, who returns to the Stamps after bolting from the team following the 2022 CFL campaign. 'I mean … it's tough when it's a bit slippery in the rain, but I got to work out on there a little bit last week, so it's been good. Article content 'It's much better on the knees … and ankles.' Article content That's music to the ears of Stamps brass. Article content The last few years have brought criticism from the athletes regarding their health concerning the old surface as it neared the end of its lifespan. Article content FieldTurf, the manufacturer of the artificial turf, pegs its product to sport a shelf-life of seven to 10 years, and the last time the surface was replaced at McMahon was back in 2014. Article content Many players endured serious injuries while practising and playing on it, including talented receiver Malik Henry, who's still rehabbing from a knee injury suffered last spring, a year after being sidelined by a blown Achilles. Article content Players have voiced concerns that the age and quality of the surface was a catalyst to those injuries, even though it met CFL approval. Article content Article content 'One of the things the CFL and the CFL Players' Association do is they mandate testing that has to happen with the field to ensure that fields aren't being overused and that there is not a player safety issue, which we fully support,' said Stamps president Jay McNeil. 'And our field last year fell well within the acceptable ranges from that. But there was also talk about is it getting older and we did have a number of lower-body injuries. And right or wrong that could cause challenges with attracting players. As free agents that played here, if they perceive that it's an issue, then it's an issue. Article content 'And this eliminates any of that now,' continued McNeil. 'So that certainly helps us as we look to attract players and want people to come to Calgary.'
National Post
11-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Calgary Stampeders main camp: Day 1 brings 'off-the-charts' energy from 99 CFL hopefuls
Article content Vernon Adams Jr. made some plays — some throws — Sunday that brought out oohs and aahs from fans, coaches and teammates alike. Article content Yeah … it's only Day 1 of training camp for the Calgary Stampeders, but the enthusiasm — from the highly touted new quarterback right through to the fresh faces graduated from rookie camp — was certainly front and centre at Shouldice Park's Stampeder Field. Article content 'Energy is through the roof, off the charts,' said Stampeders veteran receiver Reggie Begelton, with his trademark grin underscoring his own excitement about the power of main camp's first day. Article content 'I mean … come on, man … we're happy to be back in camp,' continued Begelton. 'The competition is high. A lot of jobs are on the line. And everybody knows that, so the intensity is here. Article content 'However, at the same time, it is fun. It's fun to be out here. The first time I was in the huddle, I caught myself smiling. Just grateful to be out here again.' Article content In all, a whopping 99 hopefuls — many of them new to the organization — took the field grateful for the opportunity to make the CFL team. Article content Included are the 49 who competed in the three days of rookie camp and survived Saturday's cuts to advance on to main camp, which continues at McMahon Stadium for the next few weeks. Article content The only two players unavailable due to injury were talented receiver Malik Henry (knee) and CFL veteran defensive lineman Charles Wiley (achilles) — one of many off-season additions for the Red and White. Article content 'We did have good energy and good leadership,' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. 'You can tell as a group, they were excited to be here. Article content Article content 'Pretty easy, though, with this great weather we have, and it's always that first day to me, the rookies are seeing, 'Oh, we got some vets here that are maybe playing at different tempo.' So always good to see what the standard is and seeing everybody get better at practice. Article content
