Vorstellungen » z said his dinged-up digit is feeling better

WINNIPEG -- For veteran receiver Terrence Edwards, a season like the one the Winnipeg Blue Bombers just ended is about as depressing as it gets. Edwards and his teammates cleared out their lockers Sunday after finishing 3-15, tied for the teams worst ever record in the 18-game CFL, capped with a crushing 37-7 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Looking up from the CFL cellar isnt where a receiver who has spent nine seasons in the league -- seven with the Bombers -- wants to be at the age of 34. "It hurts," said the softspoken native of Tennille, Ga. "Could it be my last season? . . . Im planning on returning next year but you never know what will happen, this is professional sports. "It would be a sad thing if I left Winnipeg with this taste in my mouth." Despite injuries that limited his playing time, Edwards finished second on the Winnipeg receiving yards list in 2013 with 549. Its a far cry from his three previous 1,000-yard plus seasons but this year the team also had a revolving door at quarterback, as they tried to find some consistency. They dumped Buck Pierce, struggled behind a series of backups, and landing a legitimate starter is job one for whoever is leading the Bombers into next season. With five head coaches in nine years, plus changes at other key spots, consistency throughout the organization seems lacking. General manager Joe Mack and sophomore president Garth Buchko paid with their jobs for the teams struggles. Coach Tim Burke doesnt know what the future will hold for him. This was his first full season after taking over mid-2012 from Paul LaPolice. But he agrees stability and success seem to go together in the CFL. "I think if you look at the teams that are most successful, theyre the most stable," he said in what, for now at least, was his last scheduled meeting with reporters. "If you look at Calgary, I think theyre very stable outfit. B.C., very stable. Through the years Montreal has been very stable. It usually starts at the very top." The very top right now isnt all that stable either. Team president Wade Miller, a former player, and general manager Kyle Walters both have "acting" in front of their titles. And they not only need to add new talent, theyll have a struggle hanging on to some of the best now wearing a Bomber jersey. Receiver Chris Matthews, the CFLs outstanding rookie in 2012, spent this season on the injury list. But as a free agent hell be trying his luck in the NFL before he thinks about returning to the CFL. Henoc Muamba, the teams most outstanding defensive player and a Canadian to boot, has yet to commit to returning. "Its still too soon. Negotiations are still in process, my agent is taking care of that, and were taking it one day at a time," he said Sunday. A lot of fingers have been pointed at the self-perpetuating board of the community-owned team for not making better decisions. They werent confined to whos running the team. The new $200-million stadium the Bombers finally opened a year late this season also came with more headaches. An open-air pressbox at Investors Group Field, for example, needs a $400,000 refit before the CFL will approve a Grey Cup for the city, which the team would like to land in 2015 or 2016. A lack of planning saw many fans tied up in traffic for hours as they tried to make their way through the few congested roads that allow access to the stadium site, the campus of the University of Manitoba. Those fans would have been a lot happier about the cracked concrete they stepped over when they finally did get to their seats if they had a team capable of winning more than one home game. If there is a bright side to the disaster this season brought, it may be that major change is unavoidable. And that the stars are aligned to make it easier. "Sometimes it does take something like this to create change," says veteran offensive lineman Glenn January, who, like Edwards, doesnt want to end his career on such a low note. "I think there is going to be change across the league with the expansion draft. Well have to wait and see." The Bombers could learn a little from other teams, suggests Edwards. "I just think some of the philosophies that weve had the last years havent worked," he says. "Kyle Walters, if hes the new GM, and Wade need to look at the models some of the other CFL teams have ... and try to emulate some of those things they have done. "Apparently it works for them. What we did, didnt." Mike Gartner Jersey . -- Kole Calhoun homered and drove in three runs, Albert Pujols also went deep and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 Friday night. Brett Hull Jersey . New York secured second place in the Metropolitan Division when the Philadelphia Flyers lost at Tampa Bay later Thursday. The Rangers will face either the Flyers or Columbus in the opening round of the post-season. The Rangers struggled throughout against the lowly Sabres and goalie Matt Hackett, who played in just his seventh NHL game of the season. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/. According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, it doesnt appear the offer was warmly received by the team. Blue Jackets director of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Wednesday the team has made offers of $6 million for two years, $32 million for six and $46 million over eight years but each one was refused by the restricted free agent centre and agent Kurt Overhardt. Custom Dallas Stars Jerseys . The unrestricted free agent agreed to terms with the club on Thursday on a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000. Jon Casey Jersey . The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists detailed in a report how Russian and international journalists have been harassed and prevented from covering sensitive stories in Sochi such as the abuse of migrant workers and environmental issues.DENVER -- Hunter Pence sidestepped questions about his home run, the one that cleared the top row of seats in left field. No, he didnt hear anything special when the ball made contact with his bat in the first inning. And no, he didnt realize it was going to travel an extra-long way. Pence wanted to avoid that topic all together after the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Tuesday night. Instead, the outfielder hinted, why not focus on the performance of pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, who won his first game in four years? Nice try, but that homer was hit too far to simply dismiss. Officially, Pences shot went 457 feet. But teammate Brandon Belt thinks it wasnt measured properly. "Thats 500 feet at least," said Belt, who kept up his torrid hitting with four singles. "Im marking that down -- 500 feet." As for Chad Bettis, the one who delivered the fastball to Pence, well, he had a little postgame regret. "Probably shouldve thrown him a different pitch there," Bettis said. "Youve got to tip your hat to him." Pences two-run homer was followed by Pablo Sandovals solo shot, marking the first time all season the Giants have hit back-to-back homers. "It feels good to get some runs on the board," Pence said. "But Petit really set the tone for us." Indeed. Petit (1-0) was recently called up from Triple-A Fresno to fill in for Matt Cain, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list last week with a bruised right forearm. Petit lasted six innings, allowed six hits and two runs. He also struck out six. Bettis (0-3) settled down after a rough start, allowing four runs and nine hits over six innings. "He kept the Giants in check after that and he did his job," manager Walt Weiss said. "His makeup is pretty good. He handles himself really well." Troy Tulowitzki returned to the lineup for the Rockies after sitting out the past two games with a sore oblique. He finished 1 for 3 with a run scored. The Rockies were without Dexter Fowler, who sat out with a bruised knee. Given his roots as a reliever, Petit pitched out of the stretch even with no one on base. He also pitched his way out of trouble on several occasions as he earned hhis first major league win since beating the Giants on Aug.dddddddddddd 27, 2009, as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the fourth, Petit loaded the bases with two outs, only to wiggle out of the jam by fanning Bettis with a low slider. An inning earlier, Petit struck out Corey Dickerson and enticed DJ LeMahieu to fly out to strand a runner at third. Just that kind of night for the Rockies, who finished 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Pence put the Giants on the board early when he hit a two-run homer that appeared to land on the concourse beyond the left-field bleachers. Three pitches later, Sandoval lined a slider over the fence in centre. Getting Pence to talk about his homer, though, just wasnt going to happen. Feel extra sweet when he made contact? "I dont know," Pence said. Watch it sail out of the park? "No," he responded. Catch a replay of it yet? "No," Pence said. So Belt did the bragging for Pence. "Thats one of the hardest balls Ive ever seen hit in my life," Belt said. "I dont know how they measure that sometimes. But Im pretty sure they go further." He suddenly chuckled. "All of my hits combined probably werent hit as hard as his," Belt said. Before the game, Carlos Gonzalez provided some fireworks of his own as he launched several pitches into the upper deck during batting practice. This with an injured middle right finger, too. Gonzalez said his dinged-up digit is feeling better and hopes to soon leave for a rehab assignment. The All-Star has been on the disabled list since early August. "Its something I can play through right now," Gonzalez said. NOTES: Giants OF Andres Torres (bone spurs) is scheduled for season-ending surgery on Wednesday. ... OF Angel Pagan (left hamstring surgery) could be reinstated on Sept. 1. ... The Rockies activated C Yorvit Torrealba (concussion) from the seven-day disabled list. To make room, the team optioned utility player Ryan Wheeler to Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... The Rockies will send Jhoulys Chacin (12-7) to the mound on Wednesday, while the Giants counter with Madison Bumgarner (11-8). ... OF Michael Cuddyers 10-game hitting streak was snapped. ' ' '