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Suprised an NFL team didnt take a chance on him...his stock dropped because of a poor 40 time and off the field problems but the NFL has its share of thugs
Roughriders win season opener against Eskimos 34-13
Darrell Davis, Leader-Post
Published: Saturday, June 28, 2008
REGINA -- That should turn a few pages.
On a team looking for new beginnings with a first-time head coach and a recycled quarterback, much-heralded rookie Adarius Bowman caught the game-clinching touchdown pass in the Saskatchewan Roughriders' 34-13 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday.
"I'm loving this -- we're in it together and this is the first of many,'' Bowman said after the reigning Grey Cup champions opened their CFL regular season before a sold-out crowd of 28,800 at Taylor Field.
Marcus Crandell, who is aiming to revitalize his 10-year CFL career as Saskatchewan's starting quarterback, threw a sideline bomb to Bowman for a 73-yard major that put the Roughriders ahead 27-13 midway through the fourth quarter. Bowman had to grab the pass at his knees before outrunning Edmonton's defenders down the left sideline.
"It looked bad, but it was perfect,'' said Bowman, who was the game's leading receiver with six catches for 112 yards. "(Edmonton's) safety was coming at my head, so he would have snapped it off if that pass was high, if I had to reach up to get it. Marcus put it in a perfect spot.''
Bowman was touted as an NFL prospect last year at Oklahoma State before being charged with marijuana possession. So he joined the Roughriders, who are also trying to turn the page on last year's championship. That's the message being trumpeted by head coach Ken Miller.
"We can't look back; it's a new chapter,'' said Riders cornerback James Johnson, who intercepted two passes. "It doesn't matter. New season. New story.
"It's always important to win, period. And because it's our coach's first game as a head coach, we want to win for him. He's a great coach. A very nice guy who you like to play for. He doesn't have to say much but you know what's in his heart.''
Miller got a water-cooler shower to celebrate his first victory as a professional head coach since replacing Kent Austin, who departed in the offseason. Miller is one of four first-time head coaches in the CFL - along with Montreal's Marc Trestman, Calgary's John Hufnagel and Toronto's Rich Stubler - all of whom won their debuts this weekend.
"I've hugged (the Riders players) and tomorrow I might hug them again,'' said Miller, whose team plays again Friday in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions. "There are a lot of guys who came over to say congratulations. And I thanked everyone. I would like to point out that our assistant coaches were sensational. It's a tremendous organization to work with and I'm so happy to have a leader like (general manager) Eric Tillman.
"This one will be with me for a long time . . . hopefully.''
Riders tailback Wes Cates completed the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run. He also ran 10 yards for a third-quarter major. Saskatchewan's first touchdown came in the opening quarter on a 33-yard pass from Crandell to D.J. Flick. Crandell completed 19 of 29 passes for 278 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns. For the Roughriders, Luca Congi had four converts and one field goal. Saskatchewan's other points came from a safety touch and a punt single.
Although quarterback Ricky Ray completed 25 of 37 passes for 249 yards with one interception, Edmonton did not score a touchdown. The Roughriders used myriad defensive formations to confuse the Eskimos' offence, sometimes even deploying a two-man pass rush while dropping its defensive tackles into the flats. It was Saskatchewan's fourth straight regular-season victory over the Eskimos, who are trying to end a streak that has kept them out of the playoffs for the past two years.
"I haven't seen (a two-man rush before),'' said Ray. "They just played good, solid defence and made it tough on us all night.''
Edmonton's Noel Prefontaine kicked four field goals and a single.
Roughriders win season opener against Eskimos 34-13
Darrell Davis, Leader-Post
Published: Saturday, June 28, 2008
REGINA -- That should turn a few pages.
On a team looking for new beginnings with a first-time head coach and a recycled quarterback, much-heralded rookie Adarius Bowman caught the game-clinching touchdown pass in the Saskatchewan Roughriders' 34-13 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday.
"I'm loving this -- we're in it together and this is the first of many,'' Bowman said after the reigning Grey Cup champions opened their CFL regular season before a sold-out crowd of 28,800 at Taylor Field.
Marcus Crandell, who is aiming to revitalize his 10-year CFL career as Saskatchewan's starting quarterback, threw a sideline bomb to Bowman for a 73-yard major that put the Roughriders ahead 27-13 midway through the fourth quarter. Bowman had to grab the pass at his knees before outrunning Edmonton's defenders down the left sideline.
"It looked bad, but it was perfect,'' said Bowman, who was the game's leading receiver with six catches for 112 yards. "(Edmonton's) safety was coming at my head, so he would have snapped it off if that pass was high, if I had to reach up to get it. Marcus put it in a perfect spot.''
Bowman was touted as an NFL prospect last year at Oklahoma State before being charged with marijuana possession. So he joined the Roughriders, who are also trying to turn the page on last year's championship. That's the message being trumpeted by head coach Ken Miller.
"We can't look back; it's a new chapter,'' said Riders cornerback James Johnson, who intercepted two passes. "It doesn't matter. New season. New story.
"It's always important to win, period. And because it's our coach's first game as a head coach, we want to win for him. He's a great coach. A very nice guy who you like to play for. He doesn't have to say much but you know what's in his heart.''
Miller got a water-cooler shower to celebrate his first victory as a professional head coach since replacing Kent Austin, who departed in the offseason. Miller is one of four first-time head coaches in the CFL - along with Montreal's Marc Trestman, Calgary's John Hufnagel and Toronto's Rich Stubler - all of whom won their debuts this weekend.
"I've hugged (the Riders players) and tomorrow I might hug them again,'' said Miller, whose team plays again Friday in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions. "There are a lot of guys who came over to say congratulations. And I thanked everyone. I would like to point out that our assistant coaches were sensational. It's a tremendous organization to work with and I'm so happy to have a leader like (general manager) Eric Tillman.
"This one will be with me for a long time . . . hopefully.''
Riders tailback Wes Cates completed the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run. He also ran 10 yards for a third-quarter major. Saskatchewan's first touchdown came in the opening quarter on a 33-yard pass from Crandell to D.J. Flick. Crandell completed 19 of 29 passes for 278 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns. For the Roughriders, Luca Congi had four converts and one field goal. Saskatchewan's other points came from a safety touch and a punt single.
Although quarterback Ricky Ray completed 25 of 37 passes for 249 yards with one interception, Edmonton did not score a touchdown. The Roughriders used myriad defensive formations to confuse the Eskimos' offence, sometimes even deploying a two-man pass rush while dropping its defensive tackles into the flats. It was Saskatchewan's fourth straight regular-season victory over the Eskimos, who are trying to end a streak that has kept them out of the playoffs for the past two years.
"I haven't seen (a two-man rush before),'' said Ray. "They just played good, solid defence and made it tough on us all night.''
Edmonton's Noel Prefontaine kicked four field goals and a single.
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