Around the CFL: Unbeaten Alouettes are without veteran Mudge

By Fred Williams Aug 4, 2006, 22:05 GMT

Montreal, Quebec - The Montreal Alouettes might be sporting the CFL's only unbeaten record, but the club will have to do some juggling on its offensive line.

Veteran tackle Dave Mudge will miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle, an injury he sustained in a game last month versus Winnipeg. It was originally thought Mudge would return, but that was before surgery revealed the muscle had sustained major damage.

The six-foot-seven, 305-pound Mudge is in his second full season with Montreal after being dealt to the Alouettes early last year by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Mudge began his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts in 1999 before being traded to Winnipeg in 2000 for Canadian running back/defensive back Brad Elberg.

Mudge suffered a season-ending knee injury with Winnipeg in the 14th game of the 2003 season, but came back the following season to play in all 18 games with the Bombers.

EDWARDS ON ROLL: Alouettes running back Robert Edwards is on a roll.

Edwards scored two touchdowns in Montreal's 31-7 win over Toronto on Thursday night, giving him 10 on the season. The club record is 20, held by Pat Abbruzzi, and that would appear within striking distance for Edwards as the Alouettes, the CFL's only unbeaten team at 7-0, have 11 regular season games remaining.

Seven of Edwards' touchdowns have been scored on the ground. The Alouettes' club record for rushing touchdowns in a season is 19, held by Mike Pringle.

Edwards finished the game with 138 yards rushing, his first 100-yard effort of the season. However, it marked the third time in less than two years that Edwards had gained 100 or more yards against Toronto.

BRADY RETURNING?: Donnie Brady might be returning to the Edmonton Eskimos roster.

The defending CFL champions released the veteran defensive back earlier this season, but head coach Danny Maciocia apparently has contacted Brady, 32, and asked if he'd be willing to return to Edmonton.

Even if Brady opts to return to the Eskimos, it might be a while before he actually suits up because Brady continues to recover from a rib injury.

DAMON A DAD AGAIN: Toronto Argonauts quarterback Damon Allen is the CFL's oldest player at age 43 and already is a grandfather. But he's gearing up to be a father for the fourth time.

Allen's wife, Desiree, is expected to give birth to their fourth child either in late November or early December. The couple already has three girls, with their oldest, Amanda, having given birth to a boy four years ago.

But the Allens already know their latest child will be a boy.

GLEN RE-SIGNS: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have locked up quarterback Kevin Glenn for the next two years. Glen signed a contract extension with Winnipeg that will keep him with the club until after next season.

Glenn is in his third season with Winnipeg, having completed 119-of-203 passes for 1,814 yards prior to the Bombers game Friday night versus Hamilton.

The Bombers obtained Glenn in a trade with Toronto before the 2004 season. He began his CFL career with Saskatchewan.

EDWARDS GOING: The Roughriders have placed safety Darnell Edwards on the trading block.

Edwards was the team's starting safety in 2004, but this year fell behind rookie Tristan Clovis and veterans Kennedy Nkeyasen and Donnie Ruiz on Saskatchewan's depth chart. Edwards began the year on the injured list and only returned to the Roughriders two games ago, playing exclusively on special teams.

If the Roughriders can't make a deal involving Edwards, then they're expected to simply release Edwards, thus making him a free agent.

GREY CUP UPDATE: Winnipeg's Grey Cup organizers announced Friday that 33,785 tickets have been sold for this year's game, which will be held November 19 at Canad Inns Stadium.

That leaves roughly 12,000 tickets left to be sold for the CFL championship game.

'We are extremely pleased with the continued support of football fans in Manitoba and the rest of the country for this event,' said Bombers president Lyle Bauer. 'The fact that three-quarters of the tickets are already spoken for is a good indicator of the level of interest in this year's Grey Cup.

'My best advice to football fans is to get your seat now before someone else does.'

© 2006 The Sports Network