Around the CFL: Ricky expected back in Argos lineup for next game

By Fred Williams Sep 15, 2006, 18:45 GMT

Toronto, ON - Ricky Williams is ready to resume running the football for the Toronto Argonauts.

Williams has been out since suffering a broken forearm in Toronto's 26-23 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 22. The former Miami Dolphin says while his arm has completely healed, a cut on his heel suffered when a metal door crashed into it hasn't quite come around yet. Sixteen stitches were required to close the cut.

Speaking to the media Thursday, Williams said he hopes to be at practice when the Argos re-group Sunday after their bye week and expects to be dressed when Toronto travels to Calgary on September 23.

'I'm pretty close,' Williams said. 'My arm feels good, I just have to wait for my Achilles to heal a bit.'

But Williams won't be content with just returning to the Argos lineup.

'It's about time for me to show my influence,' he said. 'If we don't go to the Grey Cup, I will take it as my fault.'

Williams ran for 231 yards on 57 carries before his injury. Toronto has won its last five games to move into a tie for first in the East with Montreal.

Williams said he watched the Dolphins' season-opening 28-17 loss to Pittsburgh last week but didn't sound like he's missing the NFL.

'It wasn't difficult at all,' he said. 'I'm a person who lives in the moment and at the moment I'm here and they're there.

'I'm upset that they lost because I have a lot of friends on the team but it wasn't difficult for me to watch.'

BACHELOR IN CANADA: Jesse Palmer, the Canadian-born NFL quarterback who gained tremendous exposure from his appearance on The Bachelor television reality series, is back in his native country.

Palmer, who was born in Toronto but raised in Ottawa, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on Monday, two weeks after being released by the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. Palmer spent this week on the practice roster but is expected to be promoted to the active roster next week.

Palmer isn't expected to see any action with Montreal this season. The Alouettes already have a very competent starter in Anthony Calvillo, with CFL veterans Nealon Greene and Marcus Brady backing him up.

If he remains in Montreal next season, the best Palmer could do is emerge as Calvillo's backup.

But because he will be entering the option year of his CFL contract in 2007, Palmer will have a six-week window in the off season to explore his options and possibly sign an NFL contract. If he doesn't, Palmer would spend next season with Montreal.

That is, if he's not traded.

There are currently three groups pursuing an CFL expansion team for Ottawa, including one that's headed up by Palmer's father, Bill. There's a lot of talk that the successful big group would heavily pursue a trade with Montreal for Palmer, who would be a good face for the new franchise given his Ottawa background.

Montreal drafted Palmer in the second round of the 2001 CFL draft knowing he would be headed to the NFL. Palmer spent four seasons with the New York Giants before being released during training camp last year. He finished the 2005 season with San Francisco.

RECORD CHASE: Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Milt Stegall is closing in on becoming the CFL's career leader in touchdowns scored.

Stegall entered Winnipeg's game with Calgary on Friday night needing just three touchdowns to break the CFL record of 137 shared by former running backs Mike Pringle and George Reed.

Stegall already is the CFL's career leader in touchdown catches (135 and counting).

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE: The CFL's outstanding defensive player last year is back in the Calgary Stampeders lineup.

But John Grace's roster spot is tenuous, at best.

Grace returned to the starting lineup after missing four games due to a combination of being benched and suffering a groin injury. He's back as a starter partly because starting strong-side linebacker Khalid Abdullah has a sore hamstring, so Cornelius Anthony, who replaced Grace in the lineup, moves to his spot and Grace takes over for Anthony on the inside.

But at least Grace enjoyed a better fate than veteran George White, who was cut to help make way for Abdullah and Anthony.

TRADE COMMODITY?: The CFL trade deadline is Tuesday, and one player who could very well find himself on the move is defensive back Reggie Durden of the Edmonton Eskimos.

Durden, a six-year CFL veteran, has been benched for the last five games by the Eskimos. He's expected to miss Edmonton's game Saturday against Hamilton.

The Eskimos have told Durden they will try and trade him if that's what he wants.

If Durden is traded, it would mark the second time in less than a year that he has been dealt. He was sent to Edmonton by Montreal in the off season along with defensive tackle Robert Brown for defensive back Davis Sanchez.

Durden must be patient, though, because he's under contract through the 2007 season.

MILESTONE: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-11) are enduring a miserable season, but receiver Terry Vaughn is approaching an impressive career milestone.

Vaughn, already the CFL's career receptions leader, needs just five more catches to reach the 1,000-catch plateau.

Vaughn could reach that milestone Saturday night when the Ti-Cats host the Edmonton Eskimos at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Vaughn has 49 catches for 537 yards but no touchdowns this season. He's looking to break the 1,000-yard receiving plateau for the 12th straight season, which would break the CFL record of 11 he currently holds.

© 2006 The Sports Network