Aug 17, 2007, 15:05 GMT
Edmonton, AB - The A.J. Gass saga continues.
Last week, the veteran linebacker was in the lineup for Edmonton's 19-17 win over Hamilton after appealing a one-game suspension he received from the CFL for ripping the helmet off Calgary lineman John Comiskey's head and heaving it downfield during an August 4 game.
Gass spoke Monday with CFL commissioner Mark Cohon, who upheld the original one-game ban. However, Gass has launched a second appeal, meaning now an independent arbitrator will rule on the case. Gaas will now be available to play for Edmonton on Saturday when the Eskimos face the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium.
BYE BYE: There are only two games in the CFL this week as all four East Division teams have bye weeks.
The B.C. Lions take on the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Friday night, with the Edmonton Eskimos facing the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday night.
Next week, all four West Divisions teams will be off, with the four East Division squads rounding into action. The Toronto Argonauts will be in Winnipeg to face the division-leading Blue Bombers on August 24, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats battling the Montreal Alouettes the following night at Molson Stadium.
The usual four-game week returns in Week 10 with the Montreal Alouettes in B.C. to face the Lions on August 31 and culminating with the annual Labor Day contests September 3 with Toronto at Hamilton and Edmonton at Calgary.
HOLLIS BACK: Rush end Kenny Hollis returned to the Edmonton Eskimos this week.
Hollis was with the Eskimos earlier this season, but was let go by the CFL club following the first two games. With Edmonton's front line battling injuries, he's back for a second stint.
After being released by Edmonton, Hollis returned to his offseason job as a prison guard at Donaldson Correctional Facility, a maximum security facility located near Birmingham, Ala.
Appropriately, Hollis's nickname with the Eskimos is 'Guard Dog'.
DICKENSON HEALING: B.C. Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson continues to recover from concussion-like symptoms, and while he says he's slowly starting to feel better, Dickenson isn't sure when he will return to the starting lineup.
Dickenson hasn't practiced with the Lions since he suffered his third concussion in less than two years after being hit by rush end Fred Perry of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Lions' 42-12 win July 13.
With Dickenson having been out, the Lions' quarterback duties have been shared by backup Buck Pierce and No. 3 Jarious Jackson. Pierce will handle the starting job Friday when the Lions face the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. Dickenson certainly won't suit up for B.C., but will travel with the team to Calgary.
MAKOWSKY OUT: The Saskatchewan Roughriders will have to do without offensive lineman Gene Makowsky for a little while.
Makowsky was diagnosed with mononucleosis earlier this week and will be out until sometime in September. The usual recovery time for the illness is between three and six weeks.
Makowsky, twice named the CFL's lineman of the year, played in Saskatchewan's 24-13 road win over Toronto last week but hasn't practiced with the club since it returned home.
Saskatchewan will replace Makowsky with either American Belton Johnson or Canadian Val St. Germain, who started the season with Winnipeg before being released and subsequently joining the Roughriders.
MAXIE OUT: Demetrious Maxie's return to the CFL as a player will apparently last just two games.
Maxie came out of retirement last week to suit up for the Calgary Stampeders due to injuries to the club's defensive line. Maxie had retired after last season to become the CFL team's assistant director of player personnel.
But after Calgary's game Friday night against the B.C. Lions, Maxie will resume his front office duties and continue scouting NFL training camps. He's scheduled to leave Saturday for the Indianapolis Colts' camp.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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