act in club history. "They made me pay. Thats

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CALGARY -- After losing 35-22 to the host Toronto Argonauts in the 100th Grey Cup last year, linebaker Juwan Simpson says the Calgary Stampeders expect to take the next step and become CFL champions this season. "Were ultimately working for one goal and thats to win the Cup," said Simpson, whos entering his sixth season with the Stamps. "Im a confident person. I think the rest of the guys are just as confident. "Regardless of what happens, we know its a long season. Were going to put our best foot forward week in and week out and see what happens." Veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn, who completed 14-of-27 passes for 222 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in last years Grey Cup game against the Argos, said he definitely wants a shot at redemption. "Even getting there and actually losing the game, it gives you more motivation to get back and win it," Glenn said. "Thats our ultimate goal, but weve got to take it one game at a time." Glenn was thrust into the starters role last season to compensate for starter Drew Tates injury-plagued season. He didnt disappoint, completing 325-of-487 passes for 4,220 yards and 25 touchdown passes in the regular season. His completion rate of 66.7 per cent was the best of his 12 CFL seasons. Although Glenn, who turned 34 on June 12, is slated to back up Tate once again to start the 2013 season, hes keeping a positive attitude and preparing as if he could be called upon for his services at any moment. "Whatever position youre in on this team, you have to be ready to go," Glenn said. "You cant take practices off or days off in meetings and stuff. You have to prepare and prepare as if youre going to play and start. I think thats better to do it that way. It keeps you focused during the game on helping the other guys that are playing out there." Meanwhile, Tate wants to put last years nightmarish season behind him. After guiding the Stamps to a 38-10 win over the Montreal Alouettes in the 2012 season opener at home, Tate dislocated his left shoulder during a Week 2 loss in Toronto. Tate, who completed just 46-of-63 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns, returned to play in the final two games of the regular season before fracturing a bone near the wrist of his throwing arm in Calgarys West Division semifinal win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Tate has refused to let those two major setbacks from deterring him this season. "If you try to alter your play based on not getting hurt, youre just going to affect your game and youre not going to be playing at the highest level that you can be playing," Tate said. "You just hope that youve got somebody watching over you every time you fall and thats about it." Whether its Tate, Glenn or third-stringer Bo Levi Mitchell at the helm of Calgarys offence, theyll have plenty of weapons at their disposal once again this season. "Im certainly confident in our quarterbacks," said running back Jon Cornish, who tied for the league lead with 11 rushing touchdowns and added two others through the air. Cornish was named the CFLs most outstanding Canadian last season after leading the league with 1,457 rushing yards, which broke Normie Kwongs 56-year-old Canadian single-season rushing record. The Stamps also boast a talented receiving corps which will be led by veteran Nik Lewis (100 catches last year, 1,241 yards and 10 TDs), Marquay McDaniel (53 catches, 744 yards and three TDs), Maurice Price (18 catches, 405 yards and three TDs) and Joe West (24 catches, 353 yards and two TDs). "Im very optimistic," Tate said. "I said this before camp that Ive never been on a team with as much talent at the play-making positions that we have this year. As a quarterback, you cant ask for anything more." Rene Paredes will once again handle the field-goal kicking duties, while Rob Maver is back for his second season as Calgarys primary punter. Both Paredes and Maver were chosen as West Division and CFL all-stars last season. When asked to identify the biggest gain in the off-season for the Stamps, head coach and general manager John Hufnagel responded by pointing to the overall speed of his defensive players during training camp and the pre-season. "I thought overall our defence in general played fast in the two pre-season games," Hufnagel said. "I want that type of speed to continue with areas of improvement." Simpson will be counted upon for his veteran leadership on defence as will fellow linebacker Malik Jackson, defensive backs Brandon Smith and Keon Raymond and defensive lineman Charleston Hughes. "Weve got a lot of vets returning," Simpson said. "Weve got some young guys to come in and help us. I think weve got a good group of guys and Im looking forward to actually getting out there and playing four quarters." Torry Holt Jersey .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft. Josh Reynolds Jersey . -- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" and "obviously an asset," but the New York Yankees managing general partner wouldnt discuss the third basemans possible return to the team following a season-long suspension. http://www.laramsfansshop.com/c-68-rams-john-sullivan-jersey.aspx. First, Ivan Nova decided to have season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery. Then Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games for using pine tar. Mark Barron Jersey . -- Jacksonville Jaguars rookie receiver Marqise Lee has agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth more than $5 million. Michael Brockers 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. MINNEAPOLIS -- Oswaldo Arcia -- and about everyone else at Target Field -- had time to admire his three-run home run in the fourth inning that hit close to the top of the pole in right field. The young slugger made a stronger impression and an even bigger impact two at-bats later. Arcia had four RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the seventh, to push the Minnesota Twins past Milwaukee 6-4 on Wednesday night for their seventh win in the last eight meetings with the Brewers. Arcia went deep for the third time in 10 games since his recall from Triple-A to give the Twins a 3-1 lead. Through translator and teammate Eduardo Nunez, Arcia said he waited at the plate for several seconds to watch the ball soar because he knew it was close to hooking foul. "He thinks it was a home run, right away," Nunez said. Said manager Ron Gardenhire: "Pretty impressive. Hes a strong young man." After Aramis Ramirez tied the game with a three-run homer in the seventh inning against Ricky Nolasco (4-5), the Brewers brought in lights-out left-hander Will Smith to face Arcia after Josh Willingham had doubled with two outs against Rob Wooten (1-3). Arcia hung in there long enough to stroke a 2-2 slider into right field to drive in Willingham, who forced in an earlier run against starter Marco Estrada with a bases-loaded walk. Arcia, who swung and missed at the same slider one pitch earlier, took second on the throw home to get in position to score on a single by Trevor Plouffe. That was just the second earned run against Smith all season and the first in 15 games. "Against Will Smith, not many left-handers are going to hit his breaking ball," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. But Arcia did, picking up Nolasco and the Twins. Nolasco, who retired 13 straight batters until consecutive singles by Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez to start the seventh, recovered after Ramirezs wallop to finish the inning. Nolasco struck out seven without a walk while allowing six hits, another step forward from an awful first month with the Twins after signing the richest free agent contract in club history. "They made me pay. Thats what this lineup can do, quick,," Nolasco said, adding: "Im not going to take one pitch and ruin my night.dddddddddddd" Glen Perkins pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances. Ramirez started the season strong but was slumping badly when he strained his left hamstring 22 games ago, and the first-place Brewers havent missed a beat without him, with Mark Reynolds and his 13 home runs at third base. "Thats what Im here for, to drive in runs and help the team," Ramirez said. The Brewers started this string of 15 of 18 games on the road with the lead after consecutive two-out doubles by Rickie Weeks and Reynolds in the second, but for the second straight game the Twins had success against part of what has been a sturdy rotation for the Brewers. The return of Willingham and Arcia to the heart of the order after missing a combined 74 games with wrist injuries and rehab assignments was a big boost for the Twins last week, and they gave Estrada trouble. Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher gave Estrada some trouble, too, with several close calls going against the right-hander. "They just werent going our way," Estrada said. NOTES: The four-game burst between the border-state rivals finishes Thursday, with Wily Peralta (4-5, 2.73 ERA) pitching for the Brewers and Kevin Correia (2-6, 5.87 ERA) taking the mound for the Twins. Peralta is 0-4 in his last five starts, but with a 3.64 ERA. Correia lost to Mashiro Tanaka and the Yankees in New York last week while giving up just one run in six innings. Both teams will wear throwback uniforms from the 1980s, with the Twins in their powder-blue road jerseys from that era. ... Twins RHP Mike Pelfrey, put on the DL more than a month ago due to a strained groin, will have his elbow examined next week Dr. James Andrews, who performed the Tommy John ligament replacement procedure on his arm in 2012. Pelfrey has been bothered by inflammation in the joint. ... Gomezs success in the No. 4 spot, where he batted for the 12th straight game, allowed Roenicke to ease Ramirez back in at No. 5. But Roenicke said his ideal order is Gomez leading off. The Brewers have used at least four different players in each of the nine spots this season. China Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Authentic Jerseys NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys From China ' ' '