WINNIPEG -- Max Hall is quick study. Hes a CFL rookie but it hasnt taken the former NFL player long to understand the importance of the quarterback in Canadian football as he tries to crack the Winnipeg Blue Bombers roster as a backup to starter Buck Pierce. "Im not saying hes not important in the NFL because he obviously is," Hall said Thursday. "But theres a little more emphasis on him in the CFL." The former BYU star played six games for the NFLs Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2010 but spent last season coaching at his alma mater. But thats also where Bombers offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton coached from 2001-2004. Hall said his biggest adjustment in Canadian football is dealing with one less down. "The key is having three downs instead of four, thats the biggest difference," Hall said. "Now you dont have that one down in there to have an incomplete pass or to get stuffed on a run. "Every single down you need to get positive yards and you need to put yourself in a situation on second down to convert. Thats the biggest difference and thats why you must have a quarterback whos smart, who can take of the football and go to the right spot." Both Hall and Chase Clement, the other new quarterback at rookie camp this week, believe they have what it takes to play in the CFL. The Bombers are giving Hall and Clement as well as current backup Justin Goltz plenty of chances to prove themselves. Coach Tim Burke says all are getting equal time in practice. But that will change Sunday when training camp opens and Pierce and Goltz will likely start to get more reps as the team focuses on game preparations. Winnipegs first exhibition game is June 12 at home to Toronto before the club opens the CFL season June 27 at Investors Group Field, its new stadium, facing the Montreal Alouettes. Hall, 27, and Clement, 26, were signed after the Bombers released backups Alex Brink and Joey Elliott. Neither Brink nor Elliott impressed last season when they took over after Pierce went down with a series of injuries. The Bombers have decided to go with Pierce as their starter again. But finding a solid backup is a top priority given Pierces injury record. Goltz, entering his fourth CFL season, looks like a good bet as the only veteran backup left. But nothing is carved in stone and both Hall and Clement are eager to get back on the field and start playing again. "I had a great opportunity with the Cardinals, it didnt last as long as I wanted it to, but I have a great opportunity here," said Hall. Clement is giving the CFL another shot after making a quick trip to Hamilton in 2009 and leaving after one practice. His main post-college experience was with the United Football League where he led the Las Vegas Locomotives to a championship in 2010. "Ive had a lot of success in college and a lot of success in professional football," Clement said. "I feel like Im very much comparable to anybody in this league." Burke is pleased with the progress both have shown in the short time hes had them. "I think theyre both doing a really good job," he said. "Theyre both learning the system, which is good. "I think theyre both making good throws. Theyre accurate. When they havent been its just because they didnt make a quick enough decision." Burke also said both newcomers are picking up the Canadian game. "I think theyve adapted to the offensive part of it, which is the motion and all that," he said. "I think its going to take a little bit more time to be able to understand what the defence is doing with all that motion." Mikko Koivu Jersey . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Eric Staal Wild Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. http://www.authenticwildpro.com/Joel-eriksson-ek-wild-jersey/ . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Mikko Koivu Wild Jersey . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Ryan Suter Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Andrew Bogut wanted one more shot to represent Australia at the Olympics and wasnt going to let an injury take that away again.The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft tumbled to the floor with a hyperextended knee in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and no one really expected him to get up this summer.But here he is in Rio, making a nearly perfect debut.The injury looked bad, and not to mention played a significant role in the Golden State Warriors losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers after setting the NBA regular-season record at 73 wins.But the new Dallas Maverick looked fully recovered, scoring 18 points on 9 for 10 shooting in Australias 87-66 win over France on Saturday. He played his usual complete game, pulling four rebounds to go with five assists.Bogut said after the injury, his plans were still to play in the Olympics, there was just the matter of how the knee felt. There was extra motivation after missing the 2012 London Games with an ankle injury and dealing with back spasms during a regional Olympic qualifier in 2015. The 31-year old may not get another chance to play on this stage.He said he was upset about missing it, adding that would have been my (third) if I played in that one. Bogut said. I was like, I dont want it to end that way where Im just sitting at home with ice on my knee if I can give it a crack.I didnt want it taken away that easily. I said Ill give it a crack up until this day. If it wasnt right yesterday, Id put my hand up and Im on a flight back home.Bogut wasnt just a body trudging up and down the court on Saturday.He caught six alley-oops despite playing a France team with Utah Jazz 7-foot-1 center and defensive specialist Rudy Gobert. Bogut had previously played sparingly against China and Spain in exhibitions since the NBA Finals.I felt good, I kind of was surprised that I did, Bogut said. The alley-oops were not something we specifically targeted. ... When youve got smart guys like (Matthew Dellavedova) and Patty (Mills) handling the ball, you get a couple of easy baskets.Bogut may not have expected to play so well, but some members of the team were surprised hes even in Rio. Assistant coach Luc Longley thought he was done wheen Bogut went down in the NBA playoffs.ddddddddddddI do know hes a tough hombre, Longley said. We had him New Zealand last year with a really, really bad back and he managed to get himself up and play and play well and dominant. If somebody is going to get it done, hes the character who is going to find a way to play.This is about the early timeline Bogut was expected to return. Hes not wearing a brace, but has the knee taped and wrapped under layers of padding -- enough to allow him to run, but also keep the pain to a minimum. There was some concern the Mavs would ask him to sit out after being traded from the Warriors, but the team was open to it long as the knee was healthy.Its been mentally and physically tolling to try and make this, Bogut said. I didnt think I was going to make it early on. And then the further and further I got I said Ive got a chance, Ive got a chance. It went from 10 percent chance to 20 percent chance and there were some dark days, but I ended up rehabbing fine and got back.Teammate Joe Ingles added, He promised us he was going to do everything he could and you saw tonight he obviously did.It was a big win for an Australian team that has never medaled in the Olympics. This may be their best team in international play with five NBA players and France was considered by many to be the second-best team in the tournament. The Frenchmen also had five NBA players on the roster.Boguts Olympics got off to a rocky start after he complained about the lodging conditions on social media, but apparently things have gotten better.The comments were never to disparage Brazil or the people in Brazil, Bogut said. It was more with the IOC more than anybody. The Brazilians have done a fantastic job of sending people to our room daily to see if anything needs fixing. Theyre trying to get things right.I apologize to the people of Brazil. I never intended that to be a shot at them. It was more a shot at the IOC to get out of the penthouse suites and get things rolling a little bit better.---AP Sports Writer Tom Withers contributed to this report ' ' '
