MISSISSAUGA, Ont. Earl Thomas III Jersey . -- Romby Bryant is adjusting to his new life with the Toronto Argonauts on the fly. The veteran receiver is in a new city, with a new team and is trying to pick up a new offence while learning the nuances of a new position. And hes doing it on the run, having not had the benefit of taking any reps prior to Sunday, when the defending Grey Cup champions opened training camp. Trouble is, the clock is ticking. The Argos first exhibition game is June 12 in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers, and they kick off the regular season June 28 at Rogers Centre against the arch-rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats. "Oh yeah, its hard," Bryant said of all the adjustments following Tuesdays two workouts. "Im just trying to get the playbook down and learn the plays. "Its a matter of getting the reps in. I can sit down and look at the playbook all day but it doesnt mean anything until I get out there and see it all in front of me and look at the defence." But Bryant has more on his mind than just football. Hes also taking courses towards getting his communications degree at Tulsa University -- his alma mater -- while adjusting to being away from his fiancee, Melissa, who lives in Fairfax, Va., as well as his four-year-old daughter, Shiloh, living in Oklahoma City. "It gets harder every year to leave my daughter because the older she gets the more she knows Im actually leaving," Bryant said. "For me, I cant get used to it at all." Fortunately, Bryants daughter wasnt affected by the klller tornado that recently devastated the Oklahoma City region. Bryant, 33, signed with Toronto this off-season shortly after being granted his release by Calgary. Bryant spent three-plus seasons with the Stampeders, registering 211 catches for 3,028 yards and 22 touchdowns before adding two receptions for 31 yards in the clubs 35-22 loss to the Argos in the 100th Grey Cup at Rogers Centre in November. The six-foot-one, 191-pound Bryant was slated for free agency Feb. 15 but asked for his release in January upon sensing Calgary wasnt interested in his return. The move paid off as he signed with Toronto three days prior to the start of CFL free agency. Bryant brings a veteran presence and proven track record to Toronto. Over five CFL seasons, the former Tulsa star has 295 career receptions for 4,428 yards and 31 TDs. "Yeah, but that doesnt mean anything," he said. "I feel like I can run around still but what I think doesnt really matter because Im not making the decisions. "Ive been in those situations where I was the young guy that put out the veteran even though the veteran was better than me but I was younger. Thats the way of the world. Theres no guarantee Ill even make this team." Bryants best CFL campaign was 2010 when he had 78 catches for 1,170 yards and 15 TDs, all career highs. The Oklahoma City native recorded 51 and 55 catches, respectively, the last two seasons with the Stampeders. Despite those numbers, Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich isnt expecting Bryant to become the clubs No. 2 receiver behind Chad Owens, the CFLs outstanding player last season who was the leagues top receiver with 94 catches for 1,328 yards and six TDs. "We have different guys we can spread the ball around to," Milanovich said. "When the coverage dictates youre to get the ball, youve got to (make the catch). "We expect that of all our guys, whether theyre starters or backups. They just have to do the job when their number is called." Owens headlines a Toronto receiving corps that also includes veteran Canadian slotback Andre Durie (70 catches, 842 yards, five TDs), sophomore Dontrelle Inman (50 catches, 803 yards, five TDs), Jason Barnes (31 catches, 437 yards, four TDs) and B.C. native Spencer Watt (34 catches, 424 yards). Running back Chad Kackert added 23 catches for 212 yards. "Its very explosive and theyve got a lot of young, quick, fast guys," Bryant said. "They can score from anywhere with guys like Kackert, (Owens), Durie and also Inman. "Pick your poison." But the man who makes Torontos offence go is quarterback Ricky Ray. The 11-year veteran completed a club-record 68.6 per cent of his passes last year for 4,059 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games. Ray was especially sharp in Torontos three playoff games, completing 69-of-97 passes for 869 yards with five TDs and an interception in leading the Argos to their Grey Cup win. Hes happy to have another veteran receiver to throw to. "Romby is one of those guys who has a lot of experience in this league and can play a few different positions for us," Ray said. "Hes not like a rookie who has to learn defence and offence and pretty much the whole game. "Hes just trying to learn what were doing here. As far as running routes and all that stuff he knows how to make the adjustments off what the defence is doing." Bryant says the prospect of hauling in passes from Ray appeals to him. "Ricky is a great quarterback," Bryant said. "Whatever receivers play with Ricky are going to have a great year. "He makes receivers look good." Cliff Avril Youth Jersey . He made up for it with one swing in the bottom of the ninth. Braun was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning that scored a run and had an RBI single in the ninth, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night. Jon Ryan Seahawks Jersey . JOHNS, N.OKLAHOMA CITY -- Serge Ibaka walked slowly and carefully, but without a limp, before facing reporters Saturday afternoon. Much has been made of the Oklahoma City defensive stars absence in the first two games of the Western Conference finals series against the San Antonio Spurs. The 6-foot-10 power forward strained his left calf in the previous playoff series, and the Thunder said they expected him to be out for the playoffs. The team changed course Friday and declared him day-to-day. He worked out Saturday, but he didnt practice before addressing the media for the first time since his outlook changed. With Ibaka, the leagues leading shot blocker, the Thunder were one of the best defensive teams the NBA. Without him, the Spurs shot at least 50 per cent in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals and won them by a combined 52 points. As he stood for the five-minute session wearing a black compression sock over the calf, he deflected claims that he could be a saviour heading into Game 3 on Sunday. "Ive been hearing a lot of people saying my team lost two games because I was out," he said. "Thats not true. I believe in my guys. I believe in my teammates. They can be better with me or without me. Its no excuse because Serge Ibaka was not there. Just San Antonio, the first two games, they played better basketball." Ibaka said he sometimes screamed at his television set when he watched scenarios in which he could have made plays during the losses. He is not sure if he will play in Game 3 -- he said it is up to doctors, and much will depend on how he feels in the morning. For now, he will depend largely on rest, ice and luck. His presence is needed, even if he is less than fully healthy. Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison and Perry Jones have struggled against the Spurs big men. Kevin Durant, normally a small forward, has played some power forward in the series because of Ibakas absence, and his relative lack of physical strength and unfamiliarity with playing post defence has been exploited. The Spurs prepared all along as though he would return. "It gives them another hell of a player," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, "but we are who we are and weve got to be who we are. We cant change what we do." Even if Ibaka returns, it will not fully solve Oklahoma Citys problems defending the perimeter. San Antonio has made 18 of 40 3-pointers in the series and guards Tony Parker annd Manu Ginobili are slashing into the paint with stunning frequency, often scoring or finding their teammates for open shots. Russell Wilson Youth Jersey. . The Thunder say it starts with basics. "Its just an individual effort," Perkins said. "Got to put it in your mind that you want to stop the guy in front of you, and thats it. Backside got to be ready. But the thing is when they penetrate, thats what opens those threes. Well do a better job of keeping the ball in front of us, but weve just got to be individual and youve got to want the match up." To be fair, San Antonio shares the ball like no one else. The Spurs led the league with 25.4 assists per game during the regular season. That average is up to 27.5 against Oklahoma City. Parker and Ginobili generate many of the assists, but many others come from simple ball movement. "We dont have a Durant," Ginobili said. "We dont have a Kobe (Bryant) or LeBron (James) that can go one against one and finish every single time. We need to pass the ball to find open teammates, and thats what we do, and thats what weve been doing. We all feel proud about it. We know when we have 25 assists or 30, we are much better and we try to do that every time." Because the Spurs generally have five capable scorers on the floor at a time, it forces opponents to have a greater attention to detail than usual. "Theyve got threats," Durant said. "Everybody on their team is a threat because of their offence. They move the ball. Theyve got 3-point shooters. You take away 3-point shooters, they get the role guys and they get the paint points. You take away that and they start hitting the threes. So we have to do both. We have to be able to close the paint up and get out to shooters. Easier said than done, but we can do it." The Spurs are off to a good start, but experience tells them they wont have as easy a time in Oklahoma City. And in 2012, Oklahoma City fell behind San Antonio 2-0 in the Western Conference finals before winning the series 4-2. "Weve got to know that in their arena its going to be different," Ginobili said. "Theyre going to be way more aggressive, theyre going to be pushed by their fans. We just won two games. They are going to make more shots, they are going to attack harder, they are going to go to the free-throw line more.So, there are a lot of things that they can do much better and were not going to make as many shots." cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseyswholesale jerseys ' ' '
