FYI

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/07/2010 (5875 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BROWNE STARTS: Safety Ian Logan will miss the Hamilton game with a hamstring injury, meaning his spot falls to former Manitoba Bison Brady Browne. The 27-year-old, in his third CFL season, makes his first career start Friday.

“I’m excited to get the opportunity,” he said Wednesday. “It’s such an important game. I’ve been waiting three years for this and I feel like I’m ready to show not only my teammates, but everyone around the league that I can be a starter.” Browne, who will cut back some of his special-teams duties because of his promotion, tried to get ready for the assignment like it was any other week. Sure, he’s been in there with the first-team defence, but he said the aim of practice for him is to always prepare like he’s going to be starting.

“I always prepare to play — you have to when you’re a backup, right? You’re one injury away (from playing),” he said. “It is football — everyone gets hurt. If you’re not prepared, you can let the whole team down.

It’s not like Browne is a fresh-faced rookie being thrown to the wolves here. Not only did he see a lot of time in the middle of the secondary in last Friday’s 36-34 loss to the Argos (Logan went down in the first quarter), but he does come in to play the nickel in throwing situations. Browne also participated as the No. 1 safety throughout training camp, as Logan was out with an injury then as well.

“His biggest thing is just getting everybody on the same page,” head coach Paul LaPolice said. “That’s what a free safety has to do in our system.”

ALEXIS SERNA WATCH: There have been a lot of eyes on the Bombers’ placekicker, watching how he’s responding to the slow start in his season (5-of-9 in the FG department). LaPolice said he’s also been watching Serna this week. “I told him my concerns (Tuesday and Wednesday) and I tried to be a good head coach to him, because my job is to make him a better player,” LaPolice said.

LaPolice doesn’t seem too concerned with kicking game to this point, but if Serna struggles in Hamilton, the heat will be turned up on both coach and kicker.

NEW PLAN: When asked if the Bombers have anything special planned for Hamilton kick returner Marcus Thigpen, LaPolice had this to say: “Tackle him. Hard thing to do — he’s pretty good. But just tackle him,” he said. Thigpen has touchdowns on a missed fieldgoal return, a punt return, and a kickoff return. Two of those came against Winnipeg in Week 1.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: He’s been on the practice field this week, so it looks like B.C. quarterback Casey Printers will play against Montreal Friday. Printers’ status was questionable following a quad injury suffered in a loss to Saskatchewan Saturday night. Attention, gamblers: With the game back on the board, Vegas has the Lions as five-point underdogs. That’s a surprising number, considering the Alouettes haven’t won on the West Coast in 10 years.

— Wazny