Sports

Canadian QB Nathan Rourke heeded advice from Bo Levi Mitchell for making NFL jump

Published

2 years ago

January 17, 2023

Photos: Larry MacDougal/3DownNation & Jeff Vinnick/B.C. Lions. Photo edit: 3DownNation.

Nathan Rourke listened to the advice of a future Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback before making his decision to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“The draft is very important to the NFL, free agency and veteran quarterbacks are very important. I don’t think that they’re looking to other places [for quarterbacks.] I don’t think that if I would have played another year in the CFL that I would have had the opportunity to start or at least compete to be the starter,” Rourke told 3DownNation.

“You look at someone like Bo Levi [Mitchell] who was a Grey Cup-winning, multiple MOP and he didn’t even have that opportunity back when he tried out I think it was for the Vikings.”

Mitchell completed an NFL workout tour following the 2018 CFL season after being named the league’s Most Outstanding Player and Grey Cup MVP for the second time in his career, visiting seven teams south of the border. He was 28 at the time and received significant interest from Minnesota, though the Vikings had no intention of allowing him to compete for a starting role. He ultimately signed back with the Calgary Stampeders on a four-year extension.

Rourke and Mitchell connected at the CFL awards during Grey Cup week in Regina where Rourke was named the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian. Mitchell shared his experiences with the Canadian phenom, including the importance of finding the right fit south of the border to ensure there is a legitimate path toward earning a roster spot.

“He told me that exact story. I think that if the goal is to be playing the NFL, which it is for me, I think with what my age is and being young and being younger than some of the quarterbacks that are coming out, there’s still a lot of room to develop and grow. And the sooner that we get to the NFL, the sooner that process of becoming a starter can happen.”

Rourke will look to back up former first-overall NFL Draft pick Trevor Lawrence in 2023 with a long-term goal of becoming an NFL starter.

“I have an opportunity to go down, be a number two and get some good preseason film on, which is big, and then be in position to be one play away if something were to happen to Trevor. And then for the team not to skip a beat and get some film that way, maybe something happens down the road from another team,” Rourke said.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen unless you’re down in the NFL, you’re able to get those reps, get that film and for people to evaluate you on Sunday, so I think that those are all things that went to that decision. Trevor’s a great quarterback and I think there’s a lot to learn from him and he’s had a great year. I think that system definitely fits his strengths and I think that a lot of his strengths are things that I can do well.”

The Jaguars won the AFC South with a 9-8 record this past season, a remarkable improvement following a disastrous 3-14 campaign in 2021. The Jags recently completed a 27-point postseason comeback over the Los Angeles Chargers to advance to the divisional playoff round against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Doug Pederson, who was hired to replace Urban Meyer this past off-season, is known for developing offences that play to the strengths of his quarterbacks. He led the Philadelphia Eagles to a victory in Super Bowl LII with NFL journeyman Nick Foles behind centre.

Pederson’s wisdom was reflected in Lawrence’s production this season as he threw for 4,113 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions over 17 starts in his second season at the helm for a passer rating of 95.2. In 2021, his passer rating was 71.9 as his threw for 3,641 yards with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions under Meyer.

Rourke noted Lawrence’s improvement under Pederson and believes he can benefit from learning under both men in Jacksonville to point his trajectory upwards as an NFL quarterback.

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Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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AP sports:

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Sports

Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Sports

Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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