38 minutes a game, were going to need you to play at yo

WINNIPEG -- They lost out on the Henry Burris sweepstakes but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers didnt wait long to land another quarterback, acquiring Drew Willy Thursday from the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders for Canadian receiver and Regina native Jade Etienne. Winnipeg also signed Willy to an extension, reportedly for two years. He was scheduled to become a free agent next week and will be unveiled by the Blue Bombers on Friday at Investors Group Field. "Drew is a quarterback we have always thought had very high potential in this league," said Winnipeg GM Kyle Walters. "He immediately upgrades us at this position and we really look forward to him being a part of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers moving forward." But is he a starter who can win regularly, something a team that finished with a league-worst 3-15 record last season so desperately needs? Playing behind Darian Durant, Willy doesnt have a lot of experience. He posted a 2-2 record in his two seasons with the Roughriders and, at least on paper right now, is competing for the starters job with Max Hall and Justin Goltz. The six-foot-three, 215-pound Willy was 32-of-52 passing last season for 474 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He saw more action in 2012, completing 69-of-95 passes for 709 yards, five TDs and four interceptions. Riders coach Corey Chamblin, named the CFLs coach of the year Wednesday after leading Saskatchewan to a their fourth Grey Cup title, has praised Willy for his composure. Willy wasnt Winnipegs first choice. He joins the Blue Bombers after they lost out to the expansion Ottawa Redblacks for the services of free-agent Burris, the CFLs passing leader last season who was released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Hall became Winnipegs starter last year as the Bombers struggled through a series of quarterbacks and traded veteran Buck Pierce to the B.C. Lions. Goltz, who had been considered by many to be the teams future, failed to measure up when he finally got his shot. Willy, 27, is a native of Randolph, N.J., who spent some time in the NFL on practice squads in Indianapolis, Baltimore, San Diego, and New York and played in the UFL with Las Vegas in 2010. "I am really excited to join the Blue Bomber organization," he said in a statement. "The support the team gets from the province of Manitoba is remarkable. "With such a deep history, the fans, the new stadium, and the direction the team wants to go, its going to be a great place to play. The people within the organization have shown genuine interest in me, and as a player, you cant ask for anything more." He started two games in 2013, going 1-1. He earned his first CFL win as a rookie in a come-from behind victory at Winnipeg in the Banjo Bowl, where he completed 17-of-23 for 188 yards and a touchdown and ran for another. Willy played at the University of Buffalo, where he was the most prolific passer in school history, setting records for completions (849), attempts (1,322), yards (8,748), touchdowns (52), total offence (8,639), and completion percentage (64.2). "He is a quarterback with great promise in our league," said Danny McManus, himself a Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback and Winnipegs new assistant general manager and director of U.S. scouting. "Drew has the attitude and determination you look for at the quarterback position. "He is physically and mentally tough, and can endure the challenges a quarterback faces, day in, and day out." Etienne, 24, was an off-the-board first round pick of the Blue Bombers in the 2011 draft and after three CFL seasons had 20 receptions for 276 yards and two TDs. But he didnt see a lot of action until 2013 when he had 19 catches for 265 yards and the two touchdowns. Like Willy, Etienne was set to become a free agent next week. Cheap Nike Zoom Training Shoes . According to the sportsbook BoDog, the Stampeders are 8/5 favourites to take home the Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on November 24. Cheap Nike Zoom For Sale . - Young and old. http://www.nikezoomcheap.com/ . McCutchen hit his first home run in over a month, doubled twice and scored two runs to help the Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Sunday and take three of four from the defending NL West champions. Wholesale Real Nike Zoom . -- Theres something about playing on Orlandos floor lately that seems to bring out the best in the Dallas Mavericks. Clearance Nike Zoom Shoes . Lynchs attorney, Ivan Golde, told The Associated Press on Thursday of the plea deal that was reached with the Alameda County District Attorney Office. The plea will be formally entered in court in Oakland, Calif.PORTLAND, Ore. -- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich took pains to make sure guard Tony Parker was well rested for the playoffs. "I barely played in April," Parker said. "I was joking with Pop if I was still with the Spurs." The break has paid off. Parker scored 29 points and San Antonio took a 3-0 lead in its Western Conference semifinal series against the Portland Trail Blazers with a 118-103 victory on Saturday night. Parker has scored 29 or more points in three of his last four playoff games. He had 20 points in the first half alone in Game 3 against Portland. "Hes been the engine for us," Popovich said. "He started out really well tonight. He made shots, he involved everybody else. He was playing great D at the other end. Hes really playing a whole complete game." The Spurs led by as many as 23 points in the first half, building a big early lead just as they had in the first two games of the series in San Antonio. "I think it just happened," Parker said of the third straight game with a big jump on Portland. "We just wanted to come in and have a good start, take care of the ball and play good defence like we did at home." The teams meet again on Monday night at the Moda Center. LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Portland, which pulled within eight points in the third quarter but couldnt get any closer. The Blazers were hurt by 15 turnovers and only six points from their bench. "Theyre just persistent," Aldridge said. "They play championship basketball and thats what we have to get to." No NBA team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series. In 2003, the Blazers rebounded with three wins after dropping the first three against Dallas, but ultimately lost the first-round series deciding game. San Antonio, the top seed in the West, is vying for a second straight trip to the finals: Last season the Spurs fell to the Miami Heat in seven games. The winner of the series goes on to meet the winner of the conference semifinal between Oklahoma City and the Clippers. The Thunder lead that series 2-1. San Antonio has dominated this one. On Thursday night, the Spurs built a 20-point lead and won 114-97. The Spurs routed the Blazers 116-92 in the series opener after a hard-fought seven-game series against the Dallas Mavericks. The Blazers were without reserve guard Mo Williams, who has a groin injury. Williams played just 9 minutes in Game 2, and the Spurs backups outscored Portlands 50-19.dddddddddddd. Williams has consistently brought a spark and leadership off the bench the whole season, and has capably filled in while Lillard rests. Earl Watson and Will Barton helped spell starter Damian Lillard in Game 3. The Blazers took a brief 13-12 lead midway through the first quarter on Lillards step-back jumper. It was just their second lead of the series. But Parker pestered the Blazers and his finger-roll layup put the Spurs up 25-15. Marco Belinellis falling-down jumper pushed the lead to 28-17 before the first quarter was over. Parkers back-to-back 3-pointers gave the Spurs a 58-35 late first-half lead and they went into the break ahead 60-40. Portland rallied to start the second half, pulling to 64-52 after Nicolas Batums 3-pointer. He hit another 3 to narrow it to 68-60, but the Spurs kept the Blazers from coming any closer and led 83-69 going into the fourth. Parkers layup and free throw gave San Antonio a 100-81 lead in the fourth. Portland mounted a rally to get to 103-91 on Robin Lopezs layup with 5:46 left but it was too late. "Pop, you have to give him credit. He looked at the big picture, and rested me (the last month)," Parker said. "When we started the playoffs, he told me Be ready to play 37-38 minutes a game, were going to need you to play at your best. And so far its working." Portland advanced to the second round for the first time in 14 years by defeating the Houston Rockets in six games, clinching the series with Lillards amazing 3-pointer at the buzzer at home for a 99-98 victory in the deciding game. The Spurs have a 3-2 series advantage over Portland in the playoffs, sweeping the previous meeting in the 1999 conference finals. The teams split the regular-season series 2-2. NOTES: Before Game 2 in San Antonio, Blazers forward Thomas Robinson saw a snake in the locker room at the AT&T Center. Because the snake hissed, the team at first thought it was a rattlesnake, but it later turned out it was not venomous. So before Saturday nights game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked if his team had seen any critters in the Moda Center: "We expected a Beaver but we didnt see one," he laughed. ... Tim Duncan moved past Karl Malone into fifth place all-time for career playoff points. He trails only Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal. ' ' '