Tim Baines

Once known as the world's fastest man, Donovan Bailey has slowed down a bit, taking the opportunity to breathe in some of the joys of life.

It's not like CFL bad-boy Chad Kelly has a bull's eye on his forehead, but you can bet the Ottawa Redblacks would love to knock the Toronto Argonauts starting quarterback to the turf Saturday.

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : Ottawa Redblacks look to ground Chad Kelly and Toronto Argonauts Ottawa Redblacks look to ground Chad Kelly and Toronto Argonauts Author of the article: Article content It's not like CFL bad-boy Chad Kelly has a bull's eye on his forehead, but you can bet the Ottawa Redblacks would love to knock the Toronto Argonauts starting quarterback to the turf Saturday. Advertisement 2 Article content Ottawa Redblacks look to ground Chad Kelly and Toronto Argonauts Back to video Bottom line: The more they make Kelly uncomfortable, the better chance they have of winning. And this matchup of division opponents is a biggie for both teams. Kelly, who was re-instated by the CFL on Aug. 18 on a “last-chance agreement” after serving a nine-game suspension for violating the league's gender-based violence policy, is the centre of the Argonauts offence. Kelly was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2023 after leading his team to a 16-2 record. He passed for 4,123 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding eight more on the ground. In his two games since being re-instated, Kelly has 644 yards passing (with a touchdown and two interceptions). So, throwing Kelly — the nephew of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly — off his game would be a good thing for the Redblacks, who are looking to create some separation between themselves (7-3-1 record) and the Argos, who are one spot behind in the East standings with a 6-5-0 record. Advertisement 3 Article content “Chad was the MOP, he's obviously a dynamic player,” Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce said. “He adds more of a vertical part to the game. But he also can be dynamic with his legs; he's not afraid to take off and run. The more games he plays, the more you anticipate him to get better and better.” “He's a competitor,” said Redblacks linebacker Adarius Pickett, who was a teammate of Kelly's in Toronto. “He wants to win. He has some good receivers, he has an opportunity to spread the ball around the field. That's what he does well.” For Pickett, there's a familiarity with Kelly and with several other Argos, but he says that's in the past; it's not a focus as he prepares to defend against an offence he practised against on a daily basis. Advertisement 4 Article content “You're looking at the team as what they are now and, not what they were,” he said. “When I was there, we had a different team than they do now. My job is to study the film for what they are now, for what they're currently doing.” Not lost is the importance of Saturday's game — a 1 p.m. start and also serving as Family Day with several activities planned for the kids. The Redblacks are coming off a 38-12 loss to the B.C. Lions, halting a six-game unbeaten streak. The Argos lost 31-28 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Monday. Ottawa will be either ahead of Toronto by five points (with a win) or a single point (with a loss). Both teams will be looking to gather momentum as they head down the stretch. Six of Ottawa's remaining seven games are against East opponents, ratcheting up the importance of each. Advertisement 5 Article content Working in their favour, the Redblacks are unbeaten at home this season (five wins and a tie). “We know it's a four-point game, (the Argos) know it's a four-point game, we expect them to come out excited and ready to play, just like us,” Dyce said. “They know there are limited opportunities here in the east and you have to make the most of them.” “It's heating up,” Pickett said. “At this point in the season, we have to inhale the future and exhale the past. That just means whatever happened in the past 11 games has positioned us to be exactly where we want. But it doesn't essentially matter. We have to come out to these next seven games and put it together, taking it one game at a time.” Advertisement 6 Article content Important for the Redblacks will be the performance of the offence, which will play without starters Jaelon Acklin and Bralon Addison on Saturday (Eli Stove and Andre Miller again will fill in). “(Our offence has) done some things well, but we're still not where we want to be from an execution standpoint,” Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown said. “There are games where we show flashes. We've yet to play that game where we're truly firing fully. And I'm excited for that, I know that we can do it.” DYNAMIC DUO? The Redblacks will have two American running backs in uniform. Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Jamal Morrow and rookie Khalan Laborn will play Saturday, replacing Ryquell Armstead, who was released earlier this week. Advertisement 7 Article content Said Dyce: “They'll both play, they have dynamic skillsets. They're different backs, they add a different dynamic to the offence. “Jamal has the experience. With the motions and protection and so many moving parts, it's not too much for him. He's still showing the great quickness we saw when he played previously. “Khalan is so full of energy, he's got outstanding burst and he's strong in his protection.” THE END AROUND Former Gee-Gees receiver Daniel Oladejo gets into the lineup, replacing Keaton Bruggeling. On the depth chart, Oladejo is backup to Nick Mardner, who is listed as a game-time decision … Acklin (head) is now on the one-game injured list. It wouldn't be surprising if he returns to practice next week … Toronto and Ottawa have allowed the most sacks this season (27) … The Argonauts have won five straight games against Ottawa, with the Redblacks' most recent victory coming July 31, 2022 (23-13) … Ottawa has been outscored in every quarter this season except the third, where they have a 71-31 margin … Redblacks receiver Justin Hardy is nine catches short of 200 in his career. He is second in the league with 853 receiving yards … Pickett's next defensive tackle will be his 250th … Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward is up to 127 points in 2024. He is now the second-leading scorer in Ottawa history with 843 points. Gerry Organ had 1,462 points from 1971-1983 for the Rough Riders. Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Ottawa Redblacks look to ground Chad Kelly and Toronto Argonauts Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Latest National Stories News Near Elliot Lake Featured Local Savings

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : PICK-SIX PARTY: Led by Damon Webb's interceptions, Ottawa Redblacks wash away Toronto Argos PICK-SIX PARTY: Led by Damon Webb's interceptions, Ottawa Redblacks wash away Toronto Argos The Redblacks now have an 8-3-1 record overall and have yet to lose at home during this season: six wins and a tie. Author of the article: Article content Redblacks 41, Argonauts 27 Advertisement 2 Article content PICK-SIX PARTY: Led by Damon Webb's interceptions, Ottawa Redblacks wash away Toronto Argos Back to video On a day when a rainy weather forecast kept many fans away, Damon Webb had himself a day. The 28-year-old defensive back intercepted two passes, scoring touchdowns on both of them. And the Redblacks rolled over the Toronto Argonauts 41-27 after building a 31-3 halftime lead. The Redblacks, who now have an 8-3-1 record, have yet to lose at home during this season with six wins and a tie. Argos QB Chad Kelly was hit, hurried … and intercepted three times. Hard to imagine many fans feeling sorry for Kelly, the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Player a year ago. He began this year serving a nine-game suspension for violating the league's gender-based violence policy, then was re-instated on Aug. 18 on a “last-chance agreement.” Advertisement 3 Article content The Redblacks went up 3:17 into the game, when Webb intercepted a pass intended for Argos receiver David Ungerer and took the football back 21 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. The convert made it 7-0. Less than a minute later, Kelly misfired again, throwing one right to Redblacks defensive back Brandin Dandridge, who returned that interception to Toronto's 50-yard line. Lewis Ward booted a 37-yard field goal to make it 10-0. Argos running back Ka'Deem Carey found a huge hole in the middle of Ottawa's defence for a 32-yard run, and Toronto then made it 10-3 on a 37-yard field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu. A 20-yard Ward field goal with 15 seconds remaining in the first quarter restored Ottawa's 10-point lead, at 13-3. Advertisement 4 Article content A 41-yard pass completion to Makai Polk pushed the Argos deep into Ottawa territory. But two plays later, with blitzing Redblacks in his face, Kelly forced a pass into coverage and Webb came up with his second interception of the game, returning that one 96 yards for another touchdown. Rookie Andre Miller, in his second game with the Redblacks, caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dru Brown and it was 27-3. Punter Richie Leone booted a 53-yard single with 5:02 left in the first half, and Ward lifted a 51-yard field goal attempt just above the uprights to make it 31-3 with 1:19 to go. Sacks by Bennett Williams and Davion Taylor in the final minute of the half took the Argos out of field-goal range. The Argos got a touchdown with 9:56 left in the third quarter on a 15-yard completion to Tommy Nield. Advertisement 5 Article content Running back Khalan Laborn, making his CFL debut for Ottawa, took a handoff, cut back to his left and ran 33 yards into Toronto's end-zone for a touchdown. The convert by Ward made it 38-10. After the Redblacks whiffed on a couple of good interception opportunities, the Argos advanced the ball inside Ottawa's 10-yard line. But the Redblacks stopped the Argos on third and goal from the five and took over on downs. A 35-yard field goal by Toronto made it 38-13 early in the fourth quarter. After a couple of Redblacks defenders missed tackles, the Argos' Damontie Coxie scored on a touchdown reception with 10:37 left. A two-point convert made it 38-21. A 24-yard Ward field goal made it 41-21 with 7:15 left. Redblacks receiver Dominiques Rhymes was about to run into the end-zone after a long reception, but he was stripped of the ball and Toronto got it back at its three-yard line with two minutes left. Advertisement 6 Article content A diving touchdown catch by Coxie with 50 seconds left — the two-point convert attempt was intercepted by Frankie Griffin — made it 41-27. THE END AROUND : There was a steady rain into the second quarter. The rain stopped for a while, returned, then went away as the game was nearing an end … Attendance was announced as 17,834 … Big hit by Ottawa's Silas Stewart with five minutes left in the first quarter to limit Toronto's Janarion Grant to a one-yard punt return … Redblacks fullback Anthony Gosselin's fifth catch of the season, late in the first half, was a nice one and went for 10 yards … An Ottawa CFL team hadn't had two pick-sixes in a game going back to 1991 … The Redblacks came up about an inch short on a third-and-one gamble from their own 50 early in the fourth quarter … Game stats on the CFL website stopped updating late in the third quarter. The system still has bugs in it? Really? … The Redblacks stopped Toronto on a third-and-two run near midfield with six minutes left … And, there was another turnover on downs with 2:38 left when Kelly misfired again on third down … How about this for a third-down gamble? On their own three-yard line, needing 10 yards for a first down with less than two minutes left, the Argos went for it and got it. Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : PICK-SIX PARTY: Led by Damon Webb's interceptions, Ottawa Redblacks wash away Toronto Argos Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. 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I thought about everything it took to get here. It all happened within about 10 seconds."

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : 'IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM:' Ottawa Redblacks running back Khalan Laborn scores first CFL TD 'IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM:' Ottawa Redblacks running back Khalan Laborn scores first CFL TD I thought about everything it took to get here. It all happened within about 10 seconds." Author of the article: Article content Khalan Laborn stood in the locker room nearly half an hour after the Ottawa Redblacks had pummelled the Toronto Argonauts 41-27 and was asked about his 33-yard third-quarter touchdown run. Advertisement 2 Article content 'IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM:' Ottawa Redblacks running back Khalan Laborn scores first CFL TD Back to video With microphones in front of him, answering questions from media, Laborn laughed, soaked in the moment and thought about what he had done in his first Canadian Football League game. Replacing Ryquell Armstead, who had been released earlier in the week, Laborn had 10 carries for 47 yards as the starting running back. But it wasn't that or the touchdown that made Laborn happiest. With a superb effort from the Redblacks' offensive line and with Laborn and Jamal Morrow helping, quarterback Dru Brown was not sacked by the Argos. “I love protecting (the quarterback) more than anything,” Laborn said. “It's way bigger than the touchdown. It's not about me, it's about the team. It's a team game, it's a team sport.” On the touchdown, Laborn took a handoff from Brown, started running right, but then cut back hard left and broke outside. “I just trusted my eyes, trusted my body, trusted my protectors and trusted my speed,” said Laborn, who has also been with the Edmonton Elks and the Argos in the past year. “I just wanted to make sure I ran through the paint. I made sure I didn't try to do anything crazy and drop the ball before the goal line. “(After he scored), it was a flash. I thought about everything it took to get here. It all happened within about 10 seconds.” Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : 'IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM:' Ottawa Redblacks running back Khalan Laborn scores first CFL TD Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Latest National Stories News Near Elliot Lake Featured Local Savings

It's been frustration after frustration for the big winger. Injury after injury, the hockey journey for Tyler Boucher has, so far, been unreal.

The Ottawa Senators knew they were getting a good all-around hockey player in Jake Chiasson when they made a trade with the Edmonton Oilers a couple of months ago.

The Ottawa Senators haven't been in a playoff game since 2017.

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : HAVE YOUR SAY: What are your thoughts on the Ottawa Senators for the 2024-25 season? HAVE YOUR SAY: What are your thoughts on the Ottawa Senators for the 2024-25 season? Author of the article: • Postmedia Article content The Ottawa Senators haven't been in a playoff game since 2017. Advertisement 2 Article content HAVE YOUR SAY: What are your thoughts on the Ottawa Senators for the 2024-25 season? Back to video Eight seasons. Let that sink in. It's a long stretch of frustration and disappointment for the team and its fan base. Will it be different in the 2024-25 season, which begins next month? The Senators made plenty of off-season moves, including the hiring of new head coach Travis Green and the additions of goaltender Linus Ullmark, defenceman Nick Jensen and forwards Nick Cousins, Michael Amadio, David Perron and Noah Gregor. Subtracted were goalie Joonas Korpisalo, defencemen Jakob Chychrun and Erik Brannstrom, and forwards Dominik Kubalik, Rourke Chartier, Parker Kelly and Boris Katchouk. Will the moves be enough to help this team rise up the standings? The Senators open training camp Wednesday. The team will have seven pre-season games to judge exactly what they have and don't have. We want to hear from the Senators fan base. Let us know what you thought of the team's off-season moves, plus the expectations you have once the NHL regular season begins for Ottawa on Oct. 10 with a home game against the Florida Panthers, the defending Stanley Cup champions. Nothing like getting thrown right into the fire. Here are 20 questions (the poll closes Sept. 22). Advertisement 3 Article content Advertisement 4 Article content Advertisement 5 Article content Advertisement 6 Article content Advertisement 7 Article content Advertisement 8 Article content Advertisement 9 Article content Advertisement 10 Article content Advertisement 11 Article content Advertisement 12 Article content Advertisement 13 Article content Advertisement 14 Article content Advertisement 15 Article content Advertisement 16 Article content Advertisement 17 Article content Advertisement 18 Article content Advertisement 19 Article content Advertisement 20 Article content Advertisement 21 Article content Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : HAVE YOUR SAY: What are your thoughts on the Ottawa Senators for the 2024-25 season? Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Latest National Stories News Near Elliot Lake Featured Local Savings