Tagebücher unser Lieblinge » Maybin admits hes got much to learn about

OAKVILLE, Ont. - Its a new game with a new team in a new city, but its just football for linebacker Aaron Maybin. The former NFL first-round draft pick participated in his first workout with the Toronto Argonauts on Monday, a day after joining the CFL clubs practice roster. Maybin admits hes got much to learn about the Canadian game but isnt the least bit worried or intimidated about lining up a yard off the ball, playing three downs or having more ground on a longer, wider field. "The way I see it Im a football player, I adjust to whatever style I need to adjust to," he said. "It (Canadian field) is bigger than Im used to but theres nothing intimidating about it, nothing too different. "Football is football. Youve just got to adjust and understand its a part of the game. That (a yard off ball) is a difference but as I said athletes adjust so it shouldnt be a problem." While Maybin is short on CFL experience hes not lacking in confidence. "Talent," he said when asked whats the top attribute he brings to Toronto. "Im not really a guy that harps on his own abilities too much. "I feel like there are things I can bring to this team and obviously the coaches feel that way too. Im just coming in, working hard, trying to do my best to help the guys on this team that have been working all year to get to the places they want to be really bad and thats a championship." The 25-year-old Maybin wore No. 56 on Monday — former Giants star Lawrence Taylor was a favourite player when Maybin was growing up — and hell be given every opportunity to learn quickly. The defending Grey Cup-champion Argos (11-6) have clinched first place in the East Division and home-field advantage for the conference final Nov. 17. So Toronto could give Maybin an extensive audition Friday when it hosts Montreal in the regular-season finale for both teams. The Alouettes (7-10) will finish third in the division and face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (9-8) in the conference semifinal Nov. 10 in Guelph, Ont. Maybin is back playing football after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals in August. That certainly raises questions about his overall fitness and how quickly he can round into game shape, but Maybin downplayed those suggestions. "Its a consideration, not really a concern," he said. "Just making sure I dont try to do too much too quick and end up injuring myself trying to get to where I want to be and understand Im not there yet and I still have some work to do." Buffalo had high expectations for Maybin when it took him 11th overall in the 2009 NFL draft after he led the Big 10 with 12 sacks in 10 starts at Penn State. The Bills signed Maybin to a five-year deal that reportedly included a US$7.087 signing bonus and $15 million in guaranteed money. The six-foot-four Maybin entered the NFL listed at 250 pounds but reported to the Bills in 11 weighing just 228 pounds. Maybins lack of size certainly didnt help as he failed to record a sack or crack Buffalos starting lineup over two seasons (27 career games) before being released. Maybin joined the New York Jets in August 2011 but was let go in November 2012. He signed with Cincinnati on Jan. 25 before being released Aug. 18 having recorded 36 tackles, six sacks and five forced fumbles over his NFL career. The Argos will give Maybin every opportunity to rush the quarterback coming off the edge, and with good reason. Torontos defence has just 38 sacks this season, second-lowest in the CFL. Maybin still looked very long and lean Monday as he practised with the Argos at an Oakville high school. But he did show he has the speed and quick feet needed to play defence in the Canadian game. "He can rush the passer, thats his history," Argos head coach Scott Milanovich said. "Tall, kind of lanky, great first step, good with his hands. "This was our first day and I didnt get a chance to just concentrate on him but he looked like he was doing a nice job down there in one-on-ones. Were just seeing what he can bring to us as far as getting after the quarterback." Maybins arrival in Toronto will prompt suggestions hes using the Argos as a springboard back to the NFL. However, Maybin downplayed that suggestion. "Im just focused on this opportunity and this chance," he said. "Im not really focused on anything to do with the NFL." NOTES — Milanovich re-iterated Monday starter Ricky Ray wont dress Friday night. Backup Zach Collaros will start against Montreal with Trevor Harris and Mitchell Gale also playing. Milanovich said rookie kicker-punter Quinn Sharp, who practised for the first time Monday, could play against the Alouettes. "We feel like the most beneficial thing for our team is to have Ricky Ray lining up under centre Nov. 17," Milanovich said. "I think its our responsibility to make sure that happens." Cheap Asics Running Shoes China Wholesale . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. Asics Wholesale China . Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks. http://www.wholesaleasics.com/. This game was inside. Adrian Peterson was missing. The stage was set for another step toward the playoffs. Cheap Asics Shoes Free Shipping .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. Asics Shoes Clearance . -- Olympic medallist Jennifer Abel of Laval, Que.ORLANDO, Fla. - As further proof the NFL never is far from the headlines, owners could make plenty of news this week at their spring meetings. They will consider 13 playing rules proposals and seven bylaws. They will discuss expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams, although a vote on such a move is uncertain. Some changes would seem to be slam dunks: extending the height of the goal posts 5 feet to help determine if kicks are good; eliminating overtime in preseason games; placing fixed TV cameras on the goal lines, end lines and sidelines to help with replay reviews. Others seem almost sidebars to the real action, such as from where to enforce defensive penalties when they occur behind the line of scrimmage, or extending pass interference calls to within a yard of the line. Perhaps the juiciest suggestions came from the Patriots. They want to move the line of scrimmage to the 25 for extra points, and to allow coaches to challenge any calls except on scoring plays, which are automatically reviewed. Passing those proposals would make for a major change in how NFL games are played. "We discussed a lot of different scenarios that have been raised," Rams coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman of the influential competition committee, said of longer extra-point kicks. "I will point out ... last year we had five tries missed (out of 1,267). I think four were blocked, one was missed. Its still a competitive play. "We are going to propose ... to the membership during one of the preseason weeks that we move the extra point back to the 20-yard line and see how that goes. Its on our radar." New Englands idea on coaches challenges in some ways echoes college football, in which every play can be reviewed. Falcons President Rich McKay, the other co-chairman of the competition committee, said reviews or challenges on defensive pass interference calls have been considered before. "Weve always shied away, as a committee, from penalties and the review of penalties for thee most basic reason," McKay said.dddddddddddd "We didnt want to put the referee in the position of using his subjective judgment on a play in place of the on-field official. We always thought the intent of replay, when it was put back in in 1998, was to deal with plays where there was an objective standard." Washington has proposed making personal foul penalties reviewable. How replay reviews are conducted overall will be discussed after the committee has proposed allowing the referee to consult with members of the NFL officiating department. The process wont change, but the command centre in New York headed by director of officiating Dean Blandino will already be reviewing the play when the referee gets to the replay monitor. "At the end of the day, whats going to happen is were going to make sure that every single review is correct and we feel like this will speed up the instant replay process and timing," Fisher said. The Redskins want kickoffs moved to the 40 yard-line for "safety and historic consistency," although doing so might totally eliminate returns. But some coaches hint it could lead to more pooch kicks, which wouldnt make the kickoff any safer. Another suggestion is to eliminate stopping the clock on a sack. That no longer is done in the final two minutes of each half, and if passed it will be totally eliminated. The Redskins also proposed raising the number of active players on game day from 46 to 49 for games on any day but Sunday or Monday — not including opening weekend. Washington seeks an increase in the practice squad limit from eight to 10 players; allowing trades after the Super Bowl until when the league year begins in March; eliminating the first preseason roster cut to 75 and having just one cut to 53 at the end of the preseason; and allowing more than one player to return from injured reserve during the season after six weeks on the list. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '