Courtesy Toronto Star:

The Canadian Football League is taking a serious look into the Montreal Alouettes’ protest over their 19-12 weekend loss to the B.C. Lions, the league said yesterday.

The Alouettes are angry that a touchdown scored by running back Avon Cobourne, which would have cut the B.C. lead to one point late in the fourth quarter with the point-after still to come, was negated.

The Lions took the lead with 2:30 left. Montreal then took the ball and marched to the B.C. eight-yard line.

Facing a third-and-one, Montreal gambled. It was close whether the Als had gained the first down, but the officials said B.C. had called a timeout before the play started.

On the next play, Cobourne ran around the left side for an apparent touchdown, but there was a flag on the field. The officials said a whistle had been blown on the field after the stadium supervisor paged officials to stop the play in order to check the game clock to make sure the proper amount of time remained.

The clock was not changed and Montreal went to the line for a third time. This time, Cobourne was stopped short and the ball was turned over to B.C. on downs. The Lions were then able to run out the clock for the win.

For the protest to be upheld there must be evidence a game official intentionally misinterpreted or misapplied a playing rule. If upheld, the game can be awarded to either club or the league could order the game to be replayed in whole or in part.

WHERE’S SEYMOUR? Richard Seymour failed to report to Oakland for a second straight day yesterday after being traded from the New England Patriots.

Raiders coach Tom Cable declined to discuss reports the two sides were in talks on a new contract.

SHAKEUP CONTINUES: Starting left tackle Langston Walker was released by the Buffalo Bills yesterday in another effort to shake up a sputtering offence. The move was announced by the team during the players’ day off. The Bills return to practice today to prepare for their season opener at New England on Monday.

FREE TO PLAY: Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams will be able to play in the season opener at Cleveland this weekend, regardless of what happens with their court case against the NFL. The Williamses, who are not related, are challenging four-game suspensions handed down by the league for violating the league’s drug policy last summer.

WILL HE OR WON’T HE? Houston quarterback Matt Schaub returned to practice yesterday, though it’s not clear whether he will start against the Jets in Sunday’s opener. Schaub took half the snaps in practice, his first significant work since the Aug. 31 injury.

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