Courtesy Vancouver Province:

There will be positions other than starting quarterback for the Lions to be debated when training camp begins in earnest Sunday in Abbotsford.

For the short-term at least, the CFL team will have an opening at left tackle. As expected, two-time top offensive lineman Rob Murphy will remain alongside his wife, Amy, at the couple’s home outside Jacksonville, Fla., as they await the birth of triplets, which are due in roughly two weeks.

Exactly how long he will be out is unclear, and as a result Murphy will officially be placed on the team’s suspended list.

Conventional logic would put Murphy’s arrival no earlier than the conclusion of the final two-a-day workout session. And what the Lions will be getting whenever he does arrive is a new look about Murphy, who has dropped 20 pounds and plans to play his third CFL season at the reduced weight.

“It took me two years to realize I don’t need to carry that NFL weight any more,” said Murphy, who’ll report at 290 pounds. “I’m plenty strong enough.”

The deletion of Murphy off the camp roster is one of a small handful of moves that will be made before the conclusion of the club’s three-day rookie camp to keep the Lions at the mandated 75-man limit.

Veteran Bret Anderson will return to the club at the conclusion of camp. Also agreeing to be placed on the retirement list prior to camp is second-year non-import offensive lineman Jon Hameister-Reis, who tore up his knee playing basketball in the winter and won’t be available at least until August.

Ticket sales up

Even though the most tangible effects of the announced improvements at B.C. Place Stadium won’t be felt for at least two more seasons, Lions staffers report a sizable spike in season-ticket sales.

Read More….