A deal to sell the Toronto Argonauts to David Braley needs only Canadian Football League approval to be finalized, according to TSN.ca.

David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski, who been seeking to end their connection with the club, have reportedly been in negotiation with the B.C. Lions owner for weeks.

According to TSN.ca, the Argos are also expected to shortly announce that Jim Barker will take over as head coach, replacing Bart Andrus, whose contract was terminated on Dec. 14.

Courtesy Chicago Tribune:

Being the son of Walter Payton can be a blessing and a curse.

Expectations always have been over the top for Jarrett Payton, who signed a contract June 6 with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Before heading into a team meeting recently, Jarrett reflected on what his father’s reaction might have been if he were alive this Father’s Day.

“I think he would be so proud of me,” Payton, 28, said. “He always taught me that you never give up and you go until you can’t go anymore. I had this opportunity and I just said: ‘You know what, I am going to try this one more time. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t. But I am going to give my all and leave everything out on the field.’ ”

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Courtesy Globe and Mail:

For all of the talk of character and chemistry and intangibles, there’s a dirty little secret that applies to all professional sports — and especially to professional football.

Talented players with side issues, bad/confused/damaged people who also happen to be good athletes, will be tolerated precisely until they’re more trouble than they’re worth.

When someone has marketable abilities, you can bet they will be given every opportunity to succeed, even if those abilities come with baggage, with a checkered past or present.

And when someone with clear, world-class skills completely falls through the cracks, when there’s no one interested any more, you can be pretty sure either that those skills have started to fade or more likely that the baggage has become just too heavy to bear.

In that light, consider the newest member of the Toronto Argonauts, David Boston.

The wide receiver is a former first-round draft choice who once led the NFL in receiving yards. He is 29, which might be slightly on the downside for someone playing his position, but certainly wouldn’t indicate in itself that he’s over the hill.

Boston also comes with a rather colourful history linking him to both performance-enhancing and recreational drugs and most recently to criminal charges arising from a domestic dispute (somehow, in their extensive background checks before signing him, the Argos missed that last part).

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Courtesy TSN.ca:

The Toronto Argonauts and newly acquired quarterback Kerry Joseph agreed to a contract extension through the 2009 season Wednesday.

Financial details weren’t available

Joseph was scheduled to make $250,000 this year but was looking to be paid on par with other CFL starters, many of whom make between $300,000 and $350,000.

”This has been one of my better experiences negotiating a contract,” Argos’ vice president and general manager Adam Rita said. ”Kerry wanted to be here and we wanted him here. We plan on having him be a part of the Argos for awhile. This cements the best 1-2 combination at the quarterback position in the league.”

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Courtesy Toronto Star:

The Argonauts have tried their hand at a number of reclamation projects over the past several seasons. There was Robert Baker, R.Jay Soward, Bernard Williams, Hakim Hill, Andre Rison and, most recently, Ricky Williams.

Head coach Rich Stubler, however, doesn’t think the club’s latest signing, former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver David Boston, belongs in that category.

“I don’t think he’s a reclamation project,” Stubler said. “I don’t think it’s as bad as it’s put out to be.”

Like the others, Boston, 29, comes to the Argos with baggage.

As recently as last August, Boston, who was a first-round NFL draft pick in 1999 when the Arizona Cardinals made him the eighth overall choice, was arrested when Pinellas Park, Fla., police found him slumped over the wheel of his SUV, which was stopped with the engine running and still in drive.

He was initially charged with DUI. Tests showed he had no alcohol in his system, but revealed a high level of GHB, a drug prescribed for sleep disorders. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving and placed on probation.

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Courtesy TSN.ca:

The Toronto Argonauts added some size to their receiving corps, adding former Pro Bowler and NFL receiving yards leader David Boston.

“We are extremely excited about signing David. We have been looking for a big, physical receiver and he certainly fulfills that role. He has the size and speed to be a dominant player in our league as the wider field should fit well with his natural abilities,” head coach Rich Stubler said in a statement. “Combined with returning receivers Arland Bruce III, Obed Cétoute, Patrick Johnson, Andre Talbot and Chad Rempel, David adds another powerful weapon to our receiving corps.”

Boston, who was named to the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL in receiving in 2001, hasn’t caught a pass in the NFL since 2005.

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Courtesy Toronto Star:

Damon Allen is ready to be the Argonauts’ version of Rocky Balboa.

The veteran quarterback doesn’t appear ready to sign his retirement papers.

As he approaches his 45th birthday, Allen said he’s working feverishly to be in shape for training camp where he would compete with newly-acquired Kerry Joseph and last year’s starter, Michael Bishop, as well as youngsters Cody Pickett and Reggie McNeal.

“I’m under contract to the Argos, I’ve been training … I’m always excited about the football season,” said Allen yesterday during a press conference to announce his third annual Quarterback Challenge. “It’s always been in my blood, part of my DNA and who I am.”

The Quarterback Challenge, to be held May 24 at Hamilton’s Ivor Wynne Stadium, will bring together 11 CFL pivots who will compete in a series of events to showcase their foot work, throwing accuracy, arm strength and running ability.

Proceeds will go to a number of children’s charities. Challenge tickets can be obtained online at quarterbackchallenge.ca

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Courtesy Toronto Star:

Adriano Belli will undoubtedly be a huge idol to the sick children he’ll bring some joy to through his Big Kiss Foundation.

As a singer, however, he doesn’t have much chance of becoming the next Canadian Idol.

The Argonauts defensive end went through an audition yesterday for the popular TV show.

With a bevy of Argos cheerleaders, Belli stood before judges Zack Werner, Sass Jordan and Jake Gold in a snug-fitting tuxedo and attempted his rendition of Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon.

How did he fare?

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Courtesy Toronto Star:

About the only attribute Adriano Belli shares with Frank Sinatra is his Italian ancestry.

But the Argonauts’ gregarious defensive tackle will attempt to mimic Ol’ Blue Eyes when he auditions to be the next Canadian Idol at an undisclosed location this week.

“Yeh, I guess I’ll do something like that,” he said laughing.

“I’m not going to promise I’m going to be good. I sing for the guys in the locker room and I sing in the shower, but I’m not a good singer. I suck.

“I was in the school choir, but I got kicked out after a week for fooling around.”

Belli was originally hired to be a reporter for CTV’s eTalk program interviewing some of the 2,000 Canadian Idol hopefuls at this past weekend’s preliminary auditions at Yonge-Dundas Square.

“They wanted me to talk to them and compare auditioning for Canadian Idol with going to training camp where you’re trying out for a team,” Belli explained.

“But as the day went on it turned into, `Hey, why don’t we let Adriano try out.’

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Courtesy The Toronto Star:

The Argonauts have set the stage for what is expected to be stiff competition for the starting jobs at two positions when training camp for the 2008 CFL season opens in less than seven weeks.

The Boatmen yesterday set adrift backup quarterback Rocky Butler and recently acquired running back Anthony Davis.

The release of Butler – who joined the team last year when Michael Bishop broke his arm and then started two games after Damon Allen was also injured – reduces to five the number of quarterbacks currently on the roster.

Kerry Joseph, who last month was acquired from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Bishop, the incumbent No.1, will battle for the starting job, with rookies Cody Pickett and Reggie McNeal fighting it out for the No.3 spot.

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