Defensive Player of the Year, telling reporters that it was "because yal

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Jim Barker had huge expectations when he acquired veteran quarterback Ricky Ray in a blockbuster trade with the Edmonton Eskimos in December 2011. The Toronto Argonauts GM envisioned Rays calm approach and on-field poise helping secure the franchise its first Grey Cup since 2004. After a slow start with his new team, Ray did just that on the grandest of stages, leading the Double Blue to a 35-22 win over the Calgary Stampeders in the historic 100th Grey Cup before 53,208 spectators at Rogers Centre. On Friday, Barker rewarded Ray with a contract extension that keeps him in Toronto through the 2015 season. "A year ago December to a packed room at the CN Tower we introduced Ricky Ray as a man who was going to come and restore success and dignity and excitement to the Toronto Argonauts franchise and ultimately deliver a Grey Cup," Barker said during a news conference Friday. "He has delivered on all that. "Our organization, our ownership, have made a commitment to Ricky and hes made a commitment to us and we are excited about the future of this organization." And although hes coming off a Grey Cup championship and has a new deal, Ray wont be resting on his laurels as he enters his 11th CFL season. "In football nothing is guaranteed, contracts arent guaranteed," Ray said. "You still have to go out and perform at a high level. "Thats what they expect and thats what you expect of yourself. I dont think now I can relax a little bit, youve got to go out there and perform every week." But the move to Toronto was a difficult one for Ray, who spent his first nine CFL seasons in Edmonton and was a fan favourite there after leading the Eskimos to two Grey Cup titles. Not only was the 33-year-old native of Happy Camp, Calif., joining a new franchise but one with a rookie head coach in Scott Milanovich. The six-foot-three, 210-pound Ray struggled initially as he became acclimated with Milanovichs offence but still showed a deft passing touch. His 68.6 per-cent passing completion not only topped all league starters but was an Argos single-season record as Ray surpassed the 4,000-yard passing plateau for the seventh time in his CFL career. However, Ray saved his best for last. After returning from a knee injury Oct. 19, Ray surpassed the 300-yard passing plateau in three of his final five starts, including a 399-yard performance in Torontos 27-20 road win over Montreal in the East Division final. Toronto fell behind in both of its first two playoff games. Each time, the Argos were buoyed by the even-keel, no-panic approach of their quarterback who rallied them from 10-0 deficits to post-season victories. Ray was a workmanlike 18 of 30 passing for 231 yards and two TDs in the Grey Cup as Argos running back Chad Kackert took centre stage. Kackert ran for 113 yards on 20 carries and added eight catches for 52 yards to claim MVP honours. Still, Ray finished the playoffs completing 69 of 97 passes for 869 yards and five TDs with just one interception. He enters the 2013 campaign sixth on the CFLs all-time passing list with 44,588 yards but with a much better understanding and appreciation of Milanovich, on and off the field. "Hes an easy guy to work for," Ray said. "Hes very demanding, he expects a lot out of you but he keeps it to where you have a great opportunity to go out and perform week in and week out. "Its not like youre just talking to a coach. You can talk to him about other stuff thats not football so when you do have a little bit of down time youre joking with him and he keeps you relaxed and confident out there." Having a year in Milanovichs offence under his belt will certainly be a major benefit for Ray once training camp opens Sunday. "Last year I was learning from scratch just trying to figure out what I was doing out there," he said. "Now I have a lot of game experience to go off of and things we worked on throughout the year Ill be able to carry over. "Any changes or tweaks we need to make I can make those and not have to worry about where guys are lining up or what Im supposed to do. I can be more comfortable with those situations."Wholesale Air Jordan Online . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Clearance Air Jordan Black Friday .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. http://www.cheapairjordanwholesale.com/7t7-cheap-air-jordan-1-black-friday-2019.html . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Air Jordan Black Friday 2019 .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Deals Air Jordan Free Shipping . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury.MIAMI -- Indiana Pacers centre Roy Hibbert was fined $75,000 on Sunday by the NBA for using a gay slur and cursing during his news conference after Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. Hibbert also apologized for the comments. "While Roy has issued an apology, which is no doubt sincere, a fine is necessary to reinforce that such offensive comments will not be tolerated by the NBA," Commissioner David Stern said in a statement. Earlier Sunday, the team issued a statement from Hibbert in which he said he was sorry for his "insensitive remarks." "They were disrespectful and offensive and not a reflection of my personal views," he said in the statement. "I used a slang term that is not appropriate in any setting, private or public, and the language I used definitely has no place in a public forum, especially over live television." After Saturday nights win, Hibbert ended a response to a question about his defence on Miamis LeBron James with "no homo," a phrase that implies fear of appearing gay. He also called reporters an offensive term. Before departing for Miami, where Game 7 will be played Monday night, Pacers coach Frank Vogel told reporters he had already spoken with Hibbert and described the 2012 All-Star centre as "contrite." Players were not available Sunday. With the series tied at three games apiece and a trip to the NBA Finals at stake Monday, distractions are the last thing this young Pacers squad needs as it tries to prevent the Heat from making what many expected to be a stroll into their third straight NBA Finals. The Pacers have appeared in the finals only once, in 2000, when they lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers. So Vogel did what he couuld to calm down the brewing controversy while still backing the big man who has given Indiana this chance by routinely beating up the defending NBA champions inside.dddddddddddd "Its simple. I support him. I know hes not that person and that it was a mistake," Vogel said. "He knows hes wrong. I didnt have to tell him that and we all love and support him." Hibbert said Saturday night that he didnt care if he got fined. In his statement Sunday, he said, "I sincerely have deep regret over my choice of words last night." Hibbert had drawn a key charge on James in Indianas 91-77 victory that evened the series and lamented not providing enough help defensively to teammate Paul George on James in Game 3. Hibbert was later asked why he finished so low in voting for Defensive Player of the Year, telling reporters that it was "because yall (expletives) dont watch us play throughout the year, to tell you the truth." There was some irony in that Hibbert was sharing the dais with George when he said those words. George was the NBAs Most Improved Player this season, as selected earlier this spring by a voting panel of writers and broadcasters who cover the league. The 7-foot-2 Hibberts star turn has been a major reason Indiana has pushed the defending champion Heat to a Game 7. He has averaged 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in the series, up from 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in the regular season. But now, suddenly, the Pacers big man who has been the talk of the series has become the centre of attention for a different reason. "Obviously, he made a great mistake. He feels horribly about it," Vogel said. "I told him, basically, that weve got to move on from it." ' ' '