Latest news with #Als'
Ottawa Citizen
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Staying on the field is top priority for Alouettes receiver Austin Mack
Article content It would be premature to suggest Alouettes receiver Austin Mack was a one-season phenom, but he has been unable to duplicate his outstanding 2023 accomplishments since then. Article content The good news is there's plenty of football left this season. Now all Mack has to do is remain healthy after recurring injury issues. Article content 'It's part of the game,' Mack said this week after a practice at Stade Hébert. 'It's not always about talent. It's always about availability and being on the field. That's the biggest thing about being a pro — being able to manage through those and stay available for the team. Article content Article content 'As good of a player as I may be, if I'm on the sidelines, it's of no help to the team. It's making sure I do the little things, take care of the body and maximize the rest of the season on the field.' Article content Article content Mack, 27, was expected to return Thursday, when the Als met the defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts at Molson Stadium (7:30 p.m., TSN1, TSN4, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM). The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and has struggled to remain healthy the last two seasons. Article content Mack, a former Ohio State Buckeye, arrived in Montreal in 2023 after NFL stints with the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers. Signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2020, he played 11 games as a rookie, catching nine passes for 91 yards. He was released the following season after being placed on injured reserve. Article content Article content Mack was one of the Als' most exciting players during their 2023 championship run. He had a team-leading 78 catches for 1,154 yards while scoring four touchdowns and was named a CFL all-star. He would have been a candidate for the league's outstanding rookie award, but his NFL stint made him ineligible. Article content The NFL's Atlanta Falcons took notice and he was signed as a free agent in 2024. Mack received a reported US$24,000 signing bonus, but was released after the Falcons' opening exhibition game. Still under contract to the Als, he returned to the team on Aug. 19 and played six days later against Edmonton. Article content Mack caught three passes for 32 yards in the Als' 21-17 victory, but was never able to find a groove with quarterbacks Cody Fajardo or Davis Alexander. It also likely didn't help Mack's cause that he was frequently deployed from the wider field side and not the boundary.
Montreal Gazette
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Staying on the field is top priority for Alouettes receiver Austin Mack
Montreal Alouettes By It would be premature to suggest Alouettes receiver Austin Mack was a one-season phenom, but he has been unable to duplicate his outstanding 2023 accomplishments since then. The good news is there's plenty of football left this season. Now all Mack has to do is remain healthy after recurring injury issues. 'It's part of the game,' Mack said this week after a practice at Stade Hébert. 'It's not always about talent. It's always about availability and being on the field. That's the biggest thing about being a pro — being able to manage through those and stay available for the team. 'As good of a player as I may be, if I'm on the sidelines, it's of no help to the team. It's making sure I do the little things, take care of the body and maximize the rest of the season on the field.' Mack, 27, was expected to return Thursday, when the Als met the defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts at Molson Stadium (7:30 p.m., TSN1, TSN4, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM). The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and has struggled to remain healthy the last two seasons. Mack, a former Ohio State Buckeye, arrived in Montreal in 2023 after NFL stints with the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers. Signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2020, he played 11 games as a rookie, catching nine passes for 91 yards. He was released the following season after being placed on injured reserve. Mack was one of the Als' most exciting players during their 2023 championship run. He had a team-leading 78 catches for 1,154 yards while scoring four touchdowns and was named a CFL all-star. He would have been a candidate for the league's outstanding rookie award, but his NFL stint made him ineligible. The NFL's Atlanta Falcons took notice and he was signed as a free agent in 2024. Mack received a reported US$24,000 signing bonus, but was released after the Falcons' opening exhibition game. Still under contract to the Als, he returned to the team on Aug. 19 and played six days later against Edmonton. Mack caught three passes for 32 yards in the Als' 21-17 victory, but was never able to find a groove with quarterbacks Cody Fajardo or Davis Alexander. It also likely didn't help Mack's cause that he was frequently deployed from the wider field side and not the boundary. He said the timing of his return, after the team had been established, was onerous. Nonetheless, realizing his potential, general manager Danny Maciocia signed Mack to a four-year contract extension. Mack also missed four games with an ankle injury, sustained during a practice, and was a healthy scratch when the Als travelled to B.C. on a short week. In three games, Mack caught 10 passes for 145 yards. While he was held to three receptions for 32 yards in Montreal's East Division final loss to the Argos, his 15-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter provided the team with a spark, pulling the Als to within 27-22. But Toronto held on for a 30-28 victory. 'That's absolutely the goal. I'm looking forward to staying healthy and being on the field,' he said. 'We play a contact sport. Unfortunately, there's a lot of nicks and bangs during the season. You don't feel as good as you do at the start of the year. Regardless, you've got to manage and make sure the body's good and you're available for the team.' Heading into Thursday's game, Mack has caught 12 passes for 185 yards. But that included an impressive performance against Ottawa on June 13, when he caught five passes for 103 yards in the Als' 39-18 win. There's no doubt the talent remains. 'There's a lot of ball left,' he said. 'I'm not worried. We've got a lot of games left. I'm excited to build with this team. We're phenomenal. We're dominant. In 2023, we didn't have five (receivers) everybody had confidence in that could go for 100 yards. It's definitely a different offence, where any one of us could go for 100 yards (in a game) and for 1,000 yards (over a season). 'All I care about is winning. If I'm getting the ball or not, helping our team to be the best that we can and be a good leader for our room. The biggest thing for me is staying on top of things and not getting any more setbacks. I'm ready to build some momentum and finish off this year strong.'
Ottawa Citizen
13-06-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Alouettes are on solid footing, new CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston says
We know Alouettes owner Pierre Karl Péladeau has deep pockets and is worth an estimated US$2.2 billion, according to Forbes. Article content What hasn't been clearly defined, however, was Péladeau's motivation when he purchased the Als from the CFL in 2023. While he said at the time he's been a lifelong Als fan — and as recently as last week said the transaction was the most important of his business career — there could be other factors at work. Article content Article content Péladeau, who has declined several interview requests by The Gazette, could be seeking an NHL franchise for his Centre Vidéotron, which is home to the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts. More than likely, as president and CEO of Quebecor, he'll be after a piece of the CFL's broadcast agreement, held by TSN and RDS, when it expires after the 2026 season, so he can televise Als' games on TVA Sports. Article content Article content Nonetheless, new CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston believes Péladeau's intentions are honourable and said the Als' foundation is solid despite the recent resignation of president Mark Weightman. Article content 'Ever since Pierre Karl Péladeau came into the league, he has infused this team with incredible energy and great momentum,' Johnston said recently. 'Last season saw the highest attendance in 10 years. (RDS) ratings are up significantly in this market. We have outstanding momentum in Montreal. Having Pierre Karl as one of those nine owners has been a real blessing and benefit to the overall group.' Article content Article content Johnston, 54, was named the league's 15th commissioner on April 2 and assumed the role three weeks later. The former TSN president and senior vice-president of Bell Media replaced the retiring Randy Ambrosie, a former CFL offensive lineman who had been head of the league since July 2017. Article content Johnston, who was born in Toronto and raised in Ottawa, is in the midst of what he calls a '100-day listening tour,' meeting owners, club staff and fans throughout the league. He was in Ottawa Friday for the Als' game against the Redblacks (7:30 p.m., TSN1, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM). Article content Johnston said he hasn't specifically asked Péladeau, 63, whether he intends to own the Als indefinitely. And while Montreal's average regular-season attendance in 2024 was 21,302 — the team reportedly sold out four of nine home games at 23,035-seat Molson Stadium — that was still below the league's average of 22,764.
Ottawa Citizen
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Davis Alexander era off to a good start for Alouettes
Now that Davis Alexander has reached a certain status level as the Alouettes' starting quarterback, he might want to eschew having to play exhibition games next season. Article content Alexander in general, and the Als' offence in particular, struggled mightily in the first half against Ottawa on May 24 in the teams' first exhibition game. Montreal failed to score a touchdown over the opening 30 minutes and even had trouble generating first downs that afternoon. Based on two weeks' of training camp workouts to that point, there was a modicum of reason to wonder — especially since Alexander and the starters didn't play the following week on the road against the Redblacks. Article content Wonder no more. Article content Article content While one game does not a season make, the early reviews on Alexander are positive. Despite starting only four games last season — all wins — the 26-year-old fourth-year veteran showed the moment wasn't too big for him on Friday night. Article content Alexander and his teammates delivered a beat-down on the Toronto Argonauts, handling the visitors with ease during this complete 28-10 victory at Molson Stadium in their regular-season opener before 21,480 Molson Stadium spectators. Article content The Argos might be the defending Grey Cup champions, but on this night they looked like chumps. Article content 'His mental toughness,' said receiver Tyson Philpot, who scored Montreal's first offensive touchdown on a 26-yard pass from Alexander late in the first quarter. 'He raises the level of competition. He demands excellence from all of us. As a receiving corps we know we have to show up for him. Article content Article content 'I think that's the start of the D.A. era right now.' Article content Article content Simply based on statistics, there was nothing spectacular about Alexander. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 205 yards along with the touchdown to Philpot, who suffered a freak season-ending foot injury last August against Hamilton. Alexander also was intercepted once in the third quarter, while underthrowing Philpot on a long attempt that was as good as a punt. Article content In the process, Alexander showed a quarterback need not throw for 300 yards to be effective. He was accurate with his passes and was able to find receivers while moving the pocket. Austin Mack was Montreal's leading receiver, catching five passes for 51 yards. Philpot had four receptions for 48 yards. Article content Alexander utilized seven different receivers. Article content 'I'm not going to say the pre-season doesn't mean anything to me,' Alexander said. 'You know I go out there and compete every single time. Maybe it was knocking a littler bit of rust off? Or just a different type of competitive juice. We've got playmakers everywhere. We had guys making crucial second-down conversions, and our run game was spectacular.
Montreal Gazette
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Davis Alexander era off to a good start for Alouettes
By Now that Davis Alexander has reached a certain status level as the Alouettes' starting quarterback, he might want to eschew having to play exhibition games next season. Alexander in general, and the Als' offence in particular, struggled mightily in the first half against Ottawa on May 24 in the teams' first exhibition game. Montreal failed to score a touchdown over the opening 30 minutes and even had trouble generating first downs that afternoon. Based on two weeks' of training camp workouts to that point, there was a modicum of reason to wonder — especially since Alexander and the starters didn't play the following week on the road against the Redblacks. Wonder no more. While one game does not a season make, the early reviews on Alexander are positive. Despite starting only four games last season — all wins — the 26-year-old fourth-year veteran showed the moment wasn't too big for him on Friday night. Alexander and his teammates delivered a beat-down on the Toronto Argonauts, handling the visitors with ease during this complete 28-10 victory at Molson Stadium in their regular-season opener before 21,480 Molson Stadium spectators. The Argos might be the defending Grey Cup champions, but on this night they looked like chumps. 'His mental toughness,' said receiver Tyson Philpot, who scored Montreal's first offensive touchdown on a 26-yard pass from Alexander late in the first quarter. 'He raises the level of competition. He demands excellence from all of us. As a receiving corps we know we have to show up for him. 'I think that's the start of the D.A. era right now.' Simply based on statistics, there was nothing spectacular about Alexander. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 205 yards along with the touchdown to Philpot, who suffered a freak season-ending foot injury last August against Hamilton. Alexander also was intercepted once in the third quarter, while underthrowing Philpot on a long attempt that was as good as a punt. In the process, Alexander showed a quarterback need not throw for 300 yards to be effective. He was accurate with his passes and was able to find receivers while moving the pocket. Austin Mack was Montreal's leading receiver, catching five passes for 51 yards. Philpot had four receptions for 48 yards. Alexander utilized seven different receivers. 'I'm not going to say the pre-season doesn't mean anything to me,' Alexander said. 'You know I go out there and compete every single time. Maybe it was knocking a littler bit of rust off? Or just a different type of competitive juice. We've got playmakers everywhere. We had guys making crucial second-down conversions, and our run game was spectacular. 'I refer to it as cowboy football,' he added. 'If things break down it's on me as a quarterback to make something happen.' This might have been the Alouettes' most-balanced offensive attack since Jason Maas became head coach in 2023. Canadian tailback Sean Thomas-Erlington gained 86 yards on 17 carries. Alexander had four carries for 50 yards, while American rookie Travis Theis chipped in with three carries for 22 yards. The Als had 163 yards rushing. Montreal generated 22 first downs along with 354 yards' net offence while running 55 plays and controlling the ball for 34 minutes. 'He (Alexander) showed me a little bit of everything,' Maas said. 'He did some really good things throwing the ball down the field, did a lot of great things with his legs. Some toughness and leading us on offence. I thought he did a tremendous job of making really good decisions and didn't put the ball in harm's way. 'We still have to look at the film and get better; I know that.' The teams were meeting for the first time since last November's East Division final, when the Alouettes committed six turnovers and lost 30-28 at home, denying themselves the opportunity of defending their CFL title. If Montreal was seeking revenge on Friday night, it succeeded. 'I'd be lying if I didn't say that a big part of that came from that sour taste we had in our mouth from that game,' said linebacker Tyrice Beverette, last season's division finalist as outstanding defensive player. 'We know we left something on the field. We know we were the better team that (day), but didn't come out to play. We wanted to show the world tonight who was the better team.' Toronto quarterback Nick Arbuckle might have been the Grey Cup's most valuable player last season, but Montreal's' defence made his life miserable. While Arbuckle passed for 273 yards and a touchdown, he also was intercepted twice — a trademark that has dogged him throughout his inconsistent career. Arbuckle also fumbled just before halftime when under duress from defensive-tackle Shawn Oakman. Rush-end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund recovered the ball, returning it 17 yards for a touchdown. Short-yardage quarterback Caleb Evans scored the Alouettes' other touchdown on a one-yard run in the third quarter after James Letcher Jr. returned the opening second-half kickoff 67 yards. Jose Maltos added two field goals and a single. Montreal's next three games are on the road beginning next Friday at Ottawa.
