Twelve years ago, it was Dan Crowley throwing passes to receivers Jimmy Oliver, Denis Montana, and Eddie Brown, and handing the ball off to Darren Davis. Thats a quarterback with just 253 passing attempts experience, and who would be out of the league in two years; three receivers with just one career 1,000-yard season combined; and a running back who after consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, failed to gain even 300 yards on the ground in either of his two years in Ottawa before leaving the league. Sorry for the painful trip down memory lane Ottawa football fans. Flash forward 12 years and it will be an awfully different scene, one with a lot more promise. Instead of a QB with just 1,696 passing yards at the time leading Ottawas new expansion team, theyll have a 14-year veteran in Henry Burris, a former Most Outstanding Player and Grey Cup champion, who has 51,526 career passing yards. 1,696 yards is a good weekend for the former Calgary Stampeder, Saskatchewan Roughrider, and Hamilton Tiger-Cat. The team has some promise in the receiving corps as well and an electrifying running back in Chevon Walker backed up by some solid CFL experience at fullback. The point is the Redblacks this season will look different than almost any expansion team before them, not just in the CFL or even football, but in all professional sports. Theyll look like a team that can compete. Its a nice change from the Renegades debut, whose problems ran far deeper than their game day roster week in and week out; having a team that can contend, or at least keep things close when the West Division heavy hitters come to town, is a boon to both the new ownership and CFL fans in Ottawa, who perhaps more than anyone deserve some good fortune on the gridiron. Using one part updated expansion draft rules that made more players available and one part a little good fortune in free agency, the Redblacks have built a deeper and more talented roster than your typical expansion team mish-mash. As mentioned earlier, Ottawa will be led by Burris, but theyll have some other veterans sprinkled into the roster to help the roster through their maiden voyage in the CFL. Guys like Walker at running back, receiver Paris Jackson, and offensive linemen John Gott, Joe Eppele, and JMichael Deane will help Burris run an effective offence that could easily be closer to the middle of the pack than the basement come seasons end. And on defence, former Most Outstanding Defensive Player Jovon Johnson should have enough gas left in the tank to lead the unit alongside veterans Keith Shologan, Anton McKenzie, TJ Hill, and Malik Jackson. This isnt to say the Redblacks are instant Grey Cup contenders, which in a nine-team league isnt entirely crazy. With the Winnipeg Blue Bombers heading West and the Argos, Ticats, and Alouettes all coming off at least decent regular seasons in 2013, the Redblacks will enter the year as favourites to finish in the East Division basement, but a 5-7 win season should keep the fans intrigued, and more importantly, excited about the future. Notes Expansion Draft - The Redblacks took their biggest step towards looking like a real team with the Expansion Draft in December. Highlights included picking two quarterbacks in Kevin Glenn and Thomas DeMarco, and other notable names such as Keith Shologan, Chevon Walker, Joe Eppele, and Eric Fraser. Glenn Saga - Kevin Glenn looked to be the Redblacks quarterback of the present until Henry Burris became available on the free market and Ottawa pounced. Not happy with the demotion, Glenn was eventually traded to the Lions where hell instead back up Travis Lulay on his fifth CFL team. Free Agency - Burris was the big coup in free agency but the team landed several other notable players including LB Malik Jackson from the Stampeders, defensive back Jovon Johnson from the Blue Bombers, and WR Kierrie Johnson from the Roughriders. CFL Draft - The Redblacks traded the first overall draft pick to the Stampeders for veteran offensive lineman John Gott, but got back into the first by trading Glenn to the Lions, and ended up with defensive back Antoine Pruneau. Other picks included WR Scott MacDonell in the second round, DL Nijel Romick in the third round, offensive linemen Aaron Wheaton in the fourth and Hugo Desmarais in the fifth, DL Stephon Miller in the sixth, and DL Vincent Desloges, LB Alexandre Bernard, and LS Kevin Malcolm in the seventh. Lansdowne Park - TD Place Stadium has been constructed where Frank Clair Stadium once stood and is expected to be fully ready for the teams Week 4 game against the Argonauts, the Redblacks home opener. Cheap Ray Ban China . The R&A announced Monday that golfs oldest championship will return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the first time since Max Faulkner won in 1951. Wholesale Ray Ban Sunglasses . Coetzees finish, with six birdies and no bogeys, took him to 19-under 268 overall and past South African compatriots Thomas Aiken and Justin Walters, the overnight co-leaders. Coetzee was flawless on the East Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club to clinch his maiden title after 24 top 10 finishes. http://www.cheapraybansale.com/. Harrison Barnes had 15 points and Reggie Bullock scored 11 for the Tar Heels (17-3, 4-1 ACC), who took the court for the first time without starter Dexter Strickland. The junior guard tore his right ACL last Thursday at Virginia Tech and will miss the rest of the season. Ray Ban Wholesale China . With a victory seemingly slipping away late in the third quarter, his quick scoring flurry helped Golden State regain control early in the fourth. Ray Ban Sunglasses Sale Cheap . -- Challenged for the first time under Major League Baseballs expanded replay system, umpires got it right.The Dallas Cowboys were led by three key players in 2014; Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant. Murray led the NFL with 1845 rushing yards this season, putting him in the NFLs most valuable player conversation. Romo threw 34 touchdowns to nine interceptions with an NFL-best 113.2 quarterback rating and is also in the MVP conversation. And Bryant led the NFL in touchdowns with 16 and led the Cowboys in receiving by more than 600 yards. The three will look to be at their best as the Cowboys travel to Lambeau Field in search of their first divisional round win since their 1995 Super Bowl season. Playing the Green Bay Packers at home is as intimidating a matchup as any for NFL teams this year. The Packers were a perfect 8-0 in Titletown this season and were never held to less than 26 points – scoring 38 points or more on five occasions. However, the Cowboys have fared better on the road this season than any other team. The Cowboys went a perfect 8-0 on the road in 2014 and were also never held to less than 26 points. In fact, Romo was significantly stronger games outside of Dallas than at AT&T Stadium. The 34-year-old quarterback threw 20 touchdowns to just two interceptions on the road this season. At home, he threw 14 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Romo had a two touchdown day as the Cowboys emerged from Seattle – considered by many to be the NFLs toughest road venue - with a win over the defending champion Seahawks in Week 6. If the Cowboys can keep the game close against the Packers. it wont be Romo who has the biggest chance to shine, however, but Murray. The Packers rank 10th against the pass this season and have returned three interceptions for touchdowns at home. Green Bays rush defence, though, ranked 23rd this season and surrendered just shy of 120 yards per game. Thats good news for Dallas as the Cowboys owned a 10-2 record in games where Murray crossed the 100-yard mark this season. The Packers allowed less than 100 yards rushing four times this season and, not surprisingly, they won all four games. Green Bay has also been an improved unit since their Week 9 bye week; after allowing 145 or more rushing in four of eight games to open the season, the Packers have allowed no more than 113 since. Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers made it no secret Murray would be a focal point for Green Bays defence this week. The Packers havent faced a rusher who eclipsed 1,000 yards this season since holding LeSean McCoy to 88 yards in week 11. This will be the best test weve had, Capers told ESPN on Monday. Though the Packers pass defence has also been relatively strong thhroughout the season – three 300-yard passing games allowed – the Cowboys offence will watch one game tape particularly closely.dddddddddddd On Monday night football in Week 14, the Packers jumped out to a 31-7 lead at halftime before the Atlanta Falcons, or more specifically Julio Jones, came racing back. Jones, matched up initially on Sam Shields, burned the Packers for 259 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches. Shields was eventually benched for Davon House, who had more success until he, like Jones, left the game with an injury. The Packers then hung on to edge the Falcons 43-37. House missed the Packers final three games with a shoulder injury and is questionable for Sundays game. Its unknown whether the Packers will give Shields the first chance at Bryant in the divisional round, but the Packers will need to contain Bryant in order to significantly slow the Cowboys passing attack. Terrance Williams led the Cowboys 92 yards against the Detroit Lions in the divisional round, but its Bryant who keyed the Cowboys aerial assault throughout the season. In the middle of the field, both tight end Jason Witten and slot receiver Cole Beasley also outgained Bryant against the Lions. An impending free agent, Bryant will look for a better playoff performance to boost his value and – with the road to Super Bowl likely running through Seattle - there may be no better time to do than this week. The Cowboys unsung heroes, the offensive line, paved the way for Murrays outstanding season and Romos - mostly – healthy season coming off back surgery. Led by first-round picks in left tackle Tyron Smith, centre Travis Frederick and right guard Zach Martin, the offensive line allowed 29 sacks on Romo in 16 games this season. The unit then allowed six sacks against the Lions tough front on Sunday. The offensive line could once again have their hands full on Sunday against a defensive pass rush that includes pro bowler Clay Matthews and veteran Julius Peppers. The Packers ranked ninth in the regular season in sacks with 41. The Cowboys will receive a major boost if starting right tackle Doug Free can suit up this week after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury. Free was inactive after being listed as doubtful against the Lions. With the Packers likely to score 30 or more points – a feat they failed to accomplish just once at home this season – the Cowboys top trio will need to be at their best in Green Bay. Due to a seemingly favourable matchup and below freezing temperatures expected, the brunt of that pressure may fall Murray, just as it has so many times this season. ' ' '