MONTREAL -- Coach Tom Higgins calls working with general manager Jim Popp "a match made in heaven. Air Max One Dames Sale ." And the pleasantries exchanged between the two men on a conference call on Tuesday made it hard to imagine they were rivals for the Montreal Alouettes head coaches job. That was settled when team owner Bob Wetenhall insisted that the jobs of coach and general manager be kept separate, and that Popp would have to stick to his GM duties. "This is the model that has made us successful," said Wetenhall. "This has given Jim the time and the freedom to go out and build our team, year after year, always with a few new players added. "To have a GM with the freedom and the time to do this is the model we really wanted to go back to." In the 59-year-old Higgins, the Alouettes hired a CFL veteran who spent seven years as a head coach in Edmonton and Calgary, winning a Grey Cup with the Eskimos in 2003. The Woodbridge, N.J., native spent the last six years as the leagues director of officiating. "Tom brings a winning record and a tremendous reputation as a stand-up, high class guy," said Wetenhall. Popp, the teams general manager since it returned to Montreal in 1996 who is considered among the CFLs best, had hoped to continue in both jobs after taking over from the fired Dan Hawkins, who had no previous CFL experience, only five games in to the 2013 campaign. When Higgins was confirmed in the job on Monday, it raised speculation that Popp may be on his way out. Wetenhall would not confirm Popps long-term status with the club, but made it clear he wanted his GM to stay. And Popp, whose name has been linked to NFL jobs in recent years, said hes wants to carry on. "Ive been with the Alouettes for 18 years -- I plan on being there, its my other home," said Popp. "Ive had six children that were all born in Montreal and I really have no interest in leaving. "Circumstances come up, but the organization knows how loyal I am. Im a company man and its a place I enjoy being. Theres a lot that gets thrown around out there, a lot of it thats not true. But Im very happy." That Popp joined in the conference call was a surprise. His name wasnt mentioned in the Higgins announcement. And it was unusual that the general manager was not involved in the decision to hire the head coach. Wetenhalls son Andrew, a team governor, said that as a candidate for the coaching job, Popp would have been in conflict of interest if he had a say in who the next coach would be. But Popp had provided the owners with a list of potential coaching candidates with an assessment of their abilities. "This is a case where two people can work together who didnt select one another," said Andrew Wetenhall. "We have the added benefit of two guys who know each other and have a heck of a lot of respect for each other." Higgins said he didnt feel awkward at all working with Popp. "I couldnt be happier," he said. "I think our personalities complement one another. "We both want the same thing. This is an opportunity for myself to get back on the field where I belong. This is not a challenge whatsoever." Higgins first job will be to hire an offensive co-ordinator and fill out the coaching staff, which he expects to complete within 10 days. The Alouettes had already signed defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe to a two-year contract extension on Dec. 4, with the added title of assistant head coach. They also confirmed that Andre Bolduc, a former CFL player and head coach at Sherbrooke University, was signed as a defensive assistant coach. Wetenhall said one of Higgins assets was his ability to work with young quarterbacks, which will be needed in Montreal this season. For the first time since 2000, they will not have Anthony Calvillo as the starter as the CFLs all-time passing leader has retired. Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, and youngster Tanner Marsh are expected to compete for the starting job, with Alex Brink also in the picture. Higgins said he has worked with gifted young pivots before in Henry Burris and Ricky Ray. He feels the Alouettes can improve on last years 8-10 season. "Ive always marvelled at the level of talent in Montreal," he said. "I hope to bring a level of consistency and discipline. "We are going to be competitive and entertaining. And when you start doing that and playing disciplined football, usually you win more than you lose." Air Max 90 Dames Zwart . Ronaldo netted his 14th goal of the season in Europes top competition to give Madrid a clear advantage ahead of next weeks quarterfinal return leg in Germany. But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute. Heren Nike Air Max 90 PRM Schoenen Zwart . Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central. Cincinnati called up Hamilton and infielder Neftali Soto from Triple-A Louisville on Monday before the opener of a four-game series against St.The Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors will resume their western road trip Monday against the Utah Jazz. Listen to the Raptors vs. Jazz live tonight on TSN Radio 1050 at 9pm et/6pm pt. The Raptors are 1-1 so far on the five-game junket after defeating Denver and losing to Portland. In Saturdays 106-103 loss to the Blazers, the home team blew a 16-point advantage and eventually won on Damian Lillards running bank shot with 11.9 seconds left. Portland led 31-19 after the first quarter and had three players score at least 20 points. Toronto was led by DeMar DeRozans 36 points and 12 assists, while Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas scored 23 and 18 points, respectively, for the Raptors, who shot 46 percent for the game. "We understand what we had to do, honestly," DeRozan said. "We understand we were down big and the only way we would get back in this game was to get stops and thats what we started doing. That was the main part. We were missing a lot of easy shots that we normally make, but we dont worry about that. The only thing we worry about is the defensive game and we picked it up in the second half." DeRoozan is averaging 27. Nike Air Max Classic Heren. points in his last five games. The Raptors, who are four games ahead of Brooklyn in the Atlantic, still have to visit Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers on the road trip. Raptors guard Greivis Vasquez is questionable for Monday with an illness. Utah has dropped two in a row and four of its last six games, including Saturdays 102-87 setback to the Clippers. Enes Kanter had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Richard Jefferson scored 19 for the Jazz, who made only 35.8 percent of their shots and got 15 points from Gordon Hayward. "They showed their experience on us. Jamal Crawford made some big shots," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "They executed in the second half. We just didnt get the stops when we needed to." Jazz forward Derrick Favors missed the game with a sore right hip and is questionable for Mondays game. He has missed two straight. Toronto defeated Utah, 115-91, at Air Canada Centre on Nov. 9, but has lost 14 of the previous 16 meetings between the teams. The Raptors have also lost seven of eight and 13 of the 17 all-time matchups in Salt Lake City. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
