TORONTO -- Time has done little to cure what ails Toronto Argonauts slotback Andre Durie. Anthony Hitchens Cowboys Jersey . Durie signed a contract extension with Toronto on Monday that will keep him with the Argos through the 2016 season. The 2013 campaign was a banner one for Durie but it ended bitterly Nov. 17 in the East Division final at Rogers Centre at the hands of the arch-rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats. And visions of Hamilton players celebrating a Grey Cup berth on Torontos home field remains a bitter pill for Durie to swallow. "Any losses are always bitter against Hamilton," Durie said. "Losing in the East final was tough because we worked so hard throughout the year. "We faced a lot of adversity, a lot of injuries, a lot of ups and downs and some tough road games and to end that way just left a bad taste in your mouth. It sticks in my mind just to motivate me to continue to strive for perfection, to take away the little mental errors and to be better and more functional for my team and to produce for my team." After winning the 12 Grey Cup at Rogers Centre, Toronto finished atop the East Division standings with an 11-7 record. But Hamilton dashed the Argos hopes of repeating at CFL champions with a 36-24 road victory in the conference final. Unfortunately for Hamilton, its season ended with a 45-23 Grey Cup loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium. Durie, wholl reportedly earn around $140,000 annually under terms of his new deal, enjoyed a standout 2013 campaign. The five-foot-10, 199-pound Durie led the CFL with a career-high 92 catches for 986 yards (also a career best) and three touchdowns. Durie signed with Toronto as an undrafted free agent in 2007. "We believe Andre Durie is one of the most talented players in our league, and hes Canadian," Argos GM Jim Barker said in a statement. "He has been a very productive member of our offence and a strong contributor on special teams. "Andre has proven to be a valuable member of the Toronto community and were excited to keep him at home to continue his work on and off the field." Durie, who played running back during his university career at York, has registered 272 catches for 3,150 yards and 13 TDs with Toronto. His seamless transition from tailback to slotback is even more remarkable considering Durie suffered a horrific leg injury in 05 with the Lions that not only threatened his football career but had many questioning whether hed walk normally again. "Im not going to sit here and lie, there was definitely a lot of doubt," Durie said. "It was the people around me who supported me and believed in me and gave me the strength to continue and believe different. "Without them I wouldnt have the mindset to keep going. Im so glad and fortunate to have all my loved ones around me. I never wouldve imagined to be in this position back in 05 when the injury happened. Its remarkable and I cant thank the organization enough for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream to be a professional football player and to have made it this far." Durie says hes especially grateful to Barker, who returned to Toronto as the clubs head coach in 2010 before adding the GM duties prior to the 2011 campaign. In 2012, Barker hired Scott Milanovich as Argos head coach to concentrate full-time on his duties as general manager. "Coach Barker has literally taken me under his wing since he got here," Durie said. "Hes been able to provide me with so much guidance and knowledge to get better as a player and person." Durie said there was no question in his mind that he wanted to remain in Toronto. Should he see his current deal through -- after all, CFL contracts arent guaranteed -- Durie will be 35 and have achieved the rare distinction of spending his entire 10-year career with his home-town team. However, Durie isnt about to say he has signed his final CFL contract. "You never know," he said. "My body feels great, I still feel at the top of my game and Im playing good football. "I dont really like to look that far ahead into the future, I just take things as they come. Ill see how it is year to year." Tyrone Crawford Cowboys Jersey . The Raptors second-year forward has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the early-season trade, breaking out and becoming a vital part of his teams success on both ends of the floor. Around the league, teams are starting to take notice and feature Ross more predominately in their pre-game scouting reports but its not just the opposition that hes impressing. Michael Irvin Cowboys Jersey . Strasburg (1-1) got 14 consecutive outs in one stretch and allowed only three hits, including Marcell Ozunas homer in the seventh. The right-handers lone walk was to the last batter he faced. Washingtons starter Wednesday, Jordan Zimmermann, left after a career-low 1 2-3 innings, leaving the bullpen "taxed," as manager Matt Williams put it.(SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of teams that have gone in opposite directions in December will meet Wednesday, as the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Minnesota Wild in a New Years Eve battle at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets entered this month with a 6-15-2 record on the season, but Todd Richards club has greatly improved its fortunes by posting a 9-1-1 mark so far in December. Despite the surge, Columbus still finds itself nine points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Minnesota, meanwhile, sits five points removed from the Wests final wild card spot after recording a 4-4-3 mark since the start of December. The low point of the rough month came during a 0-2-3 losing streak, a skid the Wild was able to snap with Mondays road victory in Winnipeg. After dropping the home part of a home-and-home series with the Jets in Saturdays 4-3 overtime loss, the Wild answered with a close win two days later in Winnipeg. Ryan Carter, Justin Fontaine and Marco Scandella all scored in the second period to help Minnesota notch the 3-2 decision at MTS Centre. Darcy Kuemper. who missed the opener of the home-and-home due to an illness, was back between the pipes Monday and helped stopped the skid with a 28-save performance. The Wild picked up the victory despite allowing Winnipeg to score twice on three chances with the man advantage. Minnesota went 0-for-4 on the power play. Our guys did a great job staying with it. Im real happy with the way we played the game, the contributions from everybody, Wild head coach Mike Yeo said. The win pushed Minnesotas road record this season to 8-9-0. Yeos club is capping a brief two-game trip tonight before opening the 2015 calendar year by playinng four of five games on home ice. Darren McFadden Cowboys Jersey. The Blue Jackets are 2-1-1 at the start of a five-game homestand after beginning December on a seven-game winning streak. The club had an 8-0-1 point streak snapped with a 5-1 loss to Nashville on Dec. 22, but rebounded from that setback with a resounding win its first tilt following the Christmas break. Columbus emerged from the holiday hiatus on Saturday and recorded a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Scott Hartnell led the offense by scoring twice in his return from injury, while Kevin Connauton added a goal and two assists. Hartnell came back after a five-game absence due to a broken finger and picked up his third multi-goal effort of the season and first since Nov. 8 against Tampa Bay. He scored his teams first two goals on Saturday. Nick Foligno, Matt Calvert and Jeremy Morin also lit the lamp for the Blue Jackets. Jack Johnson and Brandon Dubinsky each chipped in a pair of helpers to back a 26-save effort from Curtis McElhinney. He made some big saves ... especially at the start of the third period, Calvert said of McElhinney. McElhinney started Saturday in place of No. 1 netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, who was unable to suit up for the game due to an illness. However, Bobrovsky is expected to start tonight and owns a 3-1-0 record and 1.68 goals against average in four career games against the Wild. Saturdays win pushed the Blue Jackets home record to 8-9-2. Columbus will head out on the road after tonight, as it will begin a four-game swing Saturday in Arizona. Columbus has won three straight and five of the last seven meetings against the Wild. The clubs have split the last four encounters at Nationwide Arena. Wholesale Jerseys China ' ' '
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