The new general manager of the Edmonton Eskimos says theyve checked most of the items off their must-do list as they prepare for the 2013 CFL season. "Retaining the services of coach Kavis Reed was the No. 1 factor on that list," said Hervey, who got the nod after former general manager Eric Tillman got the boot in 2012. Hervey also pointed to steps made to bolster an offence that left the Eskimos last in the West last season. One of the first was to obtain the services of quarterback Mike Reilly from the B.C. Lions before he hit the free-agent market. After Tillman traded Ricky Ray to Toronto, the Eskimos struggled at quarterback with Stephen Jyles, Kerry Joseph and Matt Nichols rotating through the position. Reilly isnt guaranteed the starters spot, Hervey emphasized, and must go head-to-head with Nichols to win that right, but he gives the team more options. "We felt by obtaining Mike Reilly it would give us depth at that position which has (also) now created, in our opinion, a fine quarterback battle between he and Matt Nichols." Hervey also says theyve complemented the explosive scatback style of Hugh Charles with signings like that of import John White, better suited to take over should Charles go down again. Theyre the same size and the team will be able to maintain the same style of ground game, said Hervey. Edmonton did make the playoffs thanks to weak Eastern teams that allowed for a crossover but fell victim to Ray and the Toronto Argonauts in the East semifinal. Hervey said theyve worked to bolster the offensive line with moves such as a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the services of non-import Carson Rockhill. "We felt that our need (was) to get bigger, more physical and more athletic on the offensive line. (It) was an area we needed to improve." He said they made it a priority to retain key free agents such as linebacker J.C. Sherritt and defensive end Marcus Howard and locked up slotback Fred Stamps early. They also nabbed free agent Odell Willis from under the nose of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, minutes after he supposedly hit the market, which earned them a $10,000 fine from the CFL for tampering. "We feel the need to get to the quarterback was important," said Hervey. Willis has a talent for sacking quarterbacks but he also has a reputation for off-field behaviour that cost him his job with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Unlike the Bombers, the Eskimos arent getting a new stadium this season, but President Len Rhodes says fans will be getting new seats. All 58,000 will be replaced at Commonwealth as the season progresses but the last wont go into until the fall, he said. Hervey says the team not only wanted to improve its roster for 2013, it wanted to improve its draft position. The Eskimos couldnt get into the first round but did acquire defensive end Stefan Charles with the 10th pick. Like a lot of top draft picks this season, hes still trying chances in the NFL but Hervey says good players are worth the wait. The Eskimos have made some coaching changes for 2013 with the return of CFL veterans Greg Marshall and Doug Sams. Marshall has taken over as defensive co-ordinator while Sams is the new offensive co-ordinator. Marshall goes back to the early part of the last decade with the Eskimos but Sams dates back to the 1987 Grey Cup-winning edition. Mike Reilly Canadiens Jersey . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Matthew Peca Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-alexei-kovalev-canadiens-jersey/ . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Tomas Tatar Canadiens Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Guy Lapointe Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. PHOENIX -- The Latest on deadly crash between a van and a bus carrying Dallas Cowboys staffers (all times local):1:35 p.m.Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is expressing sorrow about an Arizona highway accident that left four people dead when their van collided with a bus carrying team employees.Jones says in a statement that the organization is deeply saddened by the loss of lives in Sundays collision.Jones also says the Cowboys organizations thoughts, prayers and concerns are with family members and loved ones of those who were killed.The identities of those killed havent been disclosed.The Arizona Department of Public Safety says the van was turning left at an intersection when it collided with the Cowboys bus carrying staffers but no players.The department says nobody on the bus was injured.The Cowboys group was headed to a Las Vegas stop for a pre-seasonal promotional tour.7:45 a..dddddddddddd.m.Authorities say a van was turning left at a highway intersection in northwestern Arizona when it collided with a bus carrying staffers of the Dallas Cowboys football team, killing all four people in the van.The Arizona Department of Public Safety says the van was traveling south on U.S. 93, the main route between Las Vegas and Phoenix, and the bus was heading north Sunday. No players were on the bus.DPS spokesman Quentin Mehr says three females and one male in the van died, but he didnt release their identities. Additional information on the circumstances of the crash wasnt immediately available.Nobody on the Dallas Cowboys bus was seriously injured. The Cowboys group was headed for Las Vegas, a planned stop on a pre-season promotional tour. ' ' '