Helmet-to-helmet hits and their devastating effects are back in the CFL spotlight but league president Michael Copeland doesnt believe they are becoming an epidemic. Antti Raanta Jersey . Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly took a nasty hit to the back of his head from Toronto rookie defensive lineman Cleyon Laing in the Argonauts 34-22 win Saturday night. Although appearing wobbly upon getting up, Reilly remained in the contest after being evaluated by Eskimos medical staff. On the next play, Reilly dropped the direct snap but recovered and threw a 17-yard TD strike to Shamawd Chambers. When he came to the sidelines, Reilly was re-evaluated and replaced by veteran backup Kerry Joseph. On Sunday, the Eskimos confirmed Reilly had suffered a concussion and hes out indefinitely. That leaves Hamiltons Henry Burris, 38, the lone CFL starter still standing. The six-foot-three, 280-pound Laing was flagged for his hit and the Edmonton native is expected to be fined this week by the CFL. Its an approach, Copeland says, thats working. "Concussions, according to our records, are flat this year relative to last and man-games lost to concussions are down, which I think speaks to better concussion management," he said. "I think its having an affect because when we talk to our officials, they tell us they see more players changing the way they tackle and that the culture among players is changing. "Youre going to see certain plays happen and again theyre fairly high profile. But theres many things people necessarily dont see that I think speak to the success of what weve been doing." On Monday, Edmonton head coach Kavis Reed left it up to the CFL to assess the Laing hit. "I truly believe we dont want to see our players exposed to those kinds of hits," he said. "I trust the (leagues) decision-making process that theyre going to go through in making an assessment as to the severity of that hit and the decision theyll come down with." While the 2013 campaign has been tough on CFL quarterbacks, Montreals Anthony Calvillo is the only other starter out with a concussion. He was injured in a game in August when his head struck the Mosaic Stadium turf following a legal hit by Saskatchewan defensive end Ricky Foley. But the issue of helmet-to-helmet hits is one the league has had to face often this season. On Sept. 18, Saskatchewan Roughriders safety Tyron Brackenridge was fined by for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Torontos Chad Kackert that left the running back with a concussion. Roughly a month earlier, Brackenridge was involved in a helmet-to-helmet collision with Montreals Brandon London that left the Alouettes receiver concussed but Brackenridge wasnt fined for the hit. However, the league slapped Hamilton defensive back Dee Webb with an undisclosed fine for hitting B.C. Lions receiver Marco Iannuzzi in the head on a kickoff in the Tiger-Cats 37-29 win Sept. 7. Iannuzzi suffered a concussion on the play. Webb was also fined last year for a hit on Iannuzzi that left the Lions player with a concussion. And Saskatchewan defensive lineman Levi Steinhauer was fined Aug. 1 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Hamilton kick-returner Lindsey Lamar in the Riders 32-20 win in Guelph, Ont., on July 27. Mike Morreale, a former CFL slotback now heading up the CFL Players Association, doesnt believe head injuries are on the rise in the league. However, he said public awareness about the issue of concussions makes it seem that way. "My gut feeling is because of the awareness level and increase in terms of camera angles, were now becoming more and more aware of it and it looks like its happening more and more often," he said. "I also think theres truth that the bigger, stronger and faster these guys are and the increase in protection levels regarding the equipment they wear would allow someone to play more aggressively as well." Often, the CFL fines a player for a helmet-to-helmet hit but Copeland said the league can issue a suspension if warranted. However, Copeland feels hitting offenders in the wallet is a suitable punishment. "Judging by the reaction of players when they get fined, its certainly working," he said. "I absolutely think its having an effect and changing the way the guys think and I believe thats whats causing the change in culture and mechanics on the field. "The objective of discipline is to change behaviour and at the point we see its not having an affect thats when we have to take a look at the size of our penalties . . . Should we feel the need to continue to increase them well do that. Its a conversation we have with the (CFL Players Association) and we dont think were there yet but its not a place were afraid to go if we feel we have to." Morreale said the CFLPA has been very active in educating players on the dangers of helmet-to-helmet hits but admits the union faces a stiff challenge trying to get some of their constituents to change how they play the game. "In some cases you have to change 20 some-odd years of conditioning on how to play the game of football," Morreale said. "A lot of times, a defender is going for a shoulder and the (ball-carriers) head dips and you have incidental head-to-head contact." However, Morreale believes more can be done to enhance player safety in the CFL and said fortunately both the union and league are on the same page regarding the issue. "I think more needs to be done, which means we have to collectively as players and coaches and management come up with better rules that surround not only fines and suspensions but maybe possibly the rules of the game as well," he said. "Thats what I hope would create part of our discussion around negotiation time. "The league and us are on the same page so theres not a lot of head-to-head on, No, we cant do this, we cant do that. I think we both jointly agree the health of our players is the most important thing." Education, Copeland said, is a key. "Football is a contact game but it can be a very safe game when played properly," he said. "Thats what were trying to communicate to everyone involved." --- HALL OF FAME: Former CFL players Brian Fryer, Dan Ferrone, Miles Gorrell and Earl Winfield, along with builders Jake Ireland and Don Loney, will be formally inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame this week in Edmonton. Theyll be presented their jackets Wednesday and have their busts unveiled Thursday morning before the Hall of Fame gala dinner later that night. The festivities will culminate with the Edmonton Eskimos hosting the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday afternoon. Derek Stepan Jersey . -- Billy Donovans bench came up big, bailing out top-seeded Florida in a tight game against what was supposed to be an overmatched opponent. Brendan Perlini Jersey . The 25-year-old McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland, was eligible to play for either Ireland or Team GB when golf makes its return to the Olympics in Brazil for the first time since 1904. http://www.hockeycoyotesproshop.com/Coyotes-Niklas-Hjalmarsson-Adidas-Jersey/ . Damyean Dotson, 19, Dominic Artis, 19 and Brandon Austin, 18, were suspended after the school received a police report concerning allegations made by a student who said she was assaulted by the players in early March.MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Grizzlies ratcheted up their defence to avoid a back-to-back sweep by the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. And, in the meantime, Memphis kept its spot in the Western Conference playoff race. Mike Conley scored 21 points, Zach Randolph added 18 points and 13 rebounds, and the Grizzlies held the Indiana Pacers to their lowest output of the season in an 82-71 victory on Saturday night. Several Grizzlies players said it may have been their most complete game of the season. The victory came after Memphis lost 91-86 at Miami on Friday night. "It started from the defensive intensity, and it was consistent," Conley said. "On offence, we moved the ball well. We were efficient with it, but defensively, we really locked down and communicated." Mike Miller added 13 points as Memphis moved a game ahead of Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Marc Gasol, returning after spraining his ankle Friday night, had 10 points and nine rebounds. Lance Stephenson led the Pacers with 15 points and eight rebounds, while David West added 10 points, but was 5 of 15 from the field. Paul George, the Pacers leading scorer at 22.1 points per game, was held to eight points, missing eight of his 10 shots, and Indiana shot 37 per cent for the game. "We couldnt score at all," said Pacers centre Roy Hibbert, who was in foul trouble and ended the night with four points and no rebounds. "Thats the basic thing. I think we had a lot of contested 2s. Guys were trying, and they were playing hard, but for some reason, something was a little off." Indiana, which allows a league-low 35.4 points per game in the paint, surrendered 46 to Memphis, which also outrebounded Indiana 47-35. The Pacers only lead in the game came at 3-2. Gasol, who was treated for a Grade 1 left ankle sprain sustained in Fridays loss to the Heat, was a game-time decision. He was on medication and didnt warm up before the game. "I wanted to save every step I was going to take for the game," said Gasol, adding that the medication made it where he could barely feel his hands or face. "It definitely helped the purpose, and made it worth it because we won the game. Anthony Duclair Jersey. " Memphis, which built a double-digit lead in the first half, maintained the advantage through the third period as the Pacers seemed to be dragging. Through three periods, Indiana was still under 37 per cent, and George had been limited to only seven shots and six points. "Its the offensive end where we didnt play well," George said. "We didnt get into a rhythm. . If you hold a team to 82 points, you are playing pretty good defence." Memphis continued to maintain the double-digit lead, keeping the Pacers down 10 to 14 points through most of the fourth. "We were a little bit too indecisive and hesitant with the basketball," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "We had poor shooting nights from a number of guys." As was expected with two of the best defensive teams in the league, the first half was a low scoring affair despite Memphis shooting 46 per cent. The Pacers were at 32 per cent. That helped Memphis carry a 43-30 lead into the break as Miller connected on four of his first five shots in the second period, all of them from outside the arc, for all of his 13 points in the game. "If you take away Mike Millers 3s in the first half, this is a college score in terms of the game." West said. But the Grizzlies said the performance was important after a Miami game they thought they could have won. They also mentioned that it was an important confidence-builder for the stretch run. "We were in attack mode most of the night on both offence and defence," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "That is as complete of a win as we have had all season." NOTES: Pacers C Andrew Bynum remained inactive for the fourth game with swelling and soreness in his right knee. ...The previous low for points in a game for Indiana was 73 against Dallas on Feb. 12. ... Indianas three-game win streak against the Grizzlies was snapped. .Memphis has won nine straight at home. .The Pacers lost for only the second time this season when holding an opponent under 90 points. They were 26-1 entering the game. China Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '