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SURREY, B.C. -- Wally Buono is glad he was wrong about Andrew Harris. Then the B.C. Lions head coach and general manager, Buono had a different vision for the Winnipeg native than the one that has played out since he became the clubs feature running back midway through the 2011 season. "Smart as I was, I wanted to make a safety out of him," said Buono, now the Lions GM and vice-president of operations. "I think it just shows you the kind of athlete Andrew is. Football has never been too big for him. Its just finding a place for him." That place is in Vancouver for at least the next two seasons after the Lions signed Harris to a contract extension witha guaranteed base salary of $145,000 on Wednesday that will keep him with the team through 2015. With incentives, the deal could be worth as much as $175,000. Harris was a junior football star in the province before signing with the Lions, first making the practice roster and then special teams. "My career has been a bit of journey and I wouldnt want to have it any other way," Harris said as he met the media at the Lions practice facility. "Its been ups and downs and thats part of a career. The one nice thing about this is its another step to another chapter." The soon-to-be 27-year-old Harris decided to move to Vancouver full-time this off-season despite a trying 2013 campaign that saw B.C.s running game struggle for long stretches. "For me its a very good day, and I think for the province and the organization its a good day," said Buono. "For an individual to call this place home after going back and forth I think speaks volumes for what Andrew wants to be a part of. In the organization, you want to keep your assets and hes been a tremendous asset for us." The five-foot-11, 213-pound Harris has rushed for 2,568 yards on 481 carries (5.3-yard average) with 15 TDs during his career, quickly making him one of the premier Canadian running backs in the game. "Hes an elite player," said Lions head coach Mike Benevides. "Hes dynamic, and the combination of he and the other guys weve got on our roster will bode well for us." Harris rushed for 998 yards and seven touchdowns last season, while leading all CFL backs with 61 receptions for 513 yards. His 1,511 yards from scrimmage in 2013 not only led his team, it was more than 400 yards ahead of the next player. But the Lions ground attack lost its way last season, going 10 games without a 100-yard rusher. Harris totalled just 10 yards on two separate occasions during that dry spell, but he never let the adversity affect him, at least in public. "It was tremendously frustrating for all of us, not just Andrew," said Benevides. "He was the byproduct of everything around him. The biggest thing that I think people discredit is the teammate that he is, the pro that hes matured into." The addition of running back Stefan Logan, who started his career with the Lions back in 2008 before jumping to the NFL, and new blocking schemes on the leaky offensive line helped get the ground game back on track by October. "At the end of the day there was still a solid nucleus. I had faith in the coaches, I had a feeling the coaches still had faith in me and it was just a matter of getting everything put together," said Harris, who has never missed a game in his four CFL seasons. "Sometimes it takes a while to get things on the right course and get things going. "Thats what makes a team and makes a brotherhood and a family. I really think that more than ever the nucleus of this team is really close and were building towards a championship team." Now the diminutive Logan and the power-running Harris are set to spend an entire season together sharing the workload for new offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones. "Its one of those things where someone makes a play, you want to make a play as well and we feed off each other," said Harris. "Thats one side of it, and then staying healthy. Were both going to be very fresh. Its going to be a great season and Im very excited about it." The pressure will be on to produce title-calibre results in 2014, with the Lions set to host the Grey Cup at B.C. Place Stadium in November. Harris is one of the constants on a team that has seen a huge exodus of both assistant coaches and players this off-season following an 11-7 campaign that ended with a loss to the eventual Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division semifinal. "Ive always been part of championship teams and this organization is looked on as a championship team. Any time you dont get to the championship its unsuccessful," said Harris. "Thats the goal. Thats the mindset. This 2014 season with the Grey Cup here is absolutely a redemption year. "We want to be feared at the end of the season going into the playoffs." Wholesale Ecco Shoes . - Andrew McCutchen went 4 for 5 and finished a home run short of a cycle, and Jordy Mercer drove in a career-high four runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Discount Ecco Shoes Online .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. http://www.wholesaleecco.com/ . His second visit, not so much. Roark (7-5) allowed four runs on 10 hits and one walk over six innings in a 7-2 setback in front of several friends and family members, as the Cubs snapped his personal streak of four consecutive victories on Friday. Ecco Shoes Clearance Sale . "I knew it was gone. I mean, I felt it," the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year said. "I havent felt like that in a while. I havent got extension on a ball in a pretty long time. Ecco Shoes Sale Outlet . Tyutin has missed the last nine games with an ankle injury which occurred while playing for Russia at the Olympics. The top-two defenceman has four goals and 20 assists, 30 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating in 53 games with Columbus this season.Gilbert Melendez will not only continue fighting for the UFC, but he will do so for the lightweight title. The UFC confirmed reports Sunday that Melendez (22-3) was re-signed after the organization matched an offer sheet from Bellator. The UFC also confirmed that Melendez will now appear as a coach in the 20th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” opposite lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, with the two slated to fight for the title later this year. MMAFighting.com, who first reported the agreement, said the deal guarantees 75 per cent of Melendezs fights will be on pay-per-view. Furthermore, the agreement ensures the 31-year-old will earn income on pay-per-view points regardless of the success of the event, as well as his position in the main event, co-main event or main card. Such a contract will likely make “El Nino&rrdquo; one of the highest paid fighters in the organization.dddddddddddd He already makes a reported $200,000 per fight, which combined with his upcoming pay-per-view earnings is sure to place him among the sports elite incomes. Melendez was the hottest free agent on the market, however, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney was not bitter about missing out on the prize. “We have a stacked lightweight roster and Gil would have made a great addition to it, yet Im glad he was able to go out, explore the free agent market and get paid what he deserves,” Rebney told MMAFighting.com. “Thats what the free market system is all about. Im happy for Gil, that through this process he was able to ensure long term financial security for himself and his family. 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