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SURREY, B.C. -- The B.C. Lions are preparing for the possibility that quarterback Travis Lulay wont play in a key game against Saskatchewan because of a shoulder injury, but a decision on who would take the snaps in Lulays place is still up in the air. B.C. coach Mike Benevides said Monday the club will prepare offensive packages for backup signal-caller Thomas DeMarco and nominal No. 3 Buck Pierce. "Im going to get both of those guys, both Buck and Thomas, prepared right away," said Benevides at the clubs practice facility. DeMarco, a second-year pro, has more knowledge of B.C.s offensive system. But Pierce, a nine-year veteran in his second stint with the Lions after being acquired in a trade from Winnipeg last week, has more CFL experience. Benevides said he was not ready to make a declaration on who would start if Lulay cant play. Lulay was injured on the weekend while running for a 14-yard touchdown in a 36-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes. Lulay was not at the practice facility while reporters were present. Benevides said the QB was getting an MRI exam and could be examined again Tuesday. The coach hopes to be clear on Lulays status by Wednesday, when the Lions return to practice. "On Wednesday, Ill have a clearer idea of what I want to do," said Benevides. "Were going to get both (DeMarco and Pierce) prepared, because its going to take both of them to win a football game." The Lions (7-4) have a chance to gain a share of second place in the West Division when they visit the Roughriders (8-3) next Sunday in Regina. Lulay told a Vancouver radio station Monday that his shoulder "stiffened up" overnight following the win over Montreal. He also told The Canadian Press on Sunday that he was feeling stiffness, but Benevides said a team doctor was encouraged by the range of motion that the QBs shoulder displayed following the game. Lulay also suffered a shoulder injury last year and missed the final five games of the regular season. He also had shoulder surgery in 2008 while playing for the Berlin Thunder of now-defunct NFL Europa. DeMarco tossed his first CFL touchdown pass as the Lions led the Als from start to finish. Benevides indicated he is wary of causing a disruption in the locker-room by going with Pierce after DeMarcos supportive teammates chanted his name following an impressive showing against Montreal. "The biggest thing for me right now is, (DeMarco) has done everything Ive needed him to do," said Benevides. Benevides acknowledged that concerns about DeMarcos ability level were part of the motivation behind the acquisition of Pierce for receiver Akeem Foster. But the coach also praised DeMarco for responding well and spending extra time on the practice field after the Lions brought back Pierce. In 34 games in which Pierce started between 2005 and 2009, the Lions compiled a 21-12-1 mark. After joining the Bombers as a free agent in 2010, he started 32 of 33 games. In nine CFL seasons, the New Mexico State product has thrown for 15,059 yards on 1,179 completions, a 64.3 completion percentage and 73 touchdowns. "They do bring two unique skill sets that may help us, and should help us, win football games," said Benevides. "So I think they both are in play (as possible starters)." DeMarcos relief experience marked his first significant regular-season action in his two seasons with B.C. He has been used primarily in short-yardage situations. DeMarco said he must make sure the second quarterback position is not a "far drop" from when Lulay plays, and be prepared for more strategic plays than he faces when he usually gets called upon. "Theres no strategy to (a short-yardage situation)," said DeMarco. "When youre second-and-one, third-and-one, the biggest thing is: Get the snap and fall forward for the first down. Thats your responsibility. Thats what youre supposed to do. Starting the game or being (called) in the middle of the game, or getting six, 10 minutes, whatever it is, the biggest thing is: Whats the first-down look? Whats the second-down look? "Its completely different," he said. "Youve got to think more about it, and your responsibilities go way up." DeMarco, a 24-year-old Palm Desert, Calif., native, could get his first professional start after signing with the Lions last year following six tryouts with CFL and NFL clubs. Known for being studious, DeMarco, an Old Dominion product who holds engineering and MBA degrees and works as a mortgage loans officer in Virginia in the off-season, said he will not alter his preparations. "My study habits will be the same," he said. "The intensity will probably kick up, because my role has changed." But if DeMarco does get the nod to start, Benevides said he will still to deployed in short-yardage situations. The decision could prevent injury to Pierce, who has suffered numerous injuries during three-plus seasons with Winnipeg and his first five CFL seasons with B.C. The Lions released the former starter following the 2009 season because of concussion woes. Usually, a CFL clubs backup QB is deployed on short-yardage downs, but Benevides wants to keep going with DeMarco because he has been successful at converting them into first downs regularly. Aside from preserving his health, Pierces biggest challenge will likely be to become familiar enough with B.C.s offence again. "Now, Im (almost) four years removed (from B.C.s system) and this is my third (offensive) co-ordinator in a month," said Pierce. "Im learning as fast as I can and all that I can do." With Lulay injured, general manager Wally Buonos acquisition of Pierce appears fortuitous. But Pierce chalked the timing up to the vagaries of his CFL tenure. "All things, I guess, happen for a reason. a Ive seen crazier things happen throughout the course of my career," said Pierce. Notes: Saskatchewan slotback Geroy Simon, the CFLs all-time leading receiver, is slated to play his first game against his former club. Jhoulys Chacin Jersey . The 2010 batting champ showed what he can do when hes mostly healthy. Gonzalez homered, doubled and singled in his return to the lineup, and the Colorado Rockies snapped a five-game losing streak with a 13-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. Zach Davies 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. http://www.brewersteamshop.com/Brewers-Cecil-Cooper-Kids-Jersey/ . The Brewers finalized a US$36 million, three-year contract with free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Wednesday, adding a much-needed bat to their lineup. Jonathan Villar Jersey .FIFA says it is relaxing the rule which forced match officials to leave its international list at the end of the year they turned 45. Domingo Santana Jersey . Acclaimed by world football leaders but held in contempt by many football fans. Blatter should arrive at the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo to watch host Brazil play Croatia confident that this tournament -- his fifth as president -- wont be his last leading the worlds favourite sport.TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun have the latest on Brendan Shanahans new job in Toronto and its trickle-down effects, and the futures of Paul Maurice, George McPhee, and more. A day after Trevor Linden becomes president of hockey operation with the Canucks, Brendan Shanahan one-ups him and become president - period, it looks like - of the Maple Leafs. Why this title, and why this guy? Bob McKenzie: I think thats the critical thing. Brendan Shanahan was not prepared to leave the NHLs Player Safety department if he was just going to be the president of hockey operations for a club in the NHL. It was important for him to be the president of the whole organization - both the hockey side and the business side. Now, hes expected to officially resign his position with the NHL on Friday, and its expected that the Leafs will put out a simple press release announcing his appointment of the entire team. It wont be until the beginning of next week that Shanahan will be introduced to the media, once the regular season is over. What does this mean to GM Dave Nonis and head coach Randy Carlyle? Darren Dreger: Well its "to be determined", were not sure. Shanahan is going to require some time. Dave Nonis was hoping to have some time to review the organization, to speak with Randy Carlyle and ultimately assess what his role might be moving forward. Now, he has a new boss, so Brendan Shanahan is going to want to get to know Nonis a little bit better, find out what his thoughts are on whether or not a coaching change is required, but I dont expect that there will be anything will be done in the near future. How is player discipline going to be handled with Shanahan gone? Pierre LeBrun: Really, the guys that were working with him are going to continue to do just that. The War Room, the player safety group in New York, is a well-oiled machine. It starts with Damian Etchavaretta, Stephane Quintal, Patrick Burke, and Brian Leetch - those guys will continue to do their work. Bill Daly, the NHL deputy governor, I think will have a more involved role when it comes to the final word on possible suspensions over the next couple of months. I dont believe there will be a successor in place for Brendan Shanahan or even a search for his replacement until the off-season. Its business as usual and Daly will meet with the player safety group on Friday to talk about how theyre going to move forward. Is former NHL on TSN panelist Paul Maurice going back to Winnipeg, or is he goinng to rejoin us? Dreger: Well, the safe bet would be that Maurice stays with the Winnipeg Jets.dddddddddddd He likes Winnipeg, he loves the organization, and the team very much wants him back. There will be an negotiation that will take place at the conclusion of the regular season when he has a little bit more time to spend with his family who he has been away from for quite some time. There is also an assignment coming that Maurice is going to have to consider, and thats being an assistant coach or a coach with Team Canada at the World Championship. Its believed that Hockey Canada has reached out to Paul Maurice, you could see Pete DeBoer on that bench and Dave Tippett if the Phoenix Coyotes dont make the playoffs. There has been lots of speculation about the future of George McPhee in Washington. What happens there? LeBrun: We dont believe that the owner, Ted Leonsis, has actually tipped his hand at this point but we do know that McPhees deal is up at the end of the year. There have not been any talks about an extension. So the betting money, the whispers coming out of Washington, are that there is a better chance than not that there is a change at the GM position. But again, no final call there. Now what does that mean for Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin? He is a lightning rod for that team - 50-goal scorer but almost minus-50 as well. There have been some whispers out of the KHL in Russia that would they try...one of the clubs over there try to approach Ovechkin like they did with Ilya Kovalchuk a year ago, if not this summer then certainly over the next couple of years. Has the future of Carolinas management been decided? McKenzie: There have been several days of meetings with Peter Karmanos, the owner of the Hurricanes, and general manager Jim Rutherford, and the expectation is that in the not-too-distant future, maybe a week or two or three down the road after the season has ended, Rutherford will move upstairs to a position and Ron Francis will take over as general manager. And amid great expectation that Kirk Muller is a slam dunk to be fired, dont say that necessarily. There is still plenty of consideration going on to keeping Muller as the head coach. Dreger: And keep an eye on the Florida Panthers as well. Dale Tallon has to meet with ownership in early May to talk about the future, including Peter Horachek as head coach. It sounds like the Panthers might go to an experienced coach, and if Randy Carlyle were to get fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, he would be high on the list. ' ' '