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TORONTO -- Head coach Scott Milanovich will have to look for another big-play threat coming out of the Toronto Argonauts backfield this season. Wesley Johnson Jersey . Veteran halfback Chad Kackert retired Sunday, the opening day of the CFL teams training camp. The five-foot-eight, 206-pound Kackert led Toronto to victory in the historic 100th Grey Cup in 12 but has been slow recovering from a broken left leg suffered prior to last years East final. Kackert, 27, will remain with the Argos as their strength-and-conditioning coach. Hell also continue working to rehab his leg and hasnt completely closed the door on resuming his pro career. "Never say never," he said. "I just dont feel like Im anywhere close to being ready to play football, its an issue of range of motion, to be specific. "I want my leg to get better just because who wants to walk around on a gimpy leg the rest of his life? If its sooner rather than later then I will re-evaluate but as of right Im going to get my leg better and coach this team as far as strength and conditioning goes." Despite playing just three seasons in Toronto, Kackert quickly emerged as an offensive threat. He rushed for 1,467 yards on 228 carries -- an impressive 6.4-yard average -- with 12 touchdowns while adding 50 receptions for 454 yards, two TDs. "Chad was a home-run hitter," Milanovich said. "Hed get a crease and could go to the house and thats nice. "He also brought an intangible. The players loved seeing him succeed. When he got the ball and did well, it just kind of ignited our football team. Well see whos around to replace that but well certainly miss those things." Kackert rushed for 638 yards on 100 carries during the 2012 season -- both career highs -- but was at his best in the playoffs. He ran for 139 yards and a TD in Torontos 27-20 road win over Montreal in the East Division final. The next week before over 50,000 fans at Rogers Centre, Kackert was named the MVP of the 100th Grey Cup game, rushing for 133 yards on 20 carries and recording eight catches for 62 yards in the Argos 35-22 win over the Calgary Stampeders. Kackert appeared in just nine games last year, rushing for 480 yards rushing on 71 carries (6.8-yard average) as Toronto (11-7) finished atop the East Division to secure home-field for the conference final. But Kackert didnt play in the Argos 36-24 loss to Hamilton, breaking his left leg during practice. "It was a no-contact practice, freak injury," Kackert said. "I was just running a route, didnt see the defensive end running his twist. "We knocked shoulders and my foot caught the turf and that was it." Injuries plagued the hard-running Kackert throughout his brief Argos tenure but he knew immediately this one was serious. "It hurt," the former University of Hampshire star said. Still, Kackert spent the off-season working to strengthen his leg, accepting he might even have to spend the early part of the season on the injured list before returning. But Kackert realized Friday he simply wasnt ready to go. "I dont want a handout," he said. "I dont want to come on to a team and take a paycheque while Im sitting around not helping anybody. "Im in a position now where I can help people. Its a different contract but its a priceless opportunity." Milanovich wasnt surprised about Kackerts retirement. "I wasnt expecting him to be here as a player," Milanovich said. "It was a very serious injury, particularly with his style of playing using his quickness and speed, and we were planning all along, unfortunately, to have to replace him." But not let him go altogether. Milanovich said he and GM Jim Barker began discussing about two weeks ago the possibility of offering the immensely popular Kackert the strength-and-conditioning position. "Kack is such an integral part of our team," Milanovich said. "Kack is too good a person to not find a way to let him and make him be a part of this. "Thats where it started and we were lucky it was something he was interested in." Very interested, as it turns out. "Its very important to me because Ive fallen in love with this city and Ive kind of established a home base out here," he said. "Jim is never going to make a decision thats going to hinder the team or not get it to the Grey Cup. "Im really honoured to be able to stay here and help get the guys back to where we need to go." However, Kackert admitted it felt a little odd Sunday in his new job. "Its a little tiring standing for three, four hours straight," he said with a chuckle. "But it felt good, the guys are buying in and I appreciate that from them. "Theyre calling me, Coach, already and asking me for workout tips. It will be fun. Im going to learn a lot, theyre going to learn a lot." Teammate Chad Owens was shocked to learn of Kackerts decision "He told me about it (Saturday) and I was kind of lost for words," Owens said. "Its sad because injuries happen in this game, we all understand that . . . but there are certain guys you pray and hope nothing but great things for just because theyre good people. "Kack is probably the most genuine person Ive ever encountered. He is the epitome of a team player. Im going to miss going into battle with him out there on the field because he brought everything he had. He was a playmaker." Kackerts departure creates an open race for the starters job among the seven running backs in camp. Sophomore Curtis Steele does have the benefit of experience in Torontos offence but Milanovich said rookie Anthony Coombs, Torontos 2014 first-round pick, remains very much in the picture. "Its wide open," Milanovich said. "Curtis has an advantage because hes been here and been in the offence but it could be any of those guys at this point." The five-foot-nine, 190-pound Coombs, a Winnipeg native who played at the University of Manitoba, said Kackerts retirement hasnt changed his approach. "Its pretty much the same because we had a lot of good backs that just came in this year," he said. "Its not like its free pickings now. "It (starting) is a huge possibility . . . but you cant think too far ahead. Ive just got to get used to the speed of the game and its coming along slowly but surely. Whether Kackert is in or out I still have the same mentality: Show up to practice, learn the playbook and get better." NOTES -- Lost in Kackerts retirement was Toronto released offensive lineman Scott Mitchell on Sunday. Mitchell was selected second overall by Edmonton in 2011 and signed with the Argos in the off-season as a free agent. He failed his physical Saturday but theres word the expansion Ottawa Redblacks have an interest in the former Rice star . . . The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed defensive lineman Ed Laurent on Sunday, The six-foot-one, 303-pound Montreal native spent three seasons with the Eskimos. Jerome Robinson Jersey . His recovery time is expected to be six to eight months. Seidenberg was injured in the third period of Fridays 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators, when he got his leg tangled with forward Cory Conacher. Blake Griffin Jersey . And I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of my experiences gained through International competition and the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Seven NHL referees and six linesmen will be assigned upcoming games in Sochi by the IIHF as part of their 28-man officiating roster comprised of 14 refs and 14 linesmen. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.info/marcin-gortat-clippers-jersey/ . The 12th-ranked Haas served well throughout the match at the Ibirapuera arena, allowing only one break point to the 152nd-ranked Italian. Both players held serve until the first-set tiebreak, when Haas stepped up his game to easily clinch the set.NEW YORK -- Frank Cashen, the general manager who wore a signature bow tie and fashioned a New York Mets team that rollicked its way to the 1986 World Series championship, died Monday. The team said he was 88. He died at Memorial Hospital in Easton, Maryland, after a short illness, the Mets said. Cashen was a longtime sports writer in his Baltimore hometown and went to law school before joining the Orioles and eventually becoming their GM. The Orioles won two titles while Cashen worked for them, but it was in New York where he put his stamp on a franchise with the likes of Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden. Hired in 1980, Cashen transformed a last-place team into an outfit that became the most dominant force in baseball. Those Mets were brash and full of swagger, not at all like the personality of the man who built the club. Cashen made the trades that brought star first baseman Keith Hernandez and future Hall of Famer Gary Carter to the Mets, and oversaw the draft picks of Gooden and Strawberry. "Frank was our leader," Strawberry said in a statement. "I always admired the way he put together our team. He mixed young guys, like me and Doc, with guys like Carter and Hernandez. He was able to find the perfect blend to build a championship." Cashen also hired his former second baseman in Baltimore, Davey Johnson, to be the Mets manager. By the 1986, the Mets were ready to take over. They powered their way to 108 victories, won a tough playoff series with Houston and then rallied past Boston to win the World Series in seven games. "Frank was willing to take a chance and jump me from A-ball to the majors. That always meant a lot to me," Gooden said in a statement. "Also, he helped get me my No. 16. Lee Mazzilli had it before and Frank went to bat for me and said, If thats the number Doc wants, let him have it." Hernandez is now a broadcaster for the Mets. He was already a star first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals when Cashen acquired him in June 1983 in a one-sided deal, getting him for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. Before the Mets played at Atlanta on Monday night, Hernandez fondly remembered Cashen. "He was a man of integrity and honestly, and that was most important. Custom Clippers Jerseys. . He told you the truth," Hernandez said. "It was a day when the general managers didnt pal around with the players. We hardly ever saw him, but there was a relationship there. He was just a wonderful man." After winning the championship, however, the Mets werent able to sustain that peak performance. In the following years and Cashen traded away Lenny Dykstra, Ron Darling, Roger McDowell and other popular players. Cashen left the Mets after a fifth-place finish in 1991. He remained close to the team and was briefly the interim GM several years later. "Frank Cashen revitalized our franchise when he took over," Mets chairman Fred Wilpon said in a statement. "I dealt with Frank on a daily basis and he was a man of integrity and great passion." "No one had a more diverse career than Frank. He was also a lawyer, sports writer and marketing executive. His accomplishments will always be an integral part of our team history," he said. Cashen, who also worked as an executive in Major League Baseball, was inducted into the team Hall of Fame for both the Orioles and Mets. "Frank Cashen was one of the greatest executives in our game," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "A true gentleman who had many interests, Frank had a multifaceted career in baseball and beyond. He helped construct some of the best clubs that two of our franchises - his hometown Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets - have ever had." The Orioles said Cashen served the team during its "most successful on-field era." "It was during his tenure that the Orioles acquired Frank Robinson and named Earl Weaver manager, two of the most significant moments in club history," the club said. In recent years, Cashen spent his time in Easton and in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the Mets hold spring training. He was in camp with the Mets this year. "One of the great baseball people," Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday. Cashen is survived by wife Jean, seven children and nine grandchildren. ------ AP freelance writer Amy Jinkner-Lloyd in Atlanta contributed to this report. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '