New Jersey stretched its lead to 3-1 at 13:13 of th

HAMILTON, Ont. -- Kent Austin knew the question was coming. On Friday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats introduced quarterback Zach Collaros, who signed Thursday after being released by the Toronto Argonauts earlier in the week. And the first question put to Austin, the clubs head coach and GM, was if Collaros was the Ticats starter. "Listen, we signed Zach for a reason," he said. "We believe we have a proven player, a proven starter. "The great thing about Zach is one of the first things he said to me on the phone a couple of days ago was, Coach, I dont expect to be given anything. Ill earn what I get, and thats exactly the type of player we have. "We dont distinguish a lot between starters and backups on this football team. Everybody we require we expect to play at a high level and Zach will have every opportunity to be our guy." Collaros, 25, posted a 5-2 record as a starter with Toronto last year while subbing for injured starter Ricky Ray. The six-foot-two, 216-pound Collaros completed 190-of-287 passes (66.2 per cent) for 2,316 yards with 14 TDs and six interceptions. He also ran 59 times for 246 yards and scored five TDs. Collaros was scheduled to become a free agent Feb. 15 and Toronto attempted to re-sign him. But with Collaros intent on testing the free-agent waters, the Argos released him early to gain clarity on his situation prior to the start of free agency. Collaros spent two seasons with Toronto, earning a Grey Cup ring in 2012. "I kind of lucked out coming to this league with such a great group around me and I was able to learn a lot of things from them thats translated to the field," Collaros said of the Argos. "I wouldnt have this opportunity right now if it wasnt for them." Collaros joins a Hamilton team that reached the 2013 Grey Cup under veteran quarterback Henry Burris before losing 45-23 to the hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders. Like Collaros, Burris was slated to become a free agent next month but was released by the Ticats shortly after Collaross signing. "I know he (Burris) is going to be successful wherever he lands" Austin said. "He was an unbelievable person to coach, player to coach. "I had a great discussion with him (Thursday) and let him know no matter what he does, where he goes football out of football that he has an advocate in this organization and with me personally to help him in any way." Burris, 38, is a two-time Grey Cup champion (1998, 08), a Grey Cup MVP (08) and in 2010 was the leagues outstanding player. With over 50,000 career passing yards, the 15-year veteran -- who is reportedly attracting much interest in Winnipeg -- is a sure-fire selection into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame after he retires. But Collaros isnt worrying about following in Burriss footsteps. "Definitely some expectations there," he said. "I think we all know Henry Burris is a Hall of Fame player in this league. "I cant think about things like that. I had to fill in for Ricky Ray last year and I didnt think about it. I just went about my work during the week and prepared and we were fortunate enough to win a lot of games and it got me this opportunity. If I think about that, its going to hinder me." Collaros helped break the hearts of Ticats fans to finish the 2012 regular season, calmly marching the Argos downfield late to set up Swayze Waters 51-yard field goal for a wild 43-30 home victory. That loss eliminated Hamilton from post-season contention. Austin said there were many reasons why he courted Collaros, not the least of which was being coached by Milanovich in Toronto. "I have a great deal of respect for Scott, I think Scott is an outstanding coach," Austin said. "Im familiar with the system he runs and how diligent they are in their preparation. "He (Collaros) comes from a background of a heavy dose of preparation, not just with Scott but throughout his career. That was a key attribute that we value very highly here." And there was also Collaros ability to lead Toronto to four key September road victories with Ray sidelined. "I think its very important to try to determine the quality of the player especially in tough situations," Austin said. "That was about as tough a situation I think as probably any quarterback faced last year with the starting guy going down and then going on the road. "Being able to quarterback your football team to those victories proves hes a winner and hes proven it in tough situations." Collaros wore No. 17 in Toronto but will don No. 4 with Hamilton. "Im the kind of guy whos going to pay the price during the week and in the off-season so that the results do come on the field," Collaros said. "Do I want to be a starter? Do I think I can be a starter? Obviously. "I thought that two years ago when I got to Toronto and Ricky Ray was there. Thats just my personality. Im just anxious to get to practice and really just to get up here and learn from the staff." Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys . 5 Trade Deadline isnt that far away and teams will be making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Cheap China NFL Jerseys . Striker Dario Mandzukic scored the opener in the 22nd minute but was given a red card nine minutes later for a reckless tackle and left Croatia with 10 men for the remainder of the match. http://www.cheapjerseysali.com/ . And though his comeback night didnt quite go to script, Bryant couldnt help reflecting on the work necessary to get back on that court -- and all the months of steady labour ahead to reclaim his game. Bryant had nine points and eight rebounds in his season debut, but Amir Johnson scored a career-high 32 points in the trade-depleted Toronto Raptors 106-94 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night. Wholesale NFL Jerseys .J. -- Kyle Palmieri thrilled his personal rooting section with an overtime winner that sent the Anaheim Ducks to their seventh straight win. SUNRISE, Fla. -- Roberto Luongo got the best of his former goalie teammate yet again. Scottie Upshall scored the go-ahead goal, Luongo stopped 28 shots, and the Florida Panthers beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Friday night. Vincent Trocheck, Brad Boyes, Quinton Howden and Brian Campbell also scored for Florida. Jonathan Huberdeau had two assists, and Boyes also had an assist. Patrik Elias had a goal and assist, and Bryce Salvador and Jaromir Jagr also scored for the Devils. Cory Schneider -- Luongos former teammate with the Vancouver Canucks -- made 17 saves. Luongo and Schneider faced each other for the first time with their new teams. Schneider was traded to the Devils last summer, and Luongo was sent to the Panthers in a trade on March 4. Luongo beat Schneider for the third time this season, twice with the Canucks, but didnt take any special pleasure in beating his ex-teammate. "No, I actually feel bad," Luongo said. "I gave it my all, and so is he. Happy to get the win, for sure, but its too bad for him." The Panthers snapped a three-game losing streak and handed the Devils their first loss in three games. Schneider has struggled lately, allowing 15 goals in his last three starts, including seven in a loss at Detroit on March 7. "Whatever Im doing right now is just not working, and Ive got to find a way to get out of this," Schneider said. Behind 3-2, the Panthers scored three times in the third period to win it. Florida tied it on Boyes goal. Boyes stole a pass from Mark Fayne in the slot, and his shot went between Schneiders pads at 4:24. Upshalls wrist shot from the right circle at 10:00 gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead. "Im really not happy with that last goal. It deflates the team. I never like goals to go under me or through me," Schneider said. Luongo is hoping that Schneider can turn around his season. "It happens to everybody. Its a long season. Hes been lights out the whole year," Luongo said. "You go through stretches where things dont go as well. Hes a great goalie and hes strong mentally. Hell get out of it." The Panthers have accepted their rolee as spoiler, with a lot of young players filling in for injured veterans.dddddddddddd "It was a battle of a desperate team and us, who are trying to play spoiler with a lot of young guys," Upshall said. "I?thought both teams played good, but it was nice to come out on top." Trochecks empty-netter, his first NHL goal in his fifth game, with 32.5 seconds left made it 5-3. "Its definitely a weight off my shoulders. Five games felt like an eternity to get that first one," Trocheck said. "It feels good, and hopefully theyll keep coming now." The Panthers had gotten within 3-2 on Howdens goal in the second period. Scott Gomezs shot was blocked, but he grabbed the rebound and passed the puck to Howden in the low slot for a shot past Schneider at 14:30. They were the only two shots of the period for the Panthers. The Devils went ahead 2-1 at 2:02 of the second on Salvadors goal. It was the first goal for Salvador since March 10, 2010 against the New York Rangers -- a span of 173 games. New Jersey stretched its lead to 3-1 at 13:13 of the second. Elias shot from the right circle beat Luongo on the short side. "We had opportunities to build on the lead that we had, and we didnt take advantage of it," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. "We let them hang around, and thats what happens." The Panthers took a 1-0 lead on Campbells goal at 9:59 of the first. The Devils tied at 1-all on a power-play goal by Jagr. Travis Zajac fired a slap shot from above the left circle. Luongo tried to glove it but it bounced out. Damien Brunner got the rebound and swept the puck toward the net. Jagr tipped it past Luongo with 1:15 left for his 22nd goal. The Panthers outshot the Devils 13-6 in the first period, but were outshot 14-2 in the second, tying their season low for shots in a period. The Panthers had two shots in the first against Detroit on Feb. 6. NOTES: Jagr has three goals and six points in the past five games. ... Panthers L Tomas Fleischmann played in his 500th NHL game. ... Panthers LW Sean Bergenheim missed the game with a lower-body injury. ... This was the fifth game in eight days for the Panthers. ' ' '