Checking Down: Marc Trestman’s name a hot topic

TORONTO — Tori Gurley will have a chip on his shoulder when he makes his Bomber debut in Week 17.

Plus, should the Montreal Alouettes be on the phone with Marc Trestman?

That and much, much more in the latest Checking Down:

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BC LIONS

Bryan Burnham has emerged among the league leaders in receiving yards (The Canadian Press)

– When Wally Buono called him one random winter morning this year, Bob O’Billovich just couldn’t say no to a new opportunity (Arash Madani, 3 Down Nation).

– Solomon Elimimian and Adam Bighill are about to set new heights in tackles, but Wally Buono is looking beyond the numbers at his top defensive players (Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun).

– The key to Bryan Burnham’s spike in production in 2016 is that he’s finally comfortable, says Geroy Simon (Mike Beamish, The Vancouver Province).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Fines have been handed down to both Jason Maas and the Eskimos following Week 16 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Both the Edmonton Eskimos and Head Coach Jason Maas have been fined following Maas’ failure to wear a live mic on Thanksgiving Monday (CFL.ca).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Stamps offensive lineman Derek Dennis blocks Lions pass rusher Alex Bazzie (CFL.ca)

– One key to Calgary’s success? The O-line, which is bigger and better than any other in the CFL with an average weight of 331 pounds (CFL.ca).

– Stamps rookie Tommie Campbell has an inspirational tale that he wanted to get out (Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Nic Demski is looking to bounce back after struggling with drops vs. Ottawa (Troy Fleece/CFL.ca)

– When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped outside on Parliament Hill on Tuesday he saw a Saskatchewan Roughriders practice (TheSnap.ca).

– The Riders have acquired former 10th overall pick and defensive back Andrew Lue from the Montreal Alouettes for a 2018 fourth round pick (CFL.ca).

– Riders receivers coach Markus Howell says Nic Demski’s three drops against Ottawa were an anomaly, not a sign of a player struggling to catch the ball (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

– Taking first-team reps and set to start in Week 17, Tori Gurley isn’t hiding the massive chip on his shoulder after being released by the Argos (Kirk Penton, Winnipeg Sun).

– Maurice Leggett’s late game-saving tackle on Chris Rainey was as impressive a defensive play as you will see this year (Matthew Cauz, CFL.ca).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Ticats running back C.J. Gable is set to return to action in Week 17 (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– Justin Capicciotti and Xavier Fulton are a couple of ex-Riders who suddenly find themselves in a playoff chase — while Fulton is expected to start at left tackle on Friday night (Steve Milton, 3 Down Nation).

– The Ticats have released defensive back Brandon Sermons and linebacker D.J. Hunter.

– Not long after being traded, Capicciotti says he’s excited to learn and get on the field and be a complete player on Orlondo Steinauer’s defence (Ticats.ca).

– Keon Raymond had a feeling he’d be getting a call soon, he just didn’t know who it would be from. On Friday night he’ll start at SAM linebacker for the Ticats (Steve Milton, Hamilton Spectator).

– One familiar face could be among the Ticats’ new additions, as C.J. Gable has been added to the Ticats’ Week 17 depth chart at running back.

– Luke Tasker has been moved to the Ticats’ six-game injured list (Drew Edwards, The Hamilton Spectator).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Scott Milanovich will hope to see drastic improvement from his team over the final few weeks (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

– The Argos have added international linebacker Trevonti Barber to their practice roster. They also announced the release of international linebacker Jimmy Hall.

– Unless things change drastically over the next three weeks, the Argos could be in for a major off-season overhaul (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Henry Burris will be the one at the helm for the REDBLACKS come this weekend (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Some Ottawa REDBLACKS are starting to feel like it’s ‘now or never’ when it comes to reaching their lofty 2016 expectations — ones that so far have not been met (Gord Holder, Ottawa Citizen).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Could Marc Trestman (right) and Anthony Calvillo be reunited on the sidelines? (The Canadian Press)

– An emerging sub-plot as the Alouettes’ season winds down is the sudden availability of Marc Trestman, who was fired as the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator on Monday morning (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).