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MONTREAL -- For a second year in a row, the Montreal Alouettes will start the CFL season with a new head coach. Alouettes owner Bob Wetenhall announced Monday that Tom Higgins will be the clubs new head coach. The former Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders bench boss replaces general manager Jim Popp, who took over on Aug. 1 when the inexperienced Dan Hawkins was fired only five games into the 2013 season. Wetenhall made it clear in a statement that he did not want Popp, who is considered one of the CFLs best GMs but has a career 16-20 record as a coach, to continue in both jobs. "As Ive expressed to the media in recent weeks, I wanted to continue with the formula which has brought us the success weve enjoyed these past 17 years -- having a full-time head coach and a full-time general manager to fill each of these positions," said Wetenhall. "The criteria we established was to find an individual familiar with the CFL; someone with success in that position and a background as a position coach. In addition, we sought an individual with a record for moulding and delivering championship teams. "In Toms seven years as a head coach he won three division championships along with a Grey Cup, and twice earned recognition as the CFLs coach of the year. His head coaching record of 72-53-1 speaks for itself. We welcome Tom to the Alouettes family." Popp had made no secret of wanting to continue coaching, but Wetenhall put out a statement recently saying candidates would be interviewed. A year ago, the Alouettes waited until Feb. 19 to name Hawkins, a former U.S. university coach with no experience of the Canadian game. He was 2-3 when he was fired with the team in disarray. Popp, the Alouettes GM since they returned to Montreal in 1996, took over as coach for the third time in his career and went 6-7. It marked only the second time since 1996 the team had a losing record, matching the 8-10 mark Popp put up in his only full season as head coach in 2007. It hurt that starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo was lost for the season in August to a concussion. This time, the team waited five days longer to name a new coach and came up with Higgins, who stepped down in December after five years as the CFLs director of officiating. Higgins did not even get introduced at a press conference. The club said "time constraints and personal obligations" prevented bringing him to Montreal for the announcement, but that he will talk to the media Tuesday on a conference call. He takes over a team that will not have CFL all-time passing leader Calvillo as its starter for the first time since 2000. Instead, 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and young prospect Tanner Marsh are pegged to replace the retired future Hall of Famer. Higgins, who will turn 60 on July 13, led the Eskimos to 13-5 records twice and won a Grey Cup in 2003 in his four years with the club. He had a 28-25 record in three seasons in Calgary from 2005 to 2007. "Tom has worked with and tutored many of the CFLs finest quarterbacks -- Doug Flutie, Henry Burris and Ricky Ray, to mention a few," said team president Mark Weightman. "His expertise will be invaluable in the development of Troy Smith and Tanner Marsh." Higgins has spent 23 years in various CFL jobs, including a stint as GM in Edmonton. A native of Woodbridge, N.J., and a former linebacker and defensive tackle, Higgins played for Calgary and Saskatchewan in the 1970s. Popp replaced Rod Rust as coach at the end of the 2001 season, but gave way for Don Matthews the following season. He stepped in again when Matthews left for health reasons in 2006. Marc Trestman, now coach of the Chicago Bears, coached the club from 2008-2012, winning two Grey Cups. Wes Horton Jersey . 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A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit upheld Bonds conviction in September.NEW YORK -- Mark Sanchez has his sights set on returning to the field this season -- as the New York Jets starting quarterback. Well, at least in a few months. Sanchez was placed on short-term injured reserve Saturday, meaning he will not be able to play for the next eight weeks while he recovers from an injured right shoulder. "As far as making a decision thats best for the team and best for my medical health, were all on the same page," Sanchez said during a conference call. "Ill come back, hopefully, in eight weeks and be ready to play." Sanchez injured his right shoulder after replacing rookie Geno Smith in the fourth quarter of the teams third preseason game against the Giants. He has opted to try to rehabilitate the injury rather than have season-ending surgery. Sanchez acknowledged that surgery is a possibility, but doctors are encouraged by his rehab so far. Some fans and media have suggested that Sanchez should have the surgery immediately, since it seems inevitable that he will need to do so. But the quarterback called those opinions "laughable" since thats not what the doctors have told him. "Theyve said, Hey, youre doing the right thing," Sanchez said. "So, unless everybody is lying and everybody has it out to get me, I think were OK." The exact nature of the injury has not been revealed by either Sanchez or the team, but some published reports say it is a partially torn labrum. Sanchez has been throwing passes left-handed during practices and was doing the same Thursday night before the teams 13-10 loss to New England. General manager John Idzik pointed out that Sanchez had a similar injury to his right shoulder in 2010, and didnt miss any time. Thats why the team took an initial "day-to-day" approach before making this decision. Sanchez was examined by the team doctors, Dr. James Andrews and consulted with several others in the last week. "After weighing all those, the consensus was that this was the proper thing to do," Idzik said. By placing him on the IR-designated for return, Sanchez must miss the next six weeks of practice but can rehab with the team at the Jets facility and take part in team meetings. He wont be able to play until after the Jets 10th game. The earliest Sanchez could be back is Nov. 17 at Buffalo, following the Jets bye week. "Im going to do everything I can to play and compete, like I always have," Sancchez said when asked if he feels hes entitled to being the starter when he returns.dddddddddddd. "And, I expect to play. Thats just the way I am. "Im expecting to be the starter. I always have been." Teams can place only one player on short-term IR per season. On Friday, coach Rex Ryan said it was very possible that Sanchez could be back. "If we didnt think itd be realistic that Mark would get on the field, then he would be put on IR," Ryan said Friday. "And thats not the case." Smith has started the Jets first two games and it appears will continue to be under centre while Sanchez is sidelined. Matt Simms and Brady Quinn are the other quarterbacks on the roster. Idzik maintained his stance that the team looks only at the upcoming game, so he would not commit to Smith as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. Sanchez appeared to have an edge in the tightly contested quarterback competition this summer after Smith struggled with three interceptions in the preseason game against the Giants. But, Ryan put Sanchez into the game in the fourth quarter of that game, and the quarterback took a crunching hit to his shoulder from Marvin Austin. Ryan has been heavily criticized for that decision, but Sanchez has never publicly criticized the coach. "My personal opinion, and I dont know if anyone else agrees with me, but I dont think you heal right if you hold grudges," Sanchez said. "That negative stuff doesnt help." Ryan has insisted that despite assumptions, Sanchez had not won the quarterback competition at that point. In fact, the coach has never announced a winner for the job. Sanchez, however, said in an interview with NFL Network on Thursday that he felt he undoubtedly won the competition. He reiterated Saturday that he always believes he should be the starter. The injury has clouded Sanchezs future with the team, especially with the struggles he had the last two seasons with an NFL-leading 52 turnovers. But while Idzik wouldnt commit to Sanchez being on the team beyond this season, he said the quarterback is "unequivocally a very important part of this team." Sanchez, the teams first-round pick in 2009, said has no plans to play anywhere but in New York. "Absolutely, Im a Jet," he said. "Ive been a Jet since Day 1, and I dont plan on doing anything else. Im focused on this rehab and getting ready to play." 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