BC LIONS TRAINING CAMP REPORT – DAY 5

(Vancouver) As of 8:30 am Thursday morning, the BC Lions stay in Abbotsford was unofficially renamed Raining Camp 2008.

Even the pounding precipitation however, could not deter the Lions as they took to the artificial surface at WJ Mouat Secondary School for the fifth day of camp. The mood remains upbeat despite the wet conditions and head coach Wally Buono has complimented the team numerous times for staying focused.

Players were in pads for both sessions as coaches try to get the most out of the limited space of a single field and the physical play picked up as a result. Raining Camp saw its first fight as OL Kelly Bates and DL Ceasar Rayford exchanged pleasantries. The melee spilled over and eventually included approximately 10 players with DL Jeremy Gibbs losing his helmet.

Team period included a dazzling catch by WR Paris Jackson and great efforts by defensive backs Reggie Myles and Ahmaad Smith. The defense was down two members with LaVar Glover resting a hip-flexor and Tyrone Williams sitting out with a sore knee. Williams went for an MRI, the results of which should be available tomorrow.

TSN was in town to collect its headshots for its 2008 broadcasts and players also took their annual media guide photo. Over lunch the Lions released five players including DB Konrad Wasiela, DB Sir James Delgardo, LB Charles Tolbert, RB Amos Allen and junior SB Andrew Harris.

The afternoon session only ran for 60 minutes due to field availability and included among other things a spirited one-on-one period with DL Dan McCullough, DB Donald Brown, WR Jesse Holley all turning in notable performances as did QB Buck Pierce.me

Watching: Justin Shaw (LB - hamstring), DL Tyrone Williams (knee) and DB LaVar Glover (hip).

Food Fare: On the lunch menu Thursday: Chinese-style noodles with chicken, hot-dogs and curly-fries California rolls. For dinner: salad, garlic prawns, potato skins and pasta with meat sauce.

Quotable: “I’m not sure that qualifies as dancing…” – Leos defensive back Ryan Phillips commenting on teammate Aaron Hunt’s moving headshot for TSN.

Next Up: Friday, June 6 – one session - 8:30 am – 12:00 pm on the turf at WJ Mouat.