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  Thu, May 5, 2011


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Adriano unlikely to Belli up to the Argos
By Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun


Argos coach/GM Jim Barker assumes nosetackle Adriano Belli won't be attending anymore practices like this one. Belli, who owns a food company, is expected to announce his retirement next week. (Toronto Sun files)


Yes or no, Adriano?

The Argonauts should learn next week whether nose tackle Adriano Belli will re-sign for what would be his 11th season in the Canadian Football League.

Belli has been weighing his football future throughout the off-season. He runs a food business and is not sure whether he can do that and continue to play football. Belli told the Toronto Sun a couple of weeks ago his decision was not going to be an easy one to make.

Argos general manager/head coach Jim Barker, with the Canadian draft coming on Sunday, is assuming Belli will not be back.

“We have to,” Barker said. “If he is here, that is a bonus for us.”

Though Barker might draft a defensive lineman, he was thrilled with the performance of former NFLer Claude Wroten at the free-agent camp in Florida last week. Wroten dominated in one-on-one drills and if Belli retires, Wroten will be given an ample shot to win that spot in training camp.

As for quarterback Jared Zabransky and non-import receiver Kamau Peterson, released by the Edmonton Eskimos, Barker has no interest in the former and lukewarm, at best, interest in the latter.

Barker re-iterated what he said during the free-agent camp last week -— that Cleo Lemon, Steven Jyles and Dalton Bell will be given an equal opportunity to establish himself as the No. 1 quarterback in training camp. Two of Danny Brannagan, Matt Grothe and B.J. Hall also will be at camp, if not all three.

 









Can NFL QB Tim Tebow succeed in the CFL?
  Yes
  No
  Unsure


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