The Dan Hawkins experiment is over. But Montreal Alouettes GM Jim Popp acknowledged his mistake and made a change quick enough to still salvage the teams season. With Popp now at the helm, Montreal will go back to looking like the team we remember, starting Thursday against the Toronto Argonauts. And sitting only one game out of first in the division, theyll challenge for the East crown like they always do. Not so fast. Hawkins was an undeniably bad fit for the team and league but Montreals problems run deeper than the head coach. The Alouettes have been slowly declining the past two years, even under their highly-respected former head coach Marc Trestman. Since their second consecutive Grey Cup win to cap the 2010 season, the Als have fought to slightly better than average records of 10-8 and 11-7 and havent won a single playoff game. The once vaunted roster has grown a little older and a step slower in recent years and Popp hasnt hit on the same high percentage of moves fans in Montreal are accustomed to. Even Anthony Calvillo, the soon-to-be 41-year-old future Hall of Famer, has seen his play slip from outstanding to just really good. While in the two years prior to this season, Calvillo maintained his 5,000 yards per season average established during the three consecutive years Montreal advanced to the Grey Cup, his touchdown-to-interception rate fell from roughly 4:1 to 3:1 and his completion percentage dropped from the high 60s to the low 60s. Still tremendous numbers for the 20-year veteran, but not quite up to the sterling standard he set for himself in years past. And Popp, the orchestrator of those dynastic Alouettes teams of a few years ago, isnt exactly the miracle worker on the sidelines as hes gained the reputation for being in the front office. In his two previous stints as interim coach, Popp has a combined record of 10-13 in the regular season and 1-3 in the playoffs. Theres no question Montreal will be better moving forward under Popp. The 16-year GM should return the team to some sense of normalcy as they get back to the Alouette way, but will that make the problems plaguing the veteran squad just disappear? The Rouge asks: How much better will the Alouettes be with Popp as interim head coach? Youve heard what weve had to say, now its your turn. As always, its Your! Call.Custom Nike Houston Astros Jerseys . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Custom Nike Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/341n-custom-nike-atlanta-braves-jerseys-baseball.html . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Sale . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Online . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph.Oregon State wide receiver Seth Collins has been admitted to the hospital.The Oregon State athletic department told ESPN that Collins is fighting illness. The schools Twitter account then confirmed the news.Coach Gary Andersen would not comment Monday on Collins status because of privacy issues.Were going to support Seth, and were going to be there for him in any way we possibly can, Andersen said. My thoughts and prayers are with him, just like the team.Collins traveled with the team for Saturdays game against UCLA and had two receptions for 44 yards in the loss. He is second on the Beavers in receptions (36) and receiving yards ((418).dddddddddddd He scored his only touchdown of the season Oct. 29 against Washington State. A sophomore, Collins transitioned to wide receiver after serving as the teams quarterback in 2015 and almost transferring in the offseason.Andersen said he was even limited in what he could tell the team.They seem fine, but are their minds on Seth? Absolutely. Hes a teammate, Andersen said. Its not just a normal, Hey, I hurt my knee in practice.Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '