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WINNIPEG -- A jack of all trades last season for the troubled Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Demond Washington is hoping to add even more to his resume in 2013. "I played probably every position on the field last year," said Washington, who apart from helping out on defence also ranked third in the CFL in combined return yards. The Auburn product wasnt signed until April 2012 but his return credentials were already solid after compiling 1,117 yards in his senior year, good for fourth in all of U.S. college football. Now Washington is challenging for a starters job on a defence that must get a lot better -- especially in the secondary. "I told the first group of secondary people last night I wasnt happy with their performance and if they dont pick it up, theyre going to be gone," Bombers head coach Tim Burke said Tuesday at training camp. He says his defensive backs lack intensity and thats exactly what he sees in Washington. "Hes fast, hes quick, hes got really good hips and feet, and he plays with a lot of intensity," Burke said. "Thats what I like about him." Washingtons combined 2,011 return yards last season could have been even higher if not for some dropped balls -- an issue he has said he has been working hard to correct. "Last year was the most I had in my whole career combined so Ive got to eliminate those things," he said. Whether or not he gets the return job again as well is something that hasnt yet been determined, but Burke says he would have no problem with it if thats what special teams coach Craig Dickenson wants. Washington is currently pencilled in at weak-side linebacker, a position usually occupied by a player strong enough to support the run but also athletic enough to drop into coverage "I have Demond working the weak side of the coverage to put some pressure on some people," said Burke, who has also tried Washington at halfback in the secondary. "This is my first time playing boundary halfback and I think its coming along pretty good right now," Washington said after practice. One member of the defence who isnt on Burkes naughty list is middle linebacker Henoc Muamba. The Bombers have been nothing but impressed with their first pick in the 2011 CFL draft. Muamba says with all the newcomers, the competition is stiff for starting jobs. "Weve got a bunch of great athletes, great defensive players. That is only going to make our team better," he said. "The competition is very high at every position and Im loving it." One of those newcomers is brother Cauchy Muamba, who has moved to the Bombers from the B.C. Lions. Henoc Muamba says his older (but not bigger) brother is fitting in well. The Bombers have him slated to start at safety. "Thats just a credit to how smart he is and how much he can pick up," Henoc Muamba said. "Its just a matter of being comfortable now and getting enough reps with each other at the position so we can react to each other very well and instinctively in games." Henoc Muamba is also glad to see the return of Casey Creehan as defensive co-ordinator, who was linebacker coach when Muamba joined the team. "I know how he coaches. I know what he expects of me," Muamba said. "He knows my game. Hes always told me hes going to help me take my game to the next level." Nickelback Johnny Sears has yet to return from off-season surgery and the Bombers secondary has also been hurt this season by the defection of linebacker Marcellus Bowman to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Cornerback Jovon Johnson, the CFLs outstanding defensive player in 2011, says Creehans return should also help get some of that intensity back for the secondary. A new diet and workout regime has seen Johnson gain 10 or 15 pounds of what looks to be pretty solid muscle. He says he now weighs in at around 190 and feels it can help his tackling ability. "It made me slim down at first but then we started training a lot harder in the weight room and I put the weight back on," he said. "I think people want to see me tackle more ... so I need to decide to go out and do that." Greg Allen Indians Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Nick Wittgren Jersey . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. http://www.indianssale.com/indians-kenny-lofton-jersey/ . 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And only 1,230 games are left until the playoffs start.So, before they raise that banner in Cleveland and the season finally begins Tuesday night, lets empty the notebook and go over 10 more things to know going into this NBA season:---THE CHAMPS: The opportunity is there for Cleveland to get off to a fast start. The Cavaliers play 10 of their first 14 games at home, and the four road contests are all merely one-game trips. LeBron James and his teammates wont have to pack anything bigger than an overnight bag until a two-game trip takes them to Philadelphia and Milwaukee on Nov. 27 and 29. (PS: Defending champions are 55-14 on opening night, including 8-1 in the last nine years.)---LEBRONS LEGEND: LeBron James has been a first-team All-NBA selection 10 times, including each of the last nine seasons. If hes a first-teamer again this year, hell become the third player in league history with 11 such selections joining only Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone. The other 10-timers besides James are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Bob Cousy, Jerry West, Michael Jordan, Bob Pettit and Elgin Baylor. Besides James, no other active player has more than five first-team nods (Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant).---FOR OPENERS: Miami has the longest active streak of opening-night wins, with five straight going into their Game 1 of this season at Orlando on Wednesday. Atlanta has the longest active Game 1 losing streak, having dropped each of its last four openers.---WE SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT COMING: Last season, Golden State became the fifth team to start 14-0 or better in NBA history. Of those five, only one went on to win the title. The 1993-94 Houston Rockets started 15-0 and won the championship -- but the 1948-49 Washington Capitols (15-0), 1957-58 Boston Celtics (14-0), 2002-03 Dallas Mavericks (14-0) and last seasons Warriors all fell short in their title quests.---STEPH AT THE LINE: Golden States Stephen Curry -- the two-time reigning MVP -- enters this season as the third-best frree throw shooter in NBA history, having made 90.dddddddddddd16 percent of his tries. Hes within reach of No. 1 Steve Nash (90.43) and No. 2 Mark Price (90.39).---DRIVE FOR FIVE: DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers will bid this season to win his fifth straight field-goal percentage title. The only other two players to lead the league in shooting five straight times are Wilt Chamberlain (1964-65 through 1968-69) and Shaquille ONeal (1997-98 through 2001-02).---ROAD WARRIORS: San Antonio has a chance to become the only current NBA franchise with a winning road record. If the Spurs go 28-13 away from home this season -- doable, considering they were 27-14 on the road last season -- they would then be 829-828 in opposing arenas all-time. On average, NBA teams win 37.9 percent of their road games.---POP WATCH: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is nine wins shy of tying Larry Brown (1,098) for No. 7 on the NBAs all-time list. Hes also 66 shy of No. 6 Phil Jackson (1,155).---MEXICO SUNS: Phoenix has 39 home games this season instead of the usual 41. The Suns are playing twice in Mexico City, and will be the home team there for games against Dallas on Jan. 12 and San Antonio on Jan. 14. We have an incredibly strong and supportive Hispanic fan base in Arizona, and these two games present a unique opportunity to strengthen our relationship with NBA fans in both Arizona and Mexico, Suns President Jason Rowley said.---PLANNING AHEAD: For those who need to fill their calendars, take note of the following dates -- All-Star weekend in New Orleans is Feb. 17-19; playoffs start April 15; second round starts May 1; conference finals will start May 14, 15 or 16; the NBA Draft lottery is May 16; the NBA Finals start on June 1 and a Game 7, if necessary, would be June 18. The draft is June 22.---Follow AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ByTimReynolds ' ' '