nt into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. While the official 2017 calendar will not be ratified until 30 Novemb

CALGARY -- When concussion symptoms forced Dan Federkeil to retire from the NFLs Indianapolis Colts in 2009, he was sure his football career was over. The offensive lineman from Medicine Hat, Alta., returned to Calgary where hed starred for five seasons with the University of Calgary Dinos. Federkeil was able to complete his economics degree as his headaches waned. His desire to return to the football field aligned with the Calgary Stampeders acquisition of Federkeils CFL rights from the Toronto Argonauts this year. Federkeil reported to Calgarys rookie camp and is now auditioning for a job at left tackle at main camp. "I think one of the main problems was how I went out," Federkeil said Monday at McMahon Stadium. "It wasnt on my terms. Its just not a good way to go out, having an injury and knowing you have the potential for more and its just done." Federkeil played 28 regular-season games, started three and also started in a wild-card playoff game in 2009 during his four seasons with the Colts. The Medicine Hat High School product earned a Super Bowl ring in 2007. Hed played on the Dinos defensive line and in 2005 was a finalist for the J.P. Metras Trophy that goes to the top lineman in Canadian university football. Federkeil was drafted in the first round by the Argos in 2006, but signed with the Colts as a free agent that year and switched to the offensive line. Federkeil had suffered a concussion during his university career and then experienced a couple more with the Colts when he was on the field for kickoff returns. Debilitating headaches forced him out of the game. "At that point, with the symptoms I was having, the decision was fairly easy from a physical point of view," he said. Federkeil says it was 14 months before he could return to the gym, but hes been symptom free for two years. He consulted a doctor this year about a return to professional football and was given the all-clear. "The main thing with concussions is you have to be honest with yourself," he said. "Ive known some guys who have come back before theyre symptom-free and those are the guys who usually get re-injured right away. "The biggest concern was definitely re-injuring, or if Id actually healed up even though I felt good. All it takes is one hit. So far its been good. Theres been no side effects. Nothing to worry about right now." Federkeil played right tackle for the Colts, but is lining up on the left side at Stampeder camp. The 29-year-old is a physical specimen at six foot six and a muscular 300 pounds. "Hes a big man. He doesnt look like he weighs 300 pounds," offensive line coach Mike Gibson observed. "Hes got long arms. He knows how to bend his knees. Hes a talented individual. "You can tell hes played in the NFL. Hes well-coached." Upon learning of Federkeils wish to play football again, Calgary traded non-import linebacker Akwasi Antwi to Toronto for his rights in April. That transaction was necessary for Federkeils comeback. He and his wife Shannon have a five-month old daughter. "The Stampeders were really the only choice," Federkeil said. "I just had a little girl. I wasnt about to leave town and leave them behind. I doubt I would have went somewhere and took them with me. It wasnt really feasible." Federkeil signed a three-year contract with Calgary. He believes he can manage the risk of further concussions. "Playing offensive line, I think the risk level is low," he said. "Ive never had any concussion symptoms playing offensive line. Ive had some playing defensive line. The last two major concussions were both on kickoff returns, so you will never see me on kickoff return." Federkeil admits it hasnt been easy shaking off the rust of three years without a practice or game. "Id like to get back to where I was before just in terms of execution," he said. "I really think the biggest thing right now is I need to get to the point where the game slows down. I know some guys have said I move good, I move quick, but mentally things are still happening fast for me. "When I get to the point where I can see stuff and it slows down, then it makes it a lot more fun." Discount Nike Shoes Online . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Cheap Nike Shoes Free Shipping . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. http://www.cheapnikeshoeschina.us/ . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Wholesale Nike Shoes . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Nike Shoes China . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. While the official 2017 calendar will not be ratified until 30 November, rumours about the shape the calendar will take are flying thick and fast in the Abu Dhabi paddock.Germany is out for the year, and that has been confirmed by the race promoter and by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, so no surprises are expected on the German front next week. But in previous races there were whispers that, in the event Hockenheim was not on the final calendar, another European venue was waiting in the wings, circuit and money ready to step in should the need arise. That venue? Imola.It remains to be seen whether the World Motor Sport Council will present the waiting world with a 20- or a 21-round calendar for the next F1 season, but if the Imola rumours are true it would be a pleasant way to mark an end to the summer season, leaving the travelling circus to start the summer shutdown with bellies replete with carbohydrates and wine.Should the San Marino Grand Prix not make a reappearance in 2017, there will be some adjustments made to the calendar as it currently stands, with Hungary expected to take the place currently occupied by Germany, robbing the paddock of a potential four-week summer break.Further on, there are also expected to be changes to the version of the calendar published in Q3, with Singapore and Malaysia moving around to leave the F1 night race as a standalone event rather than the former (insane) schedule that saw the travelling circus heading out to Asia and sitting on Asian time for a week before returning to European time for Singapore and then back on to Asian time for Suzuka.At last, a decision that made sense.And there may still be further tweaks to come. In a round-table interview at Yas Marina, Baku race promoter Arif Rahimov told F1 journalists that -- in addition to ongoing negotiations regarding renaming the event the Grand Prix of Azerbaijan -- discussions regarding the repositioning of the race on the calendar were also under way.While the first race in Baku was certainly damaged -- in both media coverage and TV viewership -- by its positioning on this years calendar, which saw the grand prix competing with the 24 Heures du Mans endurance race, the practicalities were also a challenge, Rahimov acknowledged.The time difference works against us, he said. To be honest we havent discussed changing the date with Canada, but we want to move it forwards a little bit. It is a logistical nightmare for ourselves as well -- we have six jumbo jets to unload on the Tuesday. That is 900 tonnes of cargo in 24 hours to bring to the circuit. We did it, and F1 cargo was happy with what we did, but it is a toough job.ddddddddddddBut for a race determined to have a long-term future in F1 -- Azerbaijan has a 10-year contract to host the race, with a break clause after five years -- media exposure and increased turnout are key, and to achieve those aims a date shift is vital.My personal position is that we are not entirely happy with this date, Rahimov said. We missed a lot of press coverage due to Le Mans. I still think in the motorsport world we were on top of the priority and watch list this year in June, but obviously we want to have more. If we manage to change the date, so not clashing with the [Le Mans] date, it will be more exposure.Further on in the calendar, there have been suggestions of date changes in the Austin-Mexico-Brazil window, irrespective of whether or not Interlagos manages to salvage its place on the calendar. While there is an awful lot of goodwill around the Brazilian Grand Prix, with the track beloved by most despite the condition of the facilities and surrounding area, the race itself appears to be a patient on the final hours of life support.The retirement of Felipe Massa followed by this weeks announcement that Banco do Brasil had withdrawn their financial backing for Felipe Nasr means that it is unlikely that we will see a Brazilian driver in Formula One in 2017 -- the first time since 1969 that the sport has not had a single entrant from South Americas geographical behemoth.No driver means diminished local interest and diminished funding. Add to that the ongoing problems surrounding former title sponsor Petrobras and the nose-diving value of the Real, and it looks as though a 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix is little more than a nice idea with no real support.From where Im standing, at the tail-end of a 21-race season and with the stamped passport to prove it, a 19-round calendar sounds like manna from heaven. Potentially losing two historic rounds -- including one on a still legendary track (Hockenheim was sadly neutered) -- is a crying shame. But change is inevitable, and these changes are not just as good as a rest: they represent the potential for real R&R.Looking to the future, another rumour doing the rounds in recent months takes in potential replacements for those races soon to fall. While the F1 fanbase has (understandably) moaned about endless Tilkedromes in unheard of countries looking to boost their global profile, the rumour is that a popular and current race promoter is currently hard at work on a second US race in the area around Palm Springs. ' ' '