MONTREAL - A longtime respected voice in the Montreal Alouettes dressing room, Scott Flory will now put his leadership talents to work on behalf of all CFL players. The nine-time CFL all-star offensive lineman announced his retirement Wednesday after playing 15 seasons and winning three Grey Cups in Montreal. The move was largely expected after Flory became the new president of the CFL Players Association in late March. The Regina native suffered a season-ending biceps tear July 12 in a game against the Calgary Stampeders, though he was determined to return this season if he had not won his leadership bid. "It was a decision I made when I chose to run that I told myself that if I did win that I was going to retire," Flory said at an Olympic Stadium press conference. "It was a way for me to segue out of football from the playing side of it but still stay involved with the game and being around the guys and trying to represent them. "I was committed to coming back. I was training, I was doing everything, and I believe in this club and the direction that theyre going so I wanted to be a part of it." Flory felt that he could not do justice to either job by continuing to play while heading up the players union. "I didnt want to shortchange the players or the Alouettes by trying to do both jobs at the same time," Flory said. "Over my 15-year career I committed myself wholly to being the best football player I could be and I want to do the same in my new role as president of the players association." The 37-year-old is currently participating in talks with the league on a new collective bargaining agreement, though he declined to comment on any of those issues Wednesday. "Ive been a player rep since 2002 and sometimes there needs to be a guy who is the voice of the guys, and not everybody has the ability or the strength or the desire to talk to coaches or to deal with a lot of things that players have to deal with," Flory said. "It was something I liked and I cared about and I wanted to serve the guys ... and I was elected, and Im thankful for that. But over my time in Montreal I was always a part of the players association and I believe in the players and trying to represent them the best I can." Twice the CFLs top lineman (2008 and 2009), the six-foot-four, 296-pound Flory helped Montreal to Grey Cup victories in 2002, 2009 and 2010. "When people talk about how I was able to play for so long it was because of people like Scott that took pride in protecting the quarterback," said former Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who retired in January as pro footballs all-time passing leader with 79,816 yards. "They didnt get a lot of press, a lot of accolades, but in that locker-room when I could walk away from a game with not getting hit you could see a big smile on their face and they took a lot of pride in that, so they were able to do that for many, many years and that allowed me to play for a lot of years." Montreal selected Flory in the third round, 15th overall, in the 1998 CFL draft out of the University of Saskatchewan. He attended training camp before returning to the Huskies, helping them win the Vanier Cup that season. Alouettes tackle Josh Bourke acknowledged that losing both Calvillo and Flory to retirement will leave a leadership void in Montreal that needs to be filled. "It just means that were going to be missing two great leaders on our team, two great men," Bourke said. "Ive played a lot of football with Scott. Ive played a lot of games with him, pretty much every start Ive made in this league hes been on the field with me so Ive learned a lot the last seven years from him, how to be a man, most importantly, but how to be a great teammate, how to prepare, how to be a professional. "Guys like myself and other guys coming up the ranks, were the ones that have to kind of take over now but its going to be hard because hes been such a great leader for so long." Soccer Jerseys China .C. Lions signed cornerback Dante Marsh to a contract extension on Friay and released receiver Paris Jackson. Clearance Soccer Jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have fired receivers coach Ike Hilliard. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/. He insists hes not counting. "If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . -- Tiago Splitter tipped in a rebound with 2. Soccer Jerseys Outlet . Portland won Game 4 Sunday night at the Moda Center and are now up 3-1. The last time the Blazers won a playoff series came in the 2000 Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz.Arsenal face West Brom on Thursday night knowing a win will cement their advantage over Manchester United in fifth. Arsenal drew their last match against Crystal Palace 1-1, a result which Arsene Wenger labelled disappointing and will want his side to bounce back with a win against Tony Pulis side.West Brom suffered a 1-0 defeat to Watford last Saturday with Saido Berahino missing two penalties. The result means their winless run currently stands at four matches, but the west Midlands club look to be safe from relegation having secured 40 points. Tony Pulis has lost all seven visits to the Emirates Stadium in his managerial career, a record he will wish to rectify on Thursday. Meanwhile Arsenal are just one win away from 500 Premier League victories.Team news Arsenal drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace last Sunday Jack Wilshere is expected to miss out on Thursday night.The midfielder is fit after recovering from a broken fibula but manager Arsene Wenger is not likely to risk the 24-year-old when the Baggies visit the Emirates Stadium.Santi Cazorla (Achilles) and Tomas Rosicky (thigh) are also back in training but will not feature, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) is out. Arsene Wenger isnt bothered that some Arsenal season ticket holders have returned their tickets for their game against West Brom West Brom boss Tony Pulis has a few knocks and niggles to contend with ahead of Thursday nights trip to Arsenal. Pulis is not prepared to risk players who might then be struggling for Mondays clash with title challengers Tottenham.Alex Pritchard could make his return from an ankle problem, but James Morrison (hamstring) is not yet available.Opta stats Tony Pulis has never won a match as manager at Emirates Stadium West Brom beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Hawthorns earlier this season, despite only having one shot on target.Only one of the 13 Premier League meetings between Arsene Wengers Arsenal and a side managed by Tony Pulis has ever ended as an away win. Pulis has lost all seven visits to the Emirates Stadium.The Gunners had been unbeaten in nine Premier League games against the Baggies before their defeat at the Hawthorns back in November (W7 D2). Tony Pulis wants Saido Berahino to keep taking West Broms penalties, even though hes missed the last two West Brom have won just one of their last 11 Premier League away games (W1 D5 L5).ddddddddddddWest Brom have averaged lower than a goal a game under Tony Pulis in the Premier League (0.98 - 50 goals in 51 games). However, the Baggies have kept a clean sheet in 21 of Tony Pulis 51 Premier League games in charge of the club (41% of matches).Saido Berahino has scored just four goals in 28 Premier League appearances this season, after netting 14 in 2014-15.The Gunners are currently on 499 Premier League victories - only Manchester United (583) have won more in the competition.Charlies prediction Charlie Nicholas says Arsenal currently rely on Mesut Ozil too much Ive actually got to the stage, and I have been for four and five weeks, where Im not comfortable watching my team. Im not at the edge of my seat. Its so predictable and its always Mesut Ozil that has to create.People criticise him because hes not quick and dynamic but thats not his job. Danny Welbecks movement is good but his touch and his finishing is poor and Alexis Sanchez still isnt doing enough.West Brom may be safe but Tony Pulis wont do Arsenal any favours. The Emirates isnt a difficult place to go any more, because you know you can sit in and youll get chances.Arsenal are in a really dangerous situation, with United potentially just a point behind by this stage. Ill start on the edge of my seat and end the game hiding behind it, with another seriously uncomfortable night, and I think it could be Mohamed Elneny - one of the few impressive players - to save Arsenal.Charlie predicts: 1-0 and Elneny to score first - 80/1 with Sky Bet Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn explains where their Premier League title challenge went wrong this season BettingArsenal are 1/4 with Sky Bet to beat 11/1 shots West Brom on Thursday night, with the draw priced at 3/1. The Gunners slim title hopes were all but ended when they were held by Crystal Palace on Sunday and are now 80/1 outsiders to overtake Leicester and Spurs.West Brom are winless in their last four but can be backed at 11/4 to win or draw against the inconsistent Gunners in the Double Chance market. Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud are both 11/4 shots to score first with Salomon Rondon and Saido Berahino as big as 11/1 to break the deadlock. See all the match odds, Price Boosts and pundits here.Watch Arsenal v West Brom on Thursday night from 7pm on Sky Sports 1 HD, or watch live for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. ' ' '