KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- B.C. Lions head coach Mike Benevides says his team has a better handle on what makes Khalif Mitchell tick this time around. The hulking defensive tackle helped the Lions win the 2011 Grey Cup, however a series of incidents on an off the field the following season precipitated a trade to the Toronto Argonauts prior to the 2013 campaign. The mercurial Mitchell rebounded in Toronto and asked for his release from the Argos to pursue NFL opportunities this winter, but when those failed to materialized the Lions surprised the rest of the CFL by bringing him back into the fold. "I think hes a person thats matured. Hes a person thats experienced some things," Benevides said at training camp this week. "The biggest thing I see is everybody else understanding who he is. "I think hes very conscious of whats occurring and whats going on around him. What people need to know is he is not a bad person. Hes a good person." Benevides would know. He was the Lions defensive co-ordinator back in 2011 when Mitchell had his best season, compiling 33 tackles and six sacks. "I see everybody understanding who he is and sometimes you have a misconception or you dont understand someone and that sometimes creates issues," said Benevides. "Khalif is a very charismatic guy, hes a very passionate guy. He enjoys the game. His teammates and his team and the guys around him are very important to him." But it was those teammates who wanted him out the door after the six-foot-six, 315-pound Mitchell made headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2012. The league suspended him two games for violently hyperextending the arm of an opponent that July before fining him an unspecified amount for making multiple throat-slashing gestures in another game. Mitchell was then fined and suspended again for violating the CFLs social media policy after using a racial slur on Twitter. Benevides said the teams leadership group was consulted when the idea to was first floated to bring Mitchell back, and it was agreed that all parties could move on and work towards winning the Grey Cup, which the Lions host in November. "It was a long process and discussion. There was a lot of guys that I spoke to and they were the ones who said Bring him back in the room," said Benevides. "At the end of the day we all have a job to do and thats win." But while his coach has seen growth and maturity, the 29-year-old Mitchell emphasized hes still the same person in many ways. "I havent changed who I am. Even when I came back to B.C. I was like Im going to be Khalif and they were like We understand that," said Mitchell, referring to himself in the third person. "I think a lot of people dont understand who Khalif is because a lot of people only see me in football or from the negative things that Ive produced in the media." Lions running back Andrew Harris expressed delight when Mitchell was traded last year, tweeting "Good riddance!!!!" after the deal with the Argos was announced. The Winnipeg native said hes willing to move on because of Mitchells unique skill set and a hope that he has learned from his mistakes. "Khalif is a beast. Hes a guy that can help us win football games, and thats the most important things," said Harris. "All the off-field stuff that happened in the past, its just maturing from that now. Things happen with people and youve just got to move on from that and trust that there will be better judgement in the future. "Theres definitely no animosity between us. Were teammates now and were just working together for the one goal and thats the Grey Cup." Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian added that there werent any awkward conversations when Mitchell walked back into the locker-room. "I think the guys all know Khalif, and thats the biggest thing for us," said Elimimian. "We know that hes a good guy. We know he means well. We know that hes a very bright man. But also the thing is hes a great football player and thats what we need in the locker-room and on the field." Lions defensive back Ryan Phillips said it was made clear to Mitchell upon his return that he can be himself as long as it doesnt hurt the team. "Just understand that theres consequences to mistakes," said Phillips. "Hes grown up from that. We know the dominant player he can be as long as hes focused on football." Theres no doubt that Mitchell will help an already solid defence get better. The Lions surrendered the second fewest rushing yards per game (94.4) in 2013, but allowed the second most rushing touchdowns (17) and recorded the third fewest sacks (45). Mitchell put the drama from 2012 behind him and nearly matched his 2011 numbers while playing with Toronto last season, registering 32 tackles and five sacks. "In order to be successful in our division, youve got to be very good against the run. Youve got to be big inside," said Benevides. "Hes another big, effective body that can have an impact in the interior line of scrimmage, and good teams win at the line of scrimmage." Mitchell said he never expected to return to the West Coast after his messy divorce with the Lions last year, but is ready to do what he does best -- stop the run and get after the quarterback. "I definitely wasnt expecting to come back. Im sure when they told me Good riddance and Bye they werent expecting me to come back either," he said. "Im here now and regardless of what the situation was, at the end of the day weve got to win a championship." Nike Air Max Axis Canada .A. Dickey, even though he was coming off a Cy Young Award in 2012. Many felt the Jays would regret giving up righthanded pitcher prospect Noah Syndergaard and catcher Travis DArnaud over the long haul. Nike Air Max Flair Canada . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte. http://www.clearanceairmaxcanada.com/air...ax-90-mens.html. Ferguson told Uniteds in-house TV channel on Saturday that he has no immediate plans to walk away from the game, and that he still hungers for more trophies even after 25 years in charge of the club. Nike Air Max 360 Canada . This is Lowry’s third time winning the award in his career. He won the award last season and as a member of the Houston Rockets in 2011. Nike Air Max Canada Sale .“I always did my stuff ahead of the deadline. The best deal Ive ever done was the Darryl Sydor deal. We did that at the end of January in 04, and Syd was the missing piece.For the first time in his 18 season NHL career, Detroit Red Wings forward Daniel Alfredsson is preparing to face a former team. Thats because he spent the first 17 campaigns with the Ottawa Senators; the team that made him the 133rd overall pick in the sixth round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft before making the move to the Motor City. On Wednesday, the Senators will make their first visit of the season to Detroit and the meeting has been on Alfredssons mind. You can catch all of the action live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt and get in-depth player stats, Twitter Trender and more on TSN.cas GameTracker. "I dont know how its going to feel," Alfredsson told TSNs Brent Wallace in an exclusive sit down interview. "Part of me is a little excited because a lot of my friends are on the other team and its going to be about bragging rights in some terms. On the other hand its going to be different emotions going through me as well." While meeting his former teammates for the first time is going to be big, the 40-year-old forward feels that playing for the first time in Ottawa, in front of the Senators fans, is going to be an even bigger challenge. "Thats going to be the most emotional game, December 1st in Ottawa no question," said Alfredsson. "The way the schedule works out, were going to play them twice here before and I think Ill have dealt with most of the questions. It will be more focused on the game." After announcing his decision to move from the Senators to the Red Wings, one of the reasons Alfredsson gave for making the choice was seeing a better chance to win the Stanley Cup in Detroit; a statement that wasnt well received in Ottawa. "Looking back, not the best comment I could have made, but I think we all know that if you get into the playoffs you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup," said Alfredsson. "Ottawa, going forward, are goingg to get better and better because they have a really good core to build on.dddddddddddd For me, (Detroit) is a different challenge." Senators owner Eugene Melnyk claimed that there was miscommunication between the forward and his agent J.P. Barry while they were trying to negotiate a contract extension. This is a claim that Alfredsson denies. "I was in daily contact with J.P. throughout the whole process and if there was miscommunication it would have been from both sides, I assume," said Alfredsson. "From our point of view, me and J.P., we were close throughout the whole process and I dont feel that there was any miscommunication." Despite selling his Ottawa home and moving his family to Detroit, the Gothenburg, Sweden native has not shut the door on returning to the Senators organization when his time with the Red Wings is over. "I havent closed anything off," said Alfredsson. "This is a new chapter in our lives, a new challenge and who knows whats going to happen after. We havent planned anything about moving back to Sweden, Ottawa or staying (in Detroit)." The veteran is not worried about how hes viewed through the choices hes made but does want the people that used to cheer for him to know they are held in high regard. "I do care what people in Ottawa think of me and the love and support they gave me will always be with me and those 18 years will be a very special time." Alfredsson does, however, dispute the idea that the feelings coming from his former home are as hurt as people want to believe. "I dont think there is as much bitterness as people make it out to be," said Alfredsson. "In the long run we had a great relationship throughout my career, both on and off the ice, and you cant change that. I think if you carry yourself with pride and treat people the way they want to be treated, things usually work out." ' ' '