MONTREAL -- Coach Tom Higgins calls working with general manager Jim Popp "a match made in heaven. Buy Air VaporMax 2018 ." And the pleasantries exchanged between the two men on a conference call on Tuesday made it hard to imagine they were rivals for the Montreal Alouettes head coaches job. That was settled when team owner Bob Wetenhall insisted that the jobs of coach and general manager be kept separate, and that Popp would have to stick to his GM duties. "This is the model that has made us successful," said Wetenhall. "This has given Jim the time and the freedom to go out and build our team, year after year, always with a few new players added. "To have a GM with the freedom and the time to do this is the model we really wanted to go back to." In the 59-year-old Higgins, the Alouettes hired a CFL veteran who spent seven years as a head coach in Edmonton and Calgary, winning a Grey Cup with the Eskimos in 2003. The Woodbridge, N.J., native spent the last six years as the leagues director of officiating. "Tom brings a winning record and a tremendous reputation as a stand-up, high class guy," said Wetenhall. Popp, the teams general manager since it returned to Montreal in 1996 who is considered among the CFLs best, had hoped to continue in both jobs after taking over from the fired Dan Hawkins, who had no previous CFL experience, only five games in to the 2013 campaign. When Higgins was confirmed in the job on Monday, it raised speculation that Popp may be on his way out. Wetenhall would not confirm Popps long-term status with the club, but made it clear he wanted his GM to stay. And Popp, whose name has been linked to NFL jobs in recent years, said hes wants to carry on. "Ive been with the Alouettes for 18 years -- I plan on being there, its my other home," said Popp. "Ive had six children that were all born in Montreal and I really have no interest in leaving. "Circumstances come up, but the organization knows how loyal I am. Im a company man and its a place I enjoy being. Theres a lot that gets thrown around out there, a lot of it thats not true. But Im very happy." That Popp joined in the conference call was a surprise. His name wasnt mentioned in the Higgins announcement. And it was unusual that the general manager was not involved in the decision to hire the head coach. Wetenhalls son Andrew, a team governor, said that as a candidate for the coaching job, Popp would have been in conflict of interest if he had a say in who the next coach would be. But Popp had provided the owners with a list of potential coaching candidates with an assessment of their abilities. "This is a case where two people can work together who didnt select one another," said Andrew Wetenhall. "We have the added benefit of two guys who know each other and have a heck of a lot of respect for each other." Higgins said he didnt feel awkward at all working with Popp. "I couldnt be happier," he said. "I think our personalities complement one another. "We both want the same thing. This is an opportunity for myself to get back on the field where I belong. This is not a challenge whatsoever." Higgins first job will be to hire an offensive co-ordinator and fill out the coaching staff, which he expects to complete within 10 days. The Alouettes had already signed defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe to a two-year contract extension on Dec. 4, with the added title of assistant head coach. They also confirmed that Andre Bolduc, a former CFL player and head coach at Sherbrooke University, was signed as a defensive assistant coach. Wetenhall said one of Higgins assets was his ability to work with young quarterbacks, which will be needed in Montreal this season. For the first time since 2000, they will not have Anthony Calvillo as the starter as the CFLs all-time passing leader has retired. Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, and youngster Tanner Marsh are expected to compete for the starting job, with Alex Brink also in the picture. Higgins said he has worked with gifted young pivots before in Henry Burris and Ricky Ray. He feels the Alouettes can improve on last years 8-10 season. "Ive always marvelled at the level of talent in Montreal," he said. "I hope to bring a level of consistency and discipline. "We are going to be competitive and entertaining. And when you start doing that and playing disciplined football, usually you win more than you lose." White Air VaporMax 2018 . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely. Youth Air VaporMax 2018 . A broadcast source said the deal is for five years. The agreement calls for a minimum of 17 regular-season games as well as the East and West Division finals being broadcast annually on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNEWS. http://www.cheapairvapormaxstore.com/ . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon.SINGAPORE -- Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel again stamped himself the man to beat by setting the fastest time in Fridays practice for the Singapore Grand Prix. Chasing his third straight win in Formula Ones annual night race and seemingly headed for a fourth successive drivers championship, Vettel set a time of 1 minute, 44.249 seconds on the Marina Bay circuit; six tenths of a second clear of teammate Mark Webber. Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were the nearest rivals, but third-placed Rosberg was more than a second slower than Vettel. "The time we set was a surprise today, I got a good lap in, but I dont think its completely representative," Vettel said. "We seem to be quick, but Mercedes will be very strong in qualifying tomorrow." Lotus driver Sebastian Grosjean had steering problems in the early session and a hydraulic failure in the late one, but was still fifth quickest, outperforming his more experienced teammate Kimi Raikkonen in eighth. Ferraris Fernando Alonso -- who reiterated his commitment to the team on Friday amid speculation of a move to McLaren -- was sixth, ahead of McLarens Jenson Button. Force Indias Adrian Sutil and McLarens Sergio Perez were ninth and 10th. There were few incidents over the two 90-minute sessions. Williams Pastor Maldonado went nose-first into one of the concrete barriers that hem the street circuit but the carr had only minor front-wing damage. Black Air VaporMax Shoes. The lack of problems was a testament to both the track surface, which has more grip this year after resurfacing, and the concentration of drivers who must go through 78 gear changes per lap on the twisty circuit, while dealing with the intense heat of driving under floodlights in the tropical climate. Vettels performance was dispiriting for his rivals, who need a dip in the Germans imperious form if they are to reel in the already-comfortable 53-point lead he holds in the championship. Should he top the times in Saturdays qualifying, that lead is likely to be extended further as Vettel has converted his past three pole positions this season into race wins. About the only bad news for Vettel on Thursday was a 200-euro fine for speeding in the pit lane in the first practice session. The yawning one-second gap between Vettel and third-placed Rosberg was a surprise, given that Mercedes had hoped that a return to a tight, high-downforce circuit would negate the speed advantage Red Bull enjoyed in Belgium and Italy. Mercedes had taken the pole-and-win double at both Monaco and Hungary, the two other races with comparable race settings. "There are some big gaps on the timesheets but we need to focus on our own program and not get distracted by what our competitors are doing," Mercedes F1 executive director Toto Wolff said. ' ' '