CFL set to honour its best
Tonight the CFL will honour its best at the Shaw Centre. I am honoured to be one of the 89 voters from the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine head coaches to vote on the awards. The envelope please.
The Most Outstanding Player Award always garners the most attention. Tonight’s story line is especially compelling, a choice between former Eskimo quarterback, 38year-old, 15-year veteran Ricky Ray, now an Argo, and, Edmonton’s present pivot, 32year-old, eight-year veteran Mike Reilly.
It is hard to believe that a sure Hall-of-Famer like Ray has never won the award. Ray is fourth all-time in passing, 60,429, and No. 1 in pass completion percentage, 68. He has three Grey Cup rings.
Both are almost identical statistically. Reilly threw for 5,830 yards, Ray, 284 less. Ray completed 27 more passes. He had 11 interceptions to Reilly’s 13 and 28 TD passes compared to Reilly’s 30. Reilly’s passing efficiency rating was 103.2, Ray’s 102.9.
Reilly ran for 390 yards, the essence of his leadership mystique. He had a much better receiving corps than Ray but produced only eleven yards more per game. Reilly has the reputation of a warrior who does everything to win. Ray is also a warrior but a much quieter one. You can make a good case for either one. Ray is the sentimental favourite but Reilly, who I chose, will win.
In a battle of linebackers, Calgary’s Alex Singleton faces Alouette Kyries Hebert. Singleton was second in tackles, 123. Hebert had 110 take downs, the oldest player (37) to record such a feat. Hebert, in my opinion, is one of the dirtiest players in the league, having played a leading role in ending the career of Jon Cornish with an illegal hit to the head, and wreaking havoc on other poor souls who got in his way. Second year Canadian Singleton was the heart of the best defence in the league. He will win the first of many awards in what will be a distinguished career.
Up for Outstanding Canadian are Winnipeg’s tremendous back Andrew Harris and Redblack Brad Sinopoli, former Calgary backup quarterback who seized the opportunity given to him by John Hufnagel to become a receiver and is now a star where he attended university. He caught 91 passes for 1009 yards and three touchdowns.
Harris led the league in rushing with 1,035 yards. He had 857 yards on a new CFL record 105 receptions. His win will likely be unanimous.
The nominees for Outstanding Offensive lineman are Blue Bomber Stanley Bryant and Argo Sean McEwan. Only the coaches should vote for this one because most media types couldn’t pick either guy out in a line-up. Winnipeg was first in rushing and allowed two fewer sacks than Toronto. That speaks well for Bryant. McEwan was an unanimous choice of Eastern voters. I think the Westerner will win.
The rookie candidates got a chance to play due to injuries . In just over half a season, Toronto’s James Wilder, Jr. picked up 1,405 yards, 872 on the ground, the rest through the air. He’s looked spectacular. Calgary’s Marken Michel stepped up when the other starters went down and racked up 780 yards with a league leading 19 yards per reception. The Sculler will win.
The special team award is between return men, Calgary’s Roy Finch and Redblack Diontae Spencer. Finch had the third highest punt return average(16.4) in CFL history. He had 1,914 return yards and three touchdowns. Spencer had 1,796 yards and two majors. Finch will win.
That leaves Coach of the Year. Until last season the award wasn’t decided upon until January. Edmonton used to host it annually and did a bang-up job. The vote was taken after the Grey Cup so you knew who the winner of that was. This year the results were in before the playoffs. Dave Dickenson had the best record but would Calgary’s late season slide work against him? Marc Trestman did substantially improve the Argos but their record in the end was only 9-9.
I chose Dave Dickenson because he had to overcome a long string of injuries to win those games. He is going to be an outstanding coach in the CFL for many years to come.
Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 45 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com