Reilly takes top CFL honour
OTTAWA — Mike Reilly would gladly change places with Ricky Ray.
The Edmonton Eskimos quarterback was named the CFL’s outstanding player by the Football Reporters of Canada and eight league coaches (77 votes). Ray was the runner-up but will lead the Toronto Argonauts into the Grey Cup against the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday.
“Without a doubt, no question,” Reilly said emphatically. “I don’t even have to think about that.
“I hope my teammates see this for what it is, which is an award we all won together. It’s something they can be proud of for all their hard work because we’re not going to get the opportunity to write history together and have our names on that Cup and that sucks.”
Reilly, 32, started all 18 regular-season games and led Edmonton (12-6) to five straight wins to end the regular season and clinch third in the West Division despite numerous injuries. The six-foot-three, 230-pound Reilly received 64 votes after leading the CFL in passing (5,830 yards) and finishing tied with Ottawa’s Trevor Harris for most TDs (30).
Reilly also ran for 12 TDs and had 39 completions of 30-plus yards, both league-best marks. Edmonton led the CFL in net offence (406.8 yards), offensive points (27.2 per game), offensive touchdowns (52) while allowing a league-low 29 sacks.
Ray, 38, started 17 regular-season games after appearing in just 12 the past two seasons due to various injuries. Ray led the CFL in pass attempts (668) and completions (442), finished tied with Reilly for most 300-yard games (12) and second in passing yards (5,546).
It was Ray’s first 5,000-yard season since 2008 and fourth of his career. He joins Hall of Famers Anthony Calvillo and Doug Flutie as the only players to reach that plateau four or more times.
Other winners included running back Andrew Harris (Canadian) and Stanley Bryant (lineman) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, linebacker Alex Singleton and kick-returner Roy Finch (specialteams) of the Stampeders as well as running back James Wilder Jr, (rookie) and Marc Trestman (coach) of the Argos.