Lewis values ‘efficiency’
CFL stats don’t tell whole tale, Stamp says
CALGARY — Nik Lewis could make friends easily with the masses of hockey stats gurus dedicated to proving the pure mathematical value of NHL players.
For the Calgary Stampeders slotback thinks the Canadian Football League stats package is a weak way to gauge gridiron excellence.
“I think there’s only been five incomplete balls thrown my way all year,” Lewis says. “If I got the ball more, I’m pretty sure it would go up. But at the same time, I pride myself on efficiency.
“I think that’s how we should rate our receivers.”
Technically, Lewis is ranked eighth on the CFL receiving chart with 31 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns. The multi-purpose Chad Owens leads the league with 43 catches for 470 yards and a touchdown.
Edmonton’s Fred Stamps is ranked fourth with 22 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns.
“Look at a guy like Fred Stamps where he is the majority receiver,” Lewis says. “I have Mo and Jo (Maurice Price and Joe West), Marquay McDaniel, and then we have great Canadian receivers like Johnny Forzani, Brad Sinopoli and Jabari Arthur.
“And then we’ve got Greg Carr and Anthony Parker. We move the ball around so much, and we’ve got a great running back in Jon Cornish.
“I don’t get the same opportunities as Stamps, so it would be idiotic to think I could have the same numbers as some of those guys.”
Perhaps Lewis has a postfootball career waiting for him in advanced stats management for the CFL.
Better get on the horn with
Mr. Cohon, Nik . . .
Williams makes case
The CFL awards ceremony takes place in November, not August. We get that.
But Saskatchewan linebacker Rey Williams has at least muscled his way into the conversation for most outstanding defensive player with 25 tackles, six sacks, and one interception return for a touchdown.
And to think the Hamilton Tiger-Cats released him outright last winter with nothing coming back in return.
“I was upset,” says Williams, 32. “I’m not going to lie to you. Because you think you did your job the best you can. It felt like they were putting it all on me, what happened in Hamilton.”
The Tiger-Cats missed the playoffs last season with an abysmal 6-12 record in spite of leading the league in scoring.
“I was the most productive person on defence the last two years, so it couldn’t have been me,” Williams says. “Any time you’re released, it’s a blow to your ego.”
Technically, Williams wanted out of Hamilton due in no small part to all the changes in the organization. But he still takes the whole ordeal personally.
“Any time you get released — and I’ve been released many times, so it’s not a blow to my ego — but you have to question yourself,” he says. “Did I do something wrong?
“But I’m where I’m supposed to be. Everything happens for a reason. We’re playing great over here, and I couldn’t be happier.”
This and that
Hard to believe Montreal KR Noel Devine is still employed after fumbling three times in a 38-13 loss to the Toronto Argonauts. Consider this the football equivalent of a player going puck shy, and Calgary DB Fred Bennett is no doubt to blame after stripping the ball from Devine to prevent a sure touchdown in Week 4 … The Winnipeg Blue Bombers deserve a delay-of-game penalty for waiting until August to fire general manager Joe Mack and CEO Garth Buchko. The Bombers and their fans deserved a fresh start — and the possibility of a contending team — in time for opening day in their spanking new stadium … Try to wrap your head around this: the Montreal Alouettes (2-4) or the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-4) or the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-5) will earn the right to host the East Division Semifinal. Sheesh …