Eskimos fire coach Maas after four years

Nine Tiger-Cats, three Blue Bombers named to league all-star team

EDMONTON— The Edmonton Eskimos fired Jason Maas on Wednesday, ending his fouryear run as head coach of the CFL team.

Maas guided the Eskimos to an 8-10 record this past season and a playoff berth as a crossover team. Edmonton dropped a 36-16 decision to Hamilton in the East Division final.

“Today’s decision was difficult and not taken lightly,” Eskimos general manager Brock Sunderland said in a release. “I thank Jason for his dedication and hard work while also wishing him the best in his future endeavours.”

Edmonton lost seven of its last nine regular-season games, and eight of its last 11 including the playoffs.

Maas, who had a 39-22 career regular-season record with the Eskimos, declined to answer a question about his coaching future after the loss to Hamilton. Quarterback Trevor Harris, however, spoke glowingly of his coach.

“I think he’s a tremendous head coach,” Harris said. “You succeed as a team because of Jason Maas. You succeed as individuals because of Jason Maas. That guy has your back and I love him.”

ALL-STARS: Winnipeg Blue Bombers Willie Jefferson, Stanley Bryant and Winston Rose have even more reason to celebrate. The three were named CFL all-stars Wednesday. The Bombers defeated Hamilton 33-12 on Sunday to register their first Grey Cup title in 29 years.

On Thursday, Jefferson, a sixfoot-seven, 245-pound defensive end, was named the CFL’s outstanding defensive player. And Bryant was a finalist to Hamilton’s Chris Van Zeyl as top lineman after winning the award the two previous seasons.

Bryant captured his fifth career all-star nod while Jefferson earned his third.

Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and nine CFL head coaches.

Hamilton placed nine players on the squad. That included Brandon Banks, who captured the outstanding player award after leading the league in receiving (112 catches, 1,550 yards). Banks was named a CFL all-star for the fourth time.

The other Ticats were Van Zeyl, receiver Bralon Addison, guard Brandon Revenberg, defensive tackle Dylan Wynn, linebacker Simoni Lawrence, defensive halfback Richard Leonard, safety Tunde Adeleke and returner Frankie Williams, the league’s top special-teams player this season.

Saskatchewan had five players named to the team, including quarterback Cody Fajardo and defensive end Charleston Hughes, a league all-star for the sixth time.

CHANGE IN CALGARY: Pete Costanza, the Calgary Stampeders’ receivers coach for the last 12 seasons, won’t return next season.

“I’ve spoken to Pete and we’ve agreed to part ways,” Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson said in a statement. “I thank Pete for all of his hard work and everything he’s done for the organization and the city the past 12 years and wish him all the best in the future.”

Calgary went 12-6 in the regular season and lost the West semifinal to Winnipeg, ending a run of three straight Grey Cup appearances.

Costanza helped Calgary win Grey Cup titles in 2008, 2014 and 2018.