A New Year and decade is upon us. Over the past decade in the Canadian Football League, fans have been able to witness some great players.
With that being said, it seems only fitting to honour the great players of the past decade by making a CFL All-Decade Team.
Offence
Quarterback – Anthony Calvillo (Montreal Alouettes): Calvillo was the top of the quarterback class this past decade. The veteran pivot threw for 49,043 yards and 278 touchdowns. That accumulates to 4,904.3 passing-yards-a-season, and 27.8 touchdowns-a-season. That is impressive. What is even more impressive is the fact that Calvillo led the Alouettes to six first-place finishes, seven Grey Cup appearances, and two victories.
Quarterback – Ricky Ray (Edmonton Eskimos): Ray came from out of nowhere to become one of the most dominant pivots during the past decade. Following an injury to Jason Maas in 2002, Ray took over the starting job permanently. He threw for 32,370 with 175 touchdowns. Ray was an all-star in 2006 and led the Eskimos to two Grey Cup victories.
Running Back – Charles Roberts (Winnipeg Blue Bombers): The all-time Bombers’ rushing leader was one of the most dominant running backs in the league last decade. Roberts ran for over 10,000 yards with 69 touchdowns in just nine seasons and was a four-time CFL all-star.
Running Back – Joffrey Reynolds (Calgary Stampeders): There were few players on the Stampeders’ offence more consistent than Reynolds this past decade. The three-time all-star, and two-time rushing leader, ran for 7,536 yards and earned 55 touchdowns. Reynolds led the Stampeders to a Grey Cup in 2008.
Full Back – Chris Szarka (Saskatchewan Roughriders): He had his ups-and-downs, but the bruising Riders’ fullback was the most dominant short-yardage player of the past decade. Szarka’s 1,682 yards during the decade are hardly eye dropping, but he also had 32 touchdowns. When the Riders needed a first-down this past decade, the ball usually went to Szarka.
Wide Receiver – Kerry Watkins (Montreal Alouettes): The wide receiver does not get the ball thrown to them as much as a slotback, but when the Alouettes called Watkin’s number, he made the most out of it. Watkins was an all-star in 2005, finished with 6,066 yards receiving in only five full seasons.
Slotback – Geroy Simon (British Columbia Lions): Simon, a five-time all-star, has been one of the most dangerous slotbacks in the league this past decade. Simon finished with 12,241 yards and 84 touchdowns in the decade.
Slotback – Ben Cahoon (Montreal Alouettes): Cahoon was one of the most consistent slotbacks of the decade, and definitely the favourite target of Calvillo. Cahoon had at least 1,000 yards in every season except for one, and he finished with 11,292 yards and 58 touchdowns.
Slotback – Milt Stegall (Winnipeg Blue Bombers): The all-time touchdown leader in the CFL had a memorable decade. Stegall finished with 10,859 yards and 108 touchdowns. The skilled slotback was an all-star from 2000-2007 and was named the league’s Most-Outstanding-Player in 2002.
Wide Receiver – Terry Vaughn (Edmonton Eskimos): Vaughn, who was a consistent 1,000 yard receiver coming into the decade, continued that trend. He had 1,000 yard seasons from 2000-2005, all the while amassing 8,432 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Offensive Tackle – Gene Makowsky (Saskatchewan Roughriders): Makowsky was one of the most versatile, dominant offensive lineman of the past decade. Makowsky was a four-time all-star during the decade, and one the league’s Most-Outstanding-Lineman award in both 2004 and 2005. He was part of the Riders’ 2007 Grey Cup team.
Offensive Guard – Andrew Greene (Saskatchewan Roughriders): Greene was a perennial force on the Roughriders offensive line. Greene was a five-time all-star in the past decade and was named the Most-Outstanding-Lineman in 2003.
Centre – Bryan Chiu (Montreal Alouettes): Chiu was a force to be reckoned with at the centre position. Chiu was named an all-star an incredible eight times during the decade and was named the Most-Outstanding-Offensive-Lineman in 2002.
Offensive Guard – Scott Flory (Montreal Alouettes): Flory was arguably the most successful lineman in the decade. Flory was named a all-star six times in the decade. In 2008 and 2009 Flory was named the league’s Most-Outstanding-Offensive-Lineman.
Offensive Tackle – Uzooma Okeke (Montreal Alouettes): Okeke helped anchor a Alouettes’ offensive line that was one of the best during the past decade. Okeke was a four-time all-star during the decade, and was the East Divisions Top-Offensive-Lineman in 2004.
Defence
Defensive End – Cameron Wake (British Columbia Lions): While he only played two seasons in the CFL, Wake is very deserving of a selection. After amassing 16 sacks in his first season, Wake earned an amazing 23 the next. Wake was an all-star in both his two seasons, won the Rookie-of-the-Year award, and the Most-Outstanding-Defensive-Player award. Wake now plays for the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins.
Defensive Tackle – Doug Brown (Winnipeg Blue Bombers): Brown was a ‘big’ force on the Bombers’ defensive line all-decade-long. The five-time all-star, and 2001 Outstanding-Canadian, led the Bombers to two Grey Cup appearances. In 2001 and 2007, Brown recorded seven sacks, which were his most in a season.
Defensive Tackle – Joe Fleming (Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers): Fleming was a dominant force on the defensive line this past decade as he recorded 39 sacks and 159 tackles. Fleming was the recipient of the Outstanding-Defensive-Player award in 2003 and was named an all-star three times.
Defensive End – Joe Montford (Hamilton Tiger Cats, Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos): Montford, who some consider to be the greatest defensive players ever, had a great decade. Montford compiled 319 tackles and 78 sacks. Montford averaged over 10 sacks a season during the decade, amazing for a defensive end. The 20 sacks Montford accumulated in 2000, and the 19 the next season, helped this average.
Outside Linebacker – Reggie Hunt (Saskatchewan Roughriders, Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Eskimos): The “Reaper” was a consistent force on the Rider defence this past decade. Hunt finished the decade with 514 tackles, 28 sacks, 9 fumbles and 8 interceptions. Hunt, who was always a leader on defence, was named a CFL all-star in 2003 and played a big role in the Riders 2007 Grey Cup victory.
Middle Linebacker – Barrin Simpson (British Columbia Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers): The “Minister of Defence” created havoc for opposing offence’s all-decade-long. Simpson racked up 782 tackles and 29 sacks during the decade. The six-time all-star was the league’s Rookie-of-the-Year in 2001.
Outside Linebacker – Kevin Eiben (Toronto Argonauts): Eiben was perhaps one of the most consistent linebackers of the decade. Eiben finished the decade with 586 tackles, averaging near 70-a-year. He also managed 76 special-teams-tackles and 14 interceptions. Eiben was a three-time CFL all-star, recorded over 100 tackles over two-years-in-a-row, and was part of the 2004 Argos Grey Cup squad.
Cornerback – Omar Morgan (Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Eskimos): Though he missed out on a Grey Cup with the Riders the one season he was not with them, it was still a stellar decade for Morgan. The Riders cornerback was named an all-star three times and finished with 553 tackles and 27 interceptions.
Halfback – Eddie Davis (Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders): With his veteran presence in the Riders secondary, and his obvious skill at the position, Davis had a great decade with the Riders. Davis earned 528 tackles and 23 interceptions. The four-time all-star led the Riders to a Grey Cup in 2007 and formed one of the most dangerous cornerback-halfback tandems with Omar Morgan
Safety – Baron Miles (Montreal Alouettes, British Columbia Lions): Miles, the active leader in career interceptions, was solid in the past decade. Miles nabbed 55 interceptions and forced 11 fumbles over the decade as he flew around the field. Miles also broke the record for most-blocked-kicks in a career.
Halfback – Korey Banks (Ottawa Renegades, British Columbia Lions): In the later part of the decade, Banks emerged as a dominant defensive halfback. After a 10 interception performance in 2005 with the Renegades, the team folded the next season and Banks went on to perform well with the Lions. Banks finished the decade with 31 interceptions and was named an all-star three times.
Cornerback – Bryon Parker (Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos): Parker was part of the Argos stellar defence for the most part this part decade. The shut-down corner finished the decade with 115 tackles and 21 interceptions. Parker was a CFL East all-star twice and also had a stint in the NFL.
Special Teams
Kicker – Sandro DeAngelis (Calgary Stampeders): DeAngelis emerged as a lethal kicker over the decade. DeAngelis made 218/260 field goals, equalling 83.8%. He was named an all-star three times.
Punter— Noel Prefontaine (Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos): Prefontaine was arguably the most consistent punter throughout the decade. The five-time all-star averaged 46 yards-per-punt in the decade.
Returner-Corey Holmes (Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger Cats): Holmes was an explosive returner for the Riders. In 2002, he was named the Special-Teams-Player-of-the-Year. The two-time all-star was also the West nominee for Most-Outstanding-Player in 2005.
Happy New Year to everyone and I hope everyone has a great 2010!
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