Much as I look forward to the Gibson's Finest Player Awards for the CFL, it is the TSN Player's Poll that really captures my attention. Who better to vote for the positions than a panel of one's peers.
CFL on TSN Player Poll
"The players have spoken.
More than 250 current CFL players participated in the second annual CFL on TSN Player Poll giving their opinions in a variety of football categories.
The surveyed players were asked to name one player for each of the 11 questions in the poll with topics ranging from most under-rated player to biggest trash-talker."
First the questions:
1. Who is the CFL's most under-rated player?
2. Who is the CFL's hardest hitter?
3. Who has the CFL's best hands?
4. Who is the biggest threat to score from anywhere on the field?
5. Which quarterback has the strongest arm?
6. Who is the CFL's nastiest player?
7. Who is the CFL's biggest trash talker?
8. Who is the CFL's toughest player?
9. Who is the CFL's toughest player to bring down?
10. Who is the CFL's fastest player?
11. Who would you choose with the first pick in a CFL expansion draft?
The answers:
The largest margin of victory in this year's poll was in the hardest hitter department where B.C.'s Solomon Elimimian won his second straight crown with 53.7 percent of the vote.
1. RB Andre' Durie (Argonauts) - most under-rated player with 10.1%.
2. LB Solomon Elimimian (Lions) - hardest hitter with 53.7%
3. WR Geroy Simon (Lions) - best hands with 22.8%
4. WR/KR Chad Owens (Argos) - threat to score from anywhere with 38.3%
5. QB Henry Burris (Stampeders) - strongest arm with 48.5%
6. DE Dario Romero (Roughriders) - nastiest player with 13.2%
7. CB Dwight Anderson (Alouettes) - biggest trash talker with 26%
8. QB Buck Pierce (Blue Bombers) - toughest player with 18.9%
9. RB Corey Boyd (Argonauts) - toughest player to bring down with 25.3%
10. WR Chris Williams (Tiger Cats) - fastest player with 30.9%
11. QB Anthony Calvillo (Alouettes) - top pick in expansion draft with 26.0%
My personal favorite is toughest player with Buck Pierce winning the nod. All season I have watched Buck take hit after hit and still get up and play hard for his team. Rock on, Buck.
The Toronto Argonauts ended their losing season with a 33 - 16 home win over the Hamilton Tiger Cats last night as one of their star players - Chad Owens looked on from the sidelines due to an injury suffered in last week's game.
Andre Durie was the difference maker for the Argos with two TDs and his first 100-yard receiving game.
Corey Boyd also contributed to the Argo win helping the offense with several great runs - many for first downs.
Noel Prefontaine was perfect on the night with 7/7 converts - one from the 51 yard line.
Justin Medlock continued to be a bright spot for Hamilton as he too was perfect on the night with a 6/6 record.
Hamilton continued the QB merry-go-round, using all three of their QBs during the game. Kevin Glenn had the best pass/reception record.
Hamilton will end the season 3rd place in the Eastern Division.
Talk is that Hank Burris may join the Argos next year - will be interesting to see how this rumor plays out. It will also be interesting to see who will coach the Argos next year. The TSN panel discussed the possibility that Special Teams Coordinator Mike O'Shea of the Argos should be given the job but some feel he still needs a year or two as a player coach.
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MIKE O'SHEA
Special Teams Coordinator
Mike O’Shea entered the coaching realm in 2010 as the Toronto Argonauts Special Teams Coordinator. 2010 was a memorable one on specials teams as dynamic returner Chad Owens was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, a CFL All-Star and a CFLPA All-Star, setting various club records. The Argos special teams unit executed many memorable plays, returned five kicks for touchdowns and saw captain Bryan Crawford lead the league in ST tackles.
For years, Mike O’Shea was the stalwart of the Toronto Argonauts’ defence and special teams. He was the undisputed leader inside the locker room and, as a team captain, he was recognized by fans throughout the CFL as the admiral of the Argos’ stone wall defence and relished his role on special teams. O’Shea played 16 CFL seasons, including 12 with the Argonauts and four with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and won three Grey Cup championships (1996-1997, 2004) all with Toronto.
#50 was a coaches’ player who always put the game and his teammates first. He knew the playbook front to back and because of his hard work, he commanded respect from rookies and veterans alike. He played in 271 regular season CFL games, the most ever by a defensive player, 18 playoff games and three Grey Cup games. He is second on the CFL’s all-time tackles list with 1,151 and is the Argos’ all-time leader in regular season and Grey Cup defensive tackles with 822 and 15 respectively. He is second on the team’s all-time games played list with 205. The native of North Bay, Ontario was a five-time East Division All-Star (1994-1995, 1997, 1999, 2000) and was named a CFL All-Star and the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 1999. In 2006, O’Shea became the first Canadian ever to make at least 1,000 tackles in a career and in 2007 he was named an All-Time Argo at linebacker.
An advocate for his teammates, O’Shea was a CFLPA player rep. for many years with the Argonauts and upon leaving the game, he accepted the position of 1st Vice President for the Players’ Association. There, he teamed with former teammate and friend Mike Morreale to ensure that CFL players always had a voice and that their interests weren’t overlooked.
Mike is an alumnus of the University of Guelph and is a member of the Guelph Gryphons Sports Hall of Fame. Mike and wife Richere live in Milton, Ontario with their three children: Michael, Ailish and Aisling.
Official Home of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club :: - Mike O'Shea
Personally, I think they could do far worse than to give Mike a chance.
