Blue Bombers quarterback Collaros wins 2nd straight MVP award

After a dominant season, Zach Collaros and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers dominated the CFL awards banquet.

Collaros captured the CFL’s most excellent participant award for a second straight yr Thursday night time. Bombers Stanley Bryant (lineman), receiver Dalton Schoen (rookie) and Mike O’Shea (coach of the yr) had been additionally honoured because the West Division took six-of-seven main particular person trophies.

And Collaros wasted no time crediting his teammates.

“This is a tremendous accolade,” Collaros stated. “It’s not misplaced on me the historical past of the league and the individuals who’ve gained, the individuals who’ve been lucky sufficient to win two occasions or two occasions in a row and to even be talked about with these folks.

Saskatchewan Roughriders returner Mario Alford (particular groups) and B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke (Canadian) had been the others. Lorenzo Mauldin IV of the Ottawa Redblacks (defensive participant) was the lone East Division winner.

Fifty ballots had been forged by members of the Football Reporters of Canada and 9 CFL head coaches.

Collaros leads Winnipeg into the Grey Cup sport Sunday versus the Toronto Argonauts. The Bombers are chasing a 3rd straight title.

“We talked per week or two in the past about eager to win the West ultimate to purchase one other week collectively and it is right here,” Collaros stated. “It’s been superb to date, let’s end the deal.”

Other winners included: Jeff Harbin, the CFL’s supervisor of officiating (Commissioner’s Award for excellent league contributions); retiring Lions president Rick LeLacheur (Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award); Riders centre Dan Clark (Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award); Saskatchewan ticket-operations director Gail Mund (Jane Mawby Tribute Award); and Edmonton Elks receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux (Tom Pate Memorial Award for group contribution).

Collaros, 34, earned 47 votes after guiding Winnipeg to a CFL-best 15-3 report. He led the league in TD passes (37) and was second in passing (career-best 4,183 yards) whereas finishing 305-of-436 passes (70 per cent).

Winnipeg was tops in offensive TDs (58) and passing touchdowns (44) and second in offensive scoring (28.2 factors per sport). Collaros grew to become the fifth participant to win consecutive MOP awards however first since Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo (2008-’09).

Winnipeg additionally protected Collaros effectively, permitting the second-fewest sacks (29). But Collaros suffered an ankle harm in Winnipeg’s 28-20 West Division ultimate win over B.C. and hasn’t practised this week. He has stated he’ll play Sunday.

Montreal receiver Eugene Lewis (91 catches, 1,303 yards, 10 touchdowns) was the finalist.

Bryant wins report 4th prime lineman award

The six-foot-five, 313-pound Bryant obtained 34 votes to assert a report fourth lineman honour. The seven-time CFL all-star additionally gained in 2017, ’18 and 2021 and had his four-year-old son, Quinton, readily available.

“It’s simply consistency,” the 36-year-old Bryant stated. “I attempt to be the identical participant every sport, every yr and attempt to be constant once I go on the market and assist my staff win video games.

Hamilton Tiger-Cat Brandon Revenberg was the finalist.

The six-foot-one, 218-pound Schoen led the CFL in receiving yards (1,441) and TD catches (16) to earn 48 votes. He additionally had 70 receptions (20.6-yard common).

“The query I received most this whole yr was how was I in a position to come into this league and discover success as a rookie and an American adjusting to this new sport,” Schoen stated. “The reply, to me, was at all times so easy, so easy, it is the folks round me.

“To everybody within the Blue Bombers group, everybody on this staff, this award is a testomony to you all.”

Montreal receiver Tyson Philpot was the finalist.

O’Shea wins coach of the yr for 2nd straight yr

O’Shea, of North Bay, Ont., obtained 44 votes to repeat because the CFL’s prime coach. Winnipeg recorded double-digit wins for a sixth straight season as O’Shea joined Bud Grant (1957-62) because the lone Bomber coaches to perform that feat.

“There’s so many individuals to thank, there’s so many individuals concerned,” O’Shea stated. “It’s not straightforward standing up there [being] singled out, it actually is not.

“It’s far more vital to be on the sphere with a bunch of men working for a standard aim. You’re over the hump now, you simply need to get it [Grey Cup] going.”

O’Shea turns into the primary CFL coach to win consecutive honours since Montreal’s Charlie Taaffe (1999-2000).

Toronto’s Ryan Dinwiddie was the finalist.

Lions’ Rourke named prime Canadian

Rourke, 24, obtained 41 votes after ending sixth in CFL passing with 3,349 yards regardless of enjoying solely 10 regular-season video games. The Victoria native staked B.C. to wins in eight of its first 9 contests earlier than struggling a foot harm that required surgical procedure.

At the time, Rourke led the CFL in passing (3,281 yards) and TDs (25). He returned for B.C.’s regular-season finale, then led the membership previous Calgary 30-16 within the West Division semifinal earlier than dropping to Winnipeg final weekend.

And with Edmonton giving fellow Canadian quarterback Tre Ford a chance to play, Rourke, who reiterated his plans to work out for NFL groups this low season, hopes it is a sign of issues to return.

“When I got here into this league, initially folks had been like, ‘Be cautious of the best way they deal with Canadian quarterbacks,”‘ Rourke stated. “I received fortunate sufficient to not go to a company that places numerous weight in that.

“Hopefully that continues and hopefully the league can proceed to worth Canadians in addition to an entire.”

Toronto receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. was the finalist.

Alford obtained 38 votes after recording a CFL-high/club-record 4 return TDs (two kickoff, one punt, one missed discipline aim) in 13 regular-season video games. The Riders acquired Alford from Montreal in July and this week he re-signed with Saskatchewan.

“I’ve been by so much being traded throughout the season,” he stated. “If I’m on the sphere and have the ball in my palms, I really feel like one thing nice goes to occur.

“I simply have faith in myself, it is by the roof. I’ve at all times felt that method.”

The six-foot-four, 259-pound Mauldin IV was a vivid spot for the Redblacks (4-14), registering a CFL-high 17 sacks. He’s the primary Ottawa participant to steer the league in sacks since Angelo Snipes (20 in ’92).

Mauldin IV additionally had 43 tackles and two pressured fumbles, each profession highs. He spent his first two CFL seasons with Hamilton, recording a mixed 13 tackles and 4 sacks in 17 video games.

“I did not win this alone,” Mauldin IV stated. “It felt good to win it for the blokes and the Redblacks group.

“I am unable to wait to see what ’23 holds. I’m not completed, I’ve a protracted strategy to go.”

Calgary Stampeder Shawn Lemon was the finalist.