The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced today the winners of the 2010 Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards. This year’s award winners were selected by 60 voting members, including representation from the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) from the eight CFL markets, a national chapter and CFL head coaches.
Voters were asked to select players from the League who through on-field performance excellence, best represent the awards’ title: Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
Also announced at the 2010 Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards show were the Commissioner’s Award and the Tom Pate Memorial Award.
Gibson’s Finest CFL Most Outstanding Player – Henry Burris – QB – Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris has won his first CFL Most Outstanding Player Award. The 12-year veteran threw for 4,945 yards, completed 370 passes on 559 pass attempts and threw a league-leading 38 touchdowns. Burris finished the season with a 101.9 quarterback efficiency rating, helping the Stampeders to a 13-5 record and first place in the West Division. Burris was also named a CFL all-star for the first time in his career.
Burris received 32 first place votes.
CFL Most Outstanding Canadian – Andy Fantuz – R – Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Andy Fantuz became the first Canadian receiver to lead the league in receiving yards since 1995, helping him earn top Canadian honours for the 2010 season. The five-year CFL veteran from Chatham, Ontario finished the season with 87 receptions for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns. Fantuz was named the Gibson’s Finest Canadian Player of the Week four times in 2010 and Offensive Player of the Week once. He also took monthly Canadian honours three out of the four months of the season. This is Fantuz’s first Most Outstanding Canadian award.
Fantuz received 53 first place votes.
CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player – Markeith Knowlton – LB – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Markeith Knowlton was named the top defensive player for the 2010 season. Knowlton recorded 71 tackles, was tied for the league-lead in forced fumbles with four and led the league in fumble returns with six, including one returned for a touchdown. The five-year CFL veteran also recorded three sacks, three tackles for a loss, three pass knockdowns, three interceptions, and two blocked punts. This is Knowlton’s first Most Outstanding Defensive Player award.
Knowlton received 38 first place votes.
CFL Most Outstanding Lineman – Ben Archibald – OT – Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman Ben Archibald was named the league’s top offensive lineman. Archibald anchored an offensive line on a team that surrendered the second fewest sacks (30) and ranked first in rushing yards per game (145.4). Archibald was a finalist for the top lineman award last year.
Archibald received 36 first place votes.
CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player – Chad Owens – KR – Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Arognauts kick returner Chad Owens was named top special teams player after leading the league in punt return yards (1,060), kick return yards (1,216), missed field goal return yards (425), combined yards (3,288) and tying for the league lead in kick return touchdowns (4). Owens won the Gibson’s Finest Special Teams Player of the Week five times and monthly honours twice. This is the second-year player’s first Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award.
Owens was a unanimous selection.
CFL Most Outstanding Rookie – Solomon Elimimian – LB – B.C. Lions
B.C.Lions first-year linebacker Solomon Elimimian was named the league’s top rookie. Elimimian led his team in tackles with 77, was second in quarterback sacks with five and also recorded three tackles for a loss.
Elimimian received 36 first place votes.
Tom Pate Memorial Award – Wes Lysack – S – Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders Wes Lysack was named the 2010 recipient of the Tom Pate Memorial Award. The Tom Pate Award is handed out each year to a CFL player who displays qualities that distinguish them from their peers.
Every year the CFLPA invites each CFL Club to nominate a team member for this award. The recipient must be a player with outstanding sportsmanship and someone who has made a significant contribution to his team and to his community and Association.
Commissioner’s Award
This award is presented annually to someone or a group who have made a tremendous contribution to the Canadian Football League. This year’s recipient of the Commissioner’s Award is ‘Rider Nation’. While every team in the CFL has tremendous fans, Saskatchewan fans are known for filling stadiums for their team’s road games as well as home games, making the Riders the league’s best draw. They are responsible for more than half of the CFL’s merchandise sales. And their team’s games are routinely among the most watched on TSN.