Ottawa Redblacks QB Henry Burris named CFL’s most outstanding player

The 40-year-old quarterback was named the CFL’s most outstanding player for the second time and also received the Tom Pate award for community service.

Stoqua, who will be enjoying the RedBlacks game against the Edmonton Eskimos Nov. 29 at Don Cherry’s Sports Grill in Kanata, was in the stands during the team’s East Division final against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Jones was the Calgary Stampeders’ defensive co-ordinator in 2008 when they won the Grey Cup with a 22-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes at Olympic Stadium.

Other awards were presented to B.C. Lions linebacker Adam Bighill (outstanding defensive player), Hamilton Tiger-Cats kick returner Brandon Banks (outstanding special-teams player) and Eskimos wide receiver Derel Walker (outstanding rookie). But I think that’s what motivates some of the best athletes ever.

“Age ain’t nothing but a number”, Burris said before explaining again that he was motivated by the fact he had been twice cut loose by CFL organizations: the Stampeders and Ticats.

“I always tell people I’ve never really worked”.

Burris also helped Ottawa (12-6) engineer an wonderful turnaround, finishing stop the East Division standings after winning just two games in its inaugural 2-14 campaign.

“The bottom line is what motivates you every day”, he said.

The Redblacks have four receivers who caught more than 1,000 yards of passes this season. He was also Winnipeg’s pick as outstanding player and defensive player.

“I would find him and I would just say, ‘Remember this, man. Like remember this because we’re going to talk about this at some point in time and we’re going to laugh about it. And we’re going to say, man, that sucked, but we had to go through that to find success, ‘” Reilly said.

How did Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly get so tough? The six-foot-one 228-pound Lawrence recorded career highs in tackles (80) and sacks (five) while adding two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

“This year has been the year where I’ve found him and said, ‘Remember those games, man?” The five-foot-seven 153-pound dynamo was third overall in all-purpose yards (2,073) and punt return yards (930) and became the first CFL player to return a missed convert for a score. Burris has been one of the main reasons why the team has been so successful and he now has the chance to lead his team to a title. “I’m with a team that loves me and I love them”.

“I’ve been looking at the weather for the last two weeks in anticipation of this”, he laughed.

The Ticats ultimately made a decision to let Burris leave via free agency in the off-season, electing to sign former Toronto Argonaut Zach Collaros – who’s more than a decade younger than Burris – as their starting quarterback. We have a lot of great fans here, but I wish it was us in there. “In Kent’s system, he wanted his guys and I wasn’t Kent’s guy”.

“Opportunities don’t come along too often so you have to hit the ground running”.