The Toronto Argonauts Football Club is thrilled to announce that it has extended 2008 East Division All-Star receiver Arland Bruce III through 2011. Bruce has been named a division all-star three times, as well as a CFL all-star and CFLPA all-star since joining Toronto in 2004.
Commented Arland Bruce, “It’s a tremendous accomplishment for me to be able extend my time with the oldest professional football organization in North America. The fans and my teammates know that I come back every year in tip-top shape and that I’m hungry to contribute every game. Pinball, Adam Rita, Greg Mohns and the organization have accepted me as one of their own, and I can’t express my gratitude for that. The fans and the community have made Toronto my home away from home. I’m looking forward to a winning season under Coach Andrus – specifically, one that ends with a Grey Cup championship in Calgary.”
Widely considered the most consistent and exhilarating offensive player on the Argonauts roster over the last five years, Bruce has led virtually every receiving category for the Double Blue since he arrived. He burst onto the team in 2004 and put up 1,296 combined yards and 3 touchdowns in just seven regular season games. In 74 regular season games in Toronto, Bruce has accounted for 7,435 combined yards, or 100.5 yards/game, and scored 41 touchdowns.
It also wouldn’t be far-fetched to describe Bruce as the CFL’s version of Reggie Jackson, aka: Mr. October. Instead, Bruce could be dubbed Mr. November for a long history of post-season heroics. His career playoff numbers are staggering: 1,068 combined yards and 7 touchdowns in 9 playoff games (not including Grey Cup games). He scored three touchdowns in two games en route to the Argos’ 2004 Grey Cup championship.
Through 2008, his regular season numbers with Toronto have totalled:
– 4,887 receiving yards (1,798 yards behind Dick Shatto for sixth-most in club history).
– 313 receptions (112 behind Paul Pearson for sixth-most in club history).
– 39 receiving touchdowns (six behind Paul Masotti for fifth-most in club history).
– Fourteen, 100+ yard receiving games as an Argo place him one short of tying Bobby Taylor for sixth-most 100+ yard receiving games.
The Argonauts also announced today that 21-year old RB Da’Shawn Thomas has re-signed through 2011.