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Turnaround Season Comes to an End
After reviving a three-win team from the year before, the Argonauts’ off-season officially started with a humbling loss in the Eastern Final to the Montreal Alouettes. The loss ended what was the club’s most productive season since 2007 but the team remained optimistic heading into the six-month break, ready to prepare for another run at the Grey Cup in 2011.
» Argos Fall To Als » Video: Argos React To East Final Loss » Video: End of Year Reaction
Something Special
Receiver/kick returner Chad Owens capped off a memorable season by being named league’s 2010 Most Outstanding Special Teams Player at the player awards in Edmonton. He became just the third Argos player (Dominique Dorsey in 2008 & Bashir Levingston in 2003) to win the award after posting an astonishing 3,288 all-purpose yards, 2,701 of which came off returns.
Assuming More Roles
On December 15, Argos President & CEO Bob Nicholson announced that longtime GM Adam Rita would not be retained and that Head Coach Jim Barker add General Manager to his title.
» Barker Named GM » Video: Barker Reacts To Being Named GM
Losing Legends
The new year started off on a sombre note for the Boatmen as they learned of the passing of former star running back Chester ‘Cookie’ Gilchrist. He passed following a courageous battle with cancer while living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was 75 years old. The Argos would again receive sad news when learning of the passing of former linebacker, and 2-time Lew Hayman award winner, Bobby Kuntz.
» Argos Mourn Loss of Gilchrist » BTN: Cookie Gilchrist » Kuntz Passes Away
Extensions Come Fast and Furious
Barker wasted little time in making sure that the backbone of his team remained intact signing team captain Jeremaine Copeland, star tailback Cory Boyd and veterans Ronald Flemons, Noel Prefontaine, Chad Rempel and Bryan Crawford to extensions.
» Video: Captain Copeland Extends » Extensions For Flemons & Crawford
Flyin’ Hawaiian Grounded In Toronto
After speculation that he would fly south to the NFL, Chad Owens made it abundantly clear that Toronto is where he wants to play football and he confirmed that by signing a contract extension on February 8.
» Flyin’ Hawaiian Extends »Video: Owens 1-on1
Just In Time
With Free Agency looming, the Argos locked up two more free agents in DB Lin-J Shell and all-star DT Kevin Huntley just hours before the deadline. The Argos remained pretty quiet on the free agent front, making the signing of veteran safety Wes Lysack as their only major move.
» Huntley Signs Extension » Shell Extends »Video: Shell 1-on1
The Hall Calls For The Don
The annual list of inductees for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame were announced in February and on the list this year was former Argos head coach Don Matthews. Matthews led three of the greatest teams in Argonauts history including 1990, 1996 and 1997 – the latter two culminated in a pair of Grey Cup championships.
» Hall For The Don » Making The Most of His Time
Simply The Best
In a special presentation held in Vancouver, Toronto Argonauts GM & Head Coach Jim Barker was named the 2010 CFL Coach of the Year. Argos’ team captain Jeremaine Copeland joined CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon in presenting the award to him. Barker became the first Argonauts head coach to win the coveted Annis Stukus trophy since Don Matthews took home the prize in 1997.
» Barker Named Coach of the Year » Video: Simply The Best
Pivotal Trade
Undoubtedly the Argos’ biggest personnel move of the off-season came on March 30 when the Boatmen acquired quarterback Steven Jyles in a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in exchange for a 2011 first round pick (WR Jade Etienne). Jyles adds to an already competitive quarterback situation which Barker has stated will be open come training camp.
» Jyles 1-on-1 » OTP: Steven Jyles » Argos Trade For Jyles
Investment In The Future
May 8th marked CFL Canadian Draft Day for the Argos and after trading away their first pick to acquire Jyles, they went out and got another one by trading up for Saskatchewan’s seventh overall selection which Barker used to pick futures prospect OL Tyler Holmes, Tulsa. Overall, the Boatmen focused on offence, using five of their seven selections to take linemen and receivers.
» Draft Central » Video: Barker On The Draft » Draft Focus Turns To Offence
Bye, Bye Belli
After 10 CFL seasons, Adriano Belli ended his football career as a Boatman, literally. Belli invited friends, family and media to Toronto Harbourfront where he boarded the Tall Ship Kajama and set sail for retirement.
» Belli Says Bon Voyage » Video: Belli’s Last Kiss » Images: Best of Belli
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