ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – As announced earlier Wednesday evening by the CFL on TSN panel, 2014 marks the second year in a row that a member of the Toronto Argonauts has been voted the top player in the Canadian Football League! Reigning East Division Most Outstanding Player Ricky Ray has been awarded top spot on TSN’s fourth annual CFL TOP 50 PLAYERS list entering the season. In total, six current Argonauts players made the list including last year’s number one, SB/KR Chad Owens, who was again voted into the top 10 overall.
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Week 1 – Argos @ Bombers |
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Ray enjoyed a record setting season in 2013 that included both CFL and Argos team records. His most prolific record was his all-time CFL best 77% completion rate (234 of 303) on the season. Ray also finished the year with the lowest interception rate ever at 0.66%. He did not throw an interception until week 17 in Winnipeg and, overall, threw just two interceptions to his 21 touchdowns – another CFL record. His best game in 2013 came the following week at home when he threw for 505 yards and three touchdowns. During that outing, he landed two Argos records including 39 pass completions in a game, and 21 straight passes completed. He enters the year on pace to reach 50,000 career passing yards (he currently sits at 47,466). Ray was a key part in helping the Double Blue secure first place in the East Division, something they had not done since 2007, and score more than 500 total points for the first time since 1997.
Sitting just eight spots below Ray, in 9th place, is last year’s number one choice and the 2012 CFL Most Outstanding Player, SB Chad Owens. Owens caught a CFL-leading 94 passes for 949 yards and three touchdowns, and returned 49 punts for 369 yards and 41 kick returns for 773 yards in 2013. In addition, for the second year in a row, Owens led the league in combined yards with 2,298 yards.
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PLAYER
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TSN TOP 50 RANKING
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QB Ricky Ray
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1
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SB/KR Chad Owens
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9
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SB/RB Andre Durie
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21
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LB Shea Emry
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41
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OT Chris Van Zeyl
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42
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C Jeff Keeping
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46
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The conversation now moves online where fans can use #CFLTOP50 or #ArgosLive to debate the choices and endorse their hometown players!
The CFL TOP 50 PLAYERS LIST was compiled with input from CFL on TSN personalities and select CFL writers from across Canada.
Fans can watch Ricky Ray and the rest of his Argos teammates live at the club’s 2014 Home Opener on Saturday, July 5 as the two most recent Grey Cup champions face-off at the Rogers Centre when the Saskatchewan Roughriders come to town. Make sure to arrive early, as the pre-game tailgate begins at 1:00 p.m. Ticket information is available by calling 416-341-ARGO (2746) or by visiting argonauts.ca.