Edwards a slam dunk as Blue MOP nominee

Veteran slotback in midst of career year for lowly Winnipeg

By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010

Eight years ago, Terrence Edwards caught some advice from an old teammate.

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Eight years ago, Terrence Edwards caught some advice from an old teammate.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/11/2010 (5451 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Eight years ago, Terrence Edwards caught some advice from an old teammate.

“There was a guy in Atlanta — Peerless Price — who told me the only guys who can stop you is the quarterback and the offensive co-ordinator,” said the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver, now 31, recalling his days with the NFL’s Falcons.

“He was joking, but there’s some truth to it.”

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
From left: Winnipeg award nominees Brendon LaBatte, Jovan Johnson, Andre Douglas, Terrence Edwards, Doug Brown and Phillip Hunt. — KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS From left: Winnipeg award nominees Brendon LaBatte, Jovan Johnson, Andre Douglas, Terrence Edwards, Doug Brown and Phillip Hunt.

If there’s any gratification for the Bombers’ 2010 Most Outstanding Player nominee — the CFL released the initial list of the outstanding hopefuls for each of the eight clubs Wednesday — it comes with the knowledge that this time around the Winnipeg offence, specifically the four different quarterbacks the Bombers were forced to use, weren’t going to slow him down.

Through 17 games, Edwards’ 1,325 receiving yards ranks first in the CFL. His 12 touchdown catches ranks second, two behind Calgary’s Romby Bryant. Both numbers are career highs for Edwards in this, his sixth CFL campaign (fourth as a Bomber).

“The coaches just put me in position to make plays,” he said quietly, respectful of his first MOP nomination.

As you may recall, Edwards struggled in the system put forth by former coaches Mike Kelly and Manny Matsakis in 2009 (he had 816 yards and five TDs in 16 games), so bouncing back with a big year under new management was a top priority for the 6-foot-1, 179-pound slotback. How bad were things for him last season? Some players told him of meetings called by the staff that a knowledgable old hand like Edwards wasn’t invited to participate in.

Forget gratification. Call it nomination vindication, instead.

“There’s some satisfaction on that end, where I was a player in this league and (they) didn’t use me properly,” he said, quick to recognize he is a better fit with the Paul LaPolice-Jamie Barresi offence this year.

“As a competitor, I just want to win games. That comes with me catching passes and scoring touchdowns, and helping the team out that way. If I didn’t catch a pass and we won the game, I’d be pretty happy with that.”

The Georgia product is one of six Bombers up for most outstanding player award consideration, joining DE Phillip Hunt (Outstanding Defensive Player), KR Jovon Johnson (Outstanding Special Teams Player), DT Doug Brown (Outstanding Canadian), LG Brendon LaBatte (Outstanding Lineman) and LT Andre Douglas (Outstanding Rookie).

Despite the efforts put forth by some of the Bomber nominees (Hunt has a league-leading 16 sacks), some wonder if Winnipeg — a league-worst 4-13 record heading into Friday’s finale against Calgary at Canad Inns Stadium — will get a fair shake when the next list comes out.

“That’s unfortunate for some of the guys who were recognized,” Brown said. “They might not get a good shot to represent the Eastern Division because our team hasn’t fared as well — which would be disappointing. You know, to the victor goes the spoils and we haven’t been too victorious for most of the year.”

The Bomber nominees were selected by a six-person local media panel and LaPolice. The divisional representatives in each of the categories will be selected next Wednesday, with the league winners announced during Grey Cup week.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

BEST OF THE BLUE

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER

Terrence Edwards

Position: slotback

Highlight reel: First among CFL pass catchers with 1,325 yards, Edwards leads Hamilton’s Arland Bruce III and Saskatchewan’s Andy Fantuz by 22 yards heading into the weekend… Has 12 touchdowns… Both are career highs… Edwards needs just six catches to set a career high for receptions, as well.

The other candidates: K Paul McCallum (B.C.), SB Fred Stamps (Edmonton), QB Henry Burris (Calgary), QB Darian Durant (Saskatchewan), QB Kevin Glenn (Hamilton), RB Cory Boyd (Toronto), QB Anthony Calvillo (Montreal).

MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER

Jovon Johnson

Position: defensive back/kick returner

Highlight reel: Second in the CFL with 912 yards on punt returns and two touchdowns… Johnson has also returned six missed field goals for 186 yards… Second on the Winnipeg defence with 60 tackles.

The other candidates: KR Yonus Davis (B.C.), LS Tim St. Pierre (Edmonton), P Burke Dales (Calgary), P Eddie Johnson (Saskatchewan), KR Marcus Thigpen (Hamilton), KR Chad Owens (Toronto), FB Michael Griffin (Montreal).

MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER

Phillip Hunt

Position: defensive end

Highlight reel: Hunt has 16 sacks and has recorded at least one sack in 10 straight games (a CFL record) heading into the final weekend… He should win the sack title this season… He also has 51 tackles, good for fourth on the club… Hunt was a unanimous choice among voters.

The other candidates: LB Korey Banks (B.C.), LB T.J. Hill (Edmonton), LB Juwan Simpson (Calgary), S James Patrick (Saskatchewan), LB Markeith Knowlton (Hamilton), DE Ronald Flemons (Toronto), LB Chip Cox (Montreal).

MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN

Doug Brown

Position: defensive tackle

Highlight reel: The Bomber veteran has recorded 41 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble this season… The 36-year-old has not missed a game this season… This is the fifth straight year and eighth time overall Brown has been given the nomination… Brown won the Most Outstanding Canadian Player award in 2001.

The other candidates: K Paul McCallum (B.C.), RB Calvin McCarty (Edmonton), RB Jon Cornish (Calgary), SB Andy Fantuz (Saskatchewan), WR Dave Stala (Hamilton), LB Kevin Eiben (Toronto), SB Ben Cahoon (Montreal).

MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

Brendon LaBatte

Position: left guard

Highlight reel: Regarded as one of the top young guards in the CFL… Started 16 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 17… The Bombers use LaBatte on defence in goal-line situations… It’s the second straight year LaBatte has won the nomination — and the second time as a unanimous choice… LaBatte was the Bombers’ most outstanding rookie in 2008.

The other candidates: Jovan Olafioye (B.C.), Aaron Fiacconi (Edmonton), Ben Archibald (Calgary), Jeremy O’Day (Saskatchewan), Marwan Hage (Hamilton), Rob Murphy (Toronto), Josh Bourke (Montreal).

MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE

Andre Douglas

Position: left tackle

Highlight reel: Given the talented rookies on the Bombers roster, Douglas stands out on the difficulty of his position — starting at the most important spot on the O-line… Missed three games due to a knee injury.

The other candidates: LB Solomon Elimimian (B.C.), RB Daniel Porter (Edmonton), OL Edwin Harrison (Calgary), DE Shomari Williams (Saskatchewan), KR Marcus Thigpen (Hamilton), DB Evan McCollough (Toronto), LB Marc-Olivier Brouillette (Montreal).