Lewis: many snappy returns

Blue Bomber great named best ever at running back kicks

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014

Leo Lewis played in a day when specialized players were unheard of and the men on the field were expected to do a number of things. Whatever Lewis did, he did well.

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Leo Lewis played in a day when specialized players were unheard of and the men on the field were expected to do a number of things. Whatever Lewis did, he did well.

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This article was published 18/10/2014 (4306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Leo Lewis played in a day when specialized players were unheard of and the men on the field were expected to do a number of things. Whatever Lewis did, he did well.

One of the greatest running backs in CFL history, Lewis has also been chosen the kick returner on the All-Time Blue Bombers Team.

Lewis still holds the second-highest career kickoff-return average in CFL history at 29.1 yards (Larry Highbaugh is first overall at 35.2) and ranks fourth overall in yardage.

Leo Lewis was pure electricity whenever he touched the ball, and was particularly dangerous on kick returns.

A member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Lewis won four Grey Cups with the Bombers over an 11-year career.

Voted one of the CFL’s Top 50 players (29th overall) by TSN, Lewis has been tabbed by legendary Bombers coach Bud Grant as the best player he ever coached.

Lewis is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Voters have selected Ken Ploen as the quarterback, Chris Walby as the offensive lineman, Greg Battle as the linebacker, Bob Cameron as the kicker and Lewis as kick returner of the Free Press/TSN 1290 All-Time Bombers Team.

Voting began Monday and fans were given the choice of five kick returners as chosen by the All-Time Blue Bombers Team panel, comprising legendary coach Bud Grant, former player and GM Paul Robson, Hall of Fame football writer Ed Tait, Andrew (Hustler) Paterson from TSN 1290 and myself.

Next up is running back. The Free Press print and digital editions as well as www.tsn1290.ca will run stories Monday outlining the careers of the finalists selected by our panel.

Voting will take place on both websites.

Vote a maximum of once per day and help choose the Blue Bombers player you consider the best at the following positions, to be presented in this order: Quarterback, offensive lineman, linebacker, kicker, kick returner, running back, defensive lineman, defensive back and receiver.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless