Denmark lone Blue Bomber on all-star squad

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This article was published 05/12/2014 (4291 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG Blue Bombers slotback Clarence Denmark was named a CFL all-star on Thursday.

Denmark recorded the first 1,000-yard season of his four-year CFL career in 2014, hauling in 65 catches for 1,080 yards and three touchdowns.

Denmark was the only Bombers player named to the CFL all-star team, which is voted upon by the members of the Football Reporters of Canada and the league’s nine head coaches.

The Edmonton Eskimos had seven all-stars, the Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders had five all-stars, the Toronto Argonauts had four all-stars, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders had three all-stars and the B.C. Lions and Montreal Alouettes had two all-stars apiece.

Only the Ottawa Redblacks, who had no all-stars in the franchise’s inaugural season, had fewer all-stars than the Bombers this year.

Denmark signed a contract extension with the Bombers in September that will keep him in Blue and Gold though the 2016 season.

“This is a great honour to be recognized as a CFL all-star, alongside some of the best in our league,” Denmark said in a statement released by the Bombers on Thursday. “It’s an offensive award and would not have been accomplished without our entire offensive staff, players and especially (QB) Drew (Willy), who is a real leader for our team.”

Denmark has a catch in his last 33 games and started all 18 games for Winnipeg in 2014. In total, the Arkansas-Monticello product has 249 catches for 3,447 yards in four seasons with the Bombers.

Meanwhile, the post-season accolades continue to roll in for Solomon Elimimian.

The B.C. Lions linebacker was also named to the CFL all-star team Thursday.

The move was hardly a surprise, as Elimimian took home the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player and top defensive player awards last month.

Elimimian, the first pure defensive player to win the CFL’s top individual honour, had a huge season with 143 defensive tackles and 151 total tackles, both league records, and added five sacks.

The Eskimos had the most nominations to the all-star team with seven.

Running back John White, receiver Adarius Bowman and guard Simeon Rottier were called to represent the Eskimos on the offensive side, while defensive linemen Almondo Sewell and Odell Willis, linebacker Dexter McCoil and cornerback Patrick Watkins were named from Edmonton’s defence.

The Stampeders had five players named to the team, led by star Canadian running back Jon Cornish.

Centre Brett Jones, offensive tackle Stanley Bryant and defensive backs Brandon Smith and Jamar Wall were Calgary’s other representatives.

Brandon Banks, whose electrifying returns helped Hamilton advance to the Grey Cup final, was named as the special teams player.

Hamilton also sent defensive tackle Ted Laurent and cornerback Delvin Breaux to the all-star team.

Toronto’s Ricky Ray, the East Division’s nomination for Most Outstanding Player, was named the team’s quarterback.

He was joined by Argos slotback Chad Owens, named an all-star for the fourth time in his career, and Swayze Waters, selected as the team’s kicker and punter.

The Lions had one other nomination to the team, four-time all-star offensive tackle Jovan Olafioye.

Offensive guard Brendon LaBatte, defensive end John Chick and safety Tyron Brackenridge were the Saskatchewan Roughriders who made the grade.

The Montreal Alouettes were represented by receiver Duron Carter and linebacker Bear Woods.

 

Cohon leaving early

 

LIFE after the CFL will begin in early January for Mark Cohon.

The league announced Thursday that Cohon will step down as commissioner Jan. 9 under a mutual agreement between Cohon and the league’s board of governors. Board chairman Jim Lawson will then assume the role of interim commissioner until Cohon’s replacement is found.

Lawson also heads up the committee that’s searching for Cohon’s successor. Cohon’s contract as commissioner is due to expire in April.

 

— staff / The Canadian Press