2011 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards Night

[Robbie]

The East and West nominees for the 2011 Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards will be announced on Wednesday, November 9 at noon ET.

* - Indicates a unanimous selection

BC Lions

Player – Travis Lulay*
Defensive – Keron Williams
Canadian – Paul McCallum*
Offensive Lineman – Jovan Olafioye
Special Teams – Paul McCallum*
Rookie – Tim Brown

Edmonton Eskimos

Player – Ricky Ray
Defensive – Rod Davis
Canadian – Jerome Messam*
Offensive Lineman – Greg Wojt
Special Teams – Corbin Sharun
Rookie – JC Sherritt*

Calgary Stampeders

Player – Nik Lewis*
Defensive – Brandon Smith
Canadian – Jon Cornish*
Offensive Lineman – Stanley Bryant
Special Teams – Larry Taylor*
Rookie – Demetrice Morley*

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Player – Weston Dressler
Defensive – Jerrell Freeman
Canadian – Chris Getzlaf
Offensive Lineman – Chris Best
Special Teams – Chris Milo
Rookie – Craig Butler

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Player – Jovon Johnson
Defensive – Jovon Johnson
Canadian – Cory Watson
Offensive Lineman – Brendon Labatte
Special Teams – Jovon Johnson
Rookie – Clarence Denmark*

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Player – Justin Hickman
Defensive – Justin Hickman
Canadian – Dave Stala
Offensive Lineman – Peter Dyakowski
Special Teams – Justin Medlock*
Rookie – Chris Williams*

Toronto Argonauts

Player – Chad Owens
Defensive – Lin-J Shell
Canadian – Rickey Foley
Offensive Lineman – Dominic Picard
Special Teams – Chad Owens*
Rookie – Chad Kackert

Montreal Alouettes

Player – Anthony Calvillo
Defensive – Chip Cox
Canadian – Sean Whyte
Offensive Lineman – Josh Bourke
Special Teams – Sean Whyte
Rookie – Seth Williams

[Rammer]

West nominees as I see it should end up like this...

MOP Travis Lulay
MODP Keron Williams
MOC Jerome Messam
MOOL Jovan Olafioye
MOST Paul McCallum
MOR JC Sherritt

EAST nominees

MOP Anthony Cavillo
MODP Jovan Johnson
MOC Sean Whyte
MOOL Josh Bourke
MOST Chad Owens
MOR Chris Williams

[Blitz]

I agree with most of your picks WCJ

Lulay should win the West for MOP and if Geroy had been selected he likely would have won the West too.

However, I think Winnipeg's Jovan Johnson will beat out Keron Williams for MODP. Eliminian was also a deserving recipient. Korey Banks missed out as well but he has probably been our Most Valuable Defensive Player even though they do not have that category. Jerome Messam should get the West nod for MOC but McCallum could possibly beat him out...with his record setting season. Agree with you re: Olafioye for best lineman and McCallum for best special teams player.

Its looking like a good year for our Leos for top player recipients.

[KnowItAll]

why should messam get it?

his yards per carry is way less than cornish
his yards per reception is double way less than cornish

cornish so far 8 TDs, messam 6
cornish so far 1 fumble, messam 4

cornish contributes a lot to special teams. What does messam do?

cornish is a better, wiser blocking back. When messam is supposed to be helping block, ray usually ends up running for his life.

however, since media idiots are simply minded morons with tunnel vision, all they will see is total yard carried and messam will undeservedly get it.

[Rammer]

why should messam get it?

his yards per carry is way less than cornish
his yards per reception is double way less than cornish

cornish so far 8 TDs, messam 6
cornish so far 1 fumble, messam 4

cornish contributes a lot to special teams. What does messam do?

cornish is a better, wiser blocking back. When messam is supposed to be helping block, ray usually ends up running for his life.

however, since media idiots are simply minded morons with tunnel vision, all they will see is total yard carried and messam will undeservedly get it.

You can bank on the run yards being the deciding factor between Cornish and Messam for MOC. Please list the Canadians that you recall hitting the 1000 yard mark? That is an important hurdle for both receivers and RB's in the CFL game, especially the latter and being an NI is Messam's ticket to MOC. Cornish could easily win it next season, but since he was a backup to Reynolds, his impact hasn't been to the same degree that Messam's has with the Esks, who can thank Wally for that gift of a life line.

[KnowItAll]

why should messam get it?

his yards per carry is way less than cornish
his yards per reception is double way less than cornish

cornish so far 8 TDs, messam 6
cornish so far 1 fumble, messam 4

cornish contributes a lot to special teams. What does messam do?

cornish is a better, wiser blocking back. When messam is supposed to be helping block, ray usually ends up running for his life.

however, since media idiots are simply minded morons with tunnel vision, all they will see is total yard carried and messam will undeservedly get it.

You can bank on the run yards being the deciding factor between Cornish and Messam for MOC. Please list the Canadians that you recall hitting the 1000 yard mark? That is an important hurdle for both receivers and RB's in the CFL game, especially the latter and being an NI is Messam's ticket to MOC. Cornish could easily win it next season, but since he was a backup to Reynolds, his impact hasn't been to the same degree that Messam's has with the Esks, who can thank Wally for that gift of a life line.

the lawyers say dont ask a question you dont already know the answer to, but I will anyhow. How many Canadian backs have ever been given the ball as much as Messam has, in one season?

[Rammer]

why should messam get it?

his yards per carry is way less than cornish
his yards per reception is double way less than cornish

cornish so far 8 TDs, messam 6
cornish so far 1 fumble, messam 4

cornish contributes a lot to special teams. What does messam do?

cornish is a better, wiser blocking back. When messam is supposed to be helping block, ray usually ends up running for his life.

however, since media idiots are simply minded morons with tunnel vision, all they will see is total yard carried and messam will undeservedly get it.

You can bank on the run yards being the deciding factor between Cornish and Messam for MOC. Please list the Canadians that you recall hitting the 1000 yard mark? That is an important hurdle for both receivers and RB's in the CFL game, especially the latter and being an NI is Messam's ticket to MOC. Cornish could easily win it next season, but since he was a backup to Reynolds, his impact hasn't been to the same degree that Messam's has with the Esks, who can thank Wally for that gift of a life line.

the lawyers say dont ask a question you dont already know the answer to, but I will anyhow. How many Canadian backs have ever been given the ball as much as Messam has, in one season?

Only the ones that are going to produce when the opposition knows that you are getting the ball.

[WestCoastJoe]

When we had Sean Whyte I underestimated him. I felt he was good, but not in Paul McCallum's class. He probably still is not in that class (Hall of Fame), but he is a very, very dependable kicker. Good deal for both teams. And well done, Sean. A very nice player to talk with, very good with the fans.

Congratulations to all the nominees.

[Solar Max]

How many Canadian backs have ever been given the ball as much as Messam has, in one season?

[LFITQ]

why should messam get it?

his yards per carry is way less than cornish
his yards per reception is double way less than cornish

cornish so far 8 TDs, messam 6
cornish so far 1 fumble, messam 4

cornish contributes a lot to special teams. What does messam do?

cornish is a better, wiser blocking back. When messam is supposed to be helping block, ray usually ends up running for his life.

however, since media idiots are simply minded morons with tunnel vision, all they will see is total yard carried and messam will undeservedly get it.

You can bank on the run yards being the deciding factor between Cornish and Messam for MOC. Please list the Canadians that you recall hitting the 1000 yard mark? That is an important hurdle for both receivers and RB's in the CFL game, especially the latter and being an NI is Messam's ticket to MOC. Cornish could easily win it next season, but since he was a backup to Reynolds, his impact hasn't been to the same degree that Messam's has with the Esks, who can thank Wally for that gift of a life line.

the lawyers say dont ask a question you dont already know the answer to, but I will anyhow. How many Canadian backs have ever been given the ball as much as Messam has, in one season?

Those that have won MOC that season.

[B.C.FAN]

the lawyers say dont ask a question you dont already know the answer to, but I will anyhow. How many Canadian backs have ever been given the ball as much as Messam has, in one season?

Good question. I'm not sure but the last Canadian RB to have more carries than Messam may have been Orville Lee in 1988 (232 carries for 1,075 yards).

Messam already has 182 carries for 981 yards. Sean Millington had 173 carries in his busiest season, 2002. Millington was the last Canadian back to rush for 1,000 yards (in 2000, when he had 156 carries). Millington topped 150 carries four times in his career.

[Robbie]

PLAYER
Anthony Calvillo vs. Travis Lulay

DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Jovon Johnson vs. Jerrell Freeman

CANADIAN PLAYER
Sean Whyte vs. Jerome Messam

SPECIAL TEAMS
Chad Owens vs. Paul McCallum

ROOKIE
Chris Williams vs. JC Sherritt

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
Josh Bourke vs. Jovan Olafioye

[B.C.FAN]

McCallum is a lock. The other B.C. finalists are in tough.

PLAYER
Anthony Calvillo vs. Travis Lulay

The stats and experience factor all point to Calvillo, who has been dominant for years and is coming to the end of an outstanding career. Lulay has the "wow" actor on his side because of the way he and the team finished the season but it's too early in his career to crown him the best player in the league.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Jovon Johnson vs. Jerrell Freeman

Freeman has been the lone bright spot on a terrible Saskatchewan defence. He overtook Elimimian for the league lead in tackles, which will influence voters.

CANADIAN PLAYER
Sean Whyte vs. Jerome Messam

Messam has had a storybook season. If he can keep out of trouble until the votes are cast, the award is his.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Chad Owens vs. Paul McCallum

Both players have had record-breaking seasons but McCallum has been nearly purrfect. To have the best year of any kicker in hsitory at age 41 is simply amazing. This should be close to unanimous.

ROOKIE
Chris Williams vs. JC Sherritt

Both players have been good, but offence trumps defence. Williams made Arland Bruce expendable in Hamilton. He led the team with over 1,000 yards receiving. Sherritt was a key piece of Rich Stubler's league-leading defence but he was exploited in pass coverage.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
Josh Bourke vs. Jovan Olafioye

Voters know nothing about offensive line play but Bourke has three factors in his favour.
1. He plays the more important left tackle position.
2. He's a non-import.
3. Everyone saw how bad Calvillo looked without Bourke to protect his blind side against the Lions.

[sj-roc]

McCallum is a lock. The other B.C. finalists are in tough.

PLAYER
Anthony Calvillo vs. Travis Lulay

Lulay has the "wow" actor on his side because of the way he and the team finished the season but it's too early in his career to crown him the best player in the league.

Your comment brought me back to 2004, BCF. Looking back on the aftermath of those awards, I could happily live with the other guy winning the MOP (and us winning the Cup!).