2023 Most Outstanding Player finalists announced

[SammyGreene]

No real surprises as the Lions announce their MOP finalists.

Betts is very likely the frontrunner for the league's most outstanding defensive player but likely loses out to Brady Oliveria for most outstanding Canadian. Huge seasons for both these pending free agents.

Broxton goes from a practice roster regular until the late stage of the 2022 season to a MOP finalist a year later. Again another very key pending FA in 2024 for the Lions due for a big pay raise from his rookie deal.

I thought Sean Whyte was jobbed last year when Rene Parades was named the all-star at kicker. If the voters are paying any attention to his outstanding numbers he should be the West Division finalist for special teams.

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER

BC: Vernon Adams Jr.*
Edmonton: Tre Ford
Calgary: Reggie Begelton*
Saskatchewan: Larry Dean
Winnipeg: Brady Oliveira
Hamilton: Tim White
Toronto: Chad Kelly*
Ottawa: Devonte Williams
Montreal: Austin Mack

MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER

BC: Mathieu Betts
Edmonton: Jake Ceresna
Calgary: Micah Awe
Saskatchewan: Larry Dean*
Winnipeg: Willie Jefferson*
Hamilton: Simoni Lawrence
Toronto: Adarius Pickett
Ottawa: Bryce Carter*
Montreal: Tyrice Beverette

MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN

BC: Mathieu Betts
Edmonton: Tre Ford*
Calgary: Cameron Judge*
Saskatchewan: Samuel Emilus*
Winnipeg: Brady Oliveira*
Hamilton: Stavros Katsantonis*
Toronto: Royce Metchie
Ottawa: Cleyon Laing*
Montreal: Marc-Antoine Dequoy*

MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

BC: Jarell Broxton
Edmonton: Martez Ivey
Calgary: Sean McEwen
Saskatchewan: Logan Ferland
Winnipeg: Jermarcus Hardrick
Hamilton: Brandon Revenberg
Toronto: Dejon Allen
Ottawa: Jacob Ruby
Montreal: Pier-Olivier Lestage

MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER

BC: Sean Whyte*
Edmonton: Scott Hutter
Calgary: René Paredes
Saskatchewan: Adam Korsak*
Winnipeg: Sergio Castillo*
Hamilton: Tyreik McAllister
Toronto: Javon Leake*
Ottawa: Brandin Dandridge
Montreal: Joseph Zema

MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE

BC: Ryder Varga*
Edmonton: Kai Gray
Calgary: Clark Barnes
Saskatchewan: Adam Korsak*
Winnipeg: Jamieson Sheahan
Hamilton: Taylor Powell
Toronto: Qwan’tez Stiggers*
Ottawa: Dustin Crum*
Montreal: Reggie Stubblefield

[B.C.FAN]

I agree with all of the selections. Whyte is Mr. automatic. Adams and Betts have drawn lots of recognition for their great seasons. Broxton is a stud who doesn’t get as much recognition as he deserves. Varga deserves more playing time next year.

[TheLionKing]

What does the asterisk beside the name signifies ?

[Gridiron Ernie]

What does the asterisk beside the name signifies ?

Asterisk signifies that the player was a unanimous choice (the voters being the team's head coach and the local football reporters, if I'm not mistaken).

[Toppy Vann]

The West nominees are interesting in that Brady Oliviera is both MOP and Canadian. Not having Nic Demski as a 1000 yd REC nominee changes the voting calculus in the West.

MOP: Adams vs. Oliveira (maybe Oliveira can lose to Adams and beat Betts for Cdn letting him be voted as DEF MOP.

O/CDN: Betts Vs Oliveira and Tre Ford. This list of O/Standing Canadians from the West is impressive. Nic Demski not even on the list wow. The East has some top deserving Canadians as well as others left off.

DEF: Betts in the west.

Special Teams: White - a lock for the WEST but eventually beaten out by Javon Leake who's been out of this world as a kick returner.

[David]

I nailed all of the Leos players in my own picks.

Here is how I see the RUNNERS-UP:

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
1st Runner-up: Mathieu Betts
2nd Runner-up: Keon Hatcher

MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER

1st Runner-up: Ben Hladik
2nd Runner-Up: Garry Peters

MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN

1st Runner-up: Ben Hladik
2nd Runner-up: Sean Whyte

MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

1st Runner-up: Michael Couture
2nd Runner-up: Sukh Chungh


MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER

1st Runner-up: Stefan Flintoft
2nd Runner-up: Ryder Varga (Adrian Greene deserves some consideration too).


MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE

1st Runner-up: Siriman Harrison Bagayogo
1st Runner-up: Jack Hinsberger*

* not sure if he qualifies as he only played in 6 games. Still, he was noticeable, registering 4 ST tackles.


DH

[Toppy Vann]

Rip up your ballots: seven CFL award nominees voters got wrong
By JC Abbott -October 26, 2023

Maybe the most telling line in his article is this observation, although the question is what replaces this?

The selections, which were made by a panel of local media members in each city as well as the team’s head coach, are part of an archaic CFL awards format that punishes excellent performances from teammates.

DE Mathieu Betts, B.C. Lions — Most Outstanding Defensive Player

How in the world was Betts not the unanimous choice for the Lions’ MODP nomination? It is I who cast the dissenting ballot and the stones you throw as a result only make me stronger....


... B.C.’s secondary boasts the best shutdown cornerback in the league. Despite being targeted at a relatively high rate, Garry Peters had held opponents to a 47.5 quarterback rating entering last week — a number I doubt jumped much against Jake Maier — and did not allow a single touchdown against all year.

https://3downnation.com/2023/10/26/rip- ... got-wrong/

[Toppy Vann]

Another one?: Bombers’ RB Brady Oliveira highlights list of Jake Gaudaur Veteran’s Award nominees
By 3Down Staff -October 26, 2023

This year’s recipient will be chosen by a committee made up of Robert Loken and Jeff Thompson from Veterans Affairs Canada, CFL ON TSN analyst and former Honorary Colonel of 417 Combat Support Squadron, Glen Suitor, CFL Players’ Association Executive Director, Brian Ramsay, and CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

Listening to prior award winners speak over the years players also place high value on this award.



Andrew Peirson is BC's nominee for the Jake Gaudaur Veteran's Award.

ANDREW PEIRSON – BC LIONS
"...He also serves as one of the team’s moral compasses and was one of its first players to stand up against racism following the murder of George Floyd. He works with OK Tire to support grassroots initiatives, while also coaching youth at the community football level and visiting over 500 schools as a team ambassador. He supports the Heart and Stroke Foundation and various causes to help end racism and gender-based violence."

Some noble contributions across Canada with the saddest this nominee J-MIN PELLEY – EDMONTON ELKS and their "unimaginable tragedy following the sudden death of their five-month-old daughter last February."





https://3downnation.com/2023/10/26/anot ... -nominees/

[Toppy Vann]

Another 3 Down Nation article this time complaining that Zach Collaros got jobbed.

I must admit that I thought VA and Collaros would compete for MOP from the West.

With VA you could make the argument that without him no BC REC would have maxed high yardage.
Not sure this argument works with Oliveira quite as well but he contributed to much of their success and I thought he'd be top Canadian nominee and Zach MOP from WPG. My sense is that Zach needed that running game to be as good as he was and as good as WPG was.

VA is VA and his success (and the Lions) on offense is in his hands. IF he's off, they're dead. Oh right, that's what happened in the Calgary game.

Oliveira put forth fantastic numbers — 1,498 rushing yards, 482 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns — but they’re not among the greatest rushing seasons for a running back in CFL history. Mike Pringle tops the list with 2,065 yards in 1998 with players like Willie Burden, Jon Cornish, and Earl Lunsford still far above what Oliveira accomplished this year.

If you take the threat of Collaros inside and outside the pocket away, the Winnipeg native’s statistics would be vastly different.

https://3downnation.com/2023/10/27/opin ... territory/

[OV:54-40]

Collaros has been playing mostly great for several CFL seasons now - deserved MOP recognition. Outstanding passing and so good at buying time to read and make plays.

However - this season - two brutally bad/dumb plays for a veteran QB - a stupid decision, gift pick 6 against Ottawa that cost them a win; and a feeble throw-away for a pick 6 to Purifoy of the EE = inexcusable brain-dead plays - would IMO disqualify him for the award this season; Oliveira is more deserving this year (but if he had fumbled away 3 games or so, his great stats might be over-looked as well)

[SammyGreene]

Rip up your ballots: seven CFL award nominees voters got wrong
By JC Abbott -October 26, 2023

Maybe the most telling line in his article is this observation, although the question is what replaces this?

DE Mathieu Betts, B.C. Lions — Most Outstanding Defensive Player

How in the world was Betts not the unanimous choice for the Lions’ MODP nomination? It is I who cast the dissenting ballot and the stones you throw as a result only make me stronger....

Geez, maybe Neil McElvoy will ask for JC Abbott to be part of the negotiations when Betts' agent rightfully suggests his client should be the league's highest paid defensive player to remain on the west coast in 2024?
I'm pretty sure I saw #90 getting doubled a lot in the 2nd half of the season with the extra attention slowly down his sack total but also leading to some frustration and those undisciplined penalties too.

[OV:54-40]

Rip up your ballots: seven CFL award nominees voters got wrong
By JC Abbott -October 26, 2023

Maybe the most telling line in his article is this observation, although the question is what replaces this?

DE Mathieu Betts, B.C. Lions — Most Outstanding Defensive Player

How in the world was Betts not the unanimous choice for the Lions’ MODP nomination? It is I who cast the dissenting ballot and the stones you throw as a result only make me stronger....

Geez, maybe Neil McElvoy will ask for JC Abbott to be part of the negotiations when Betts' agent rightfully suggests his client should be the league's highest paid defensive player to remain on the west coast in 2024?
I'm pretty sure I saw #90 getting doubled a lot in the 2nd half of the season with the extra attention slowly down his sack total but also leading to some frustration and those undisciplined penalties too.

Abbott suggesting Betts is weak against the run is a total joke; Betts' has an outstanding motor and is often chasing down ball carriers from behind; check out his tackle total amongst league leaders for DEs - i guess the rest of the field are super weak run stopper DEs ?

Abbott showing some of his typical lack of respect for top U Sports product talent - guys he thinks are suspect cause they played against inferior competition there - typical CFL cliche B$.

[Toppy Vann]

Rip up your ballots: seven CFL award nominees voters got wrong
By JC Abbott -October 26, 2023

Maybe the most telling line in his article is this observation, although the question is what replaces this?

DE Mathieu Betts, B.C. Lions — Most Outstanding Defensive Player

How in the world was Betts not the unanimous choice for the Lions’ MODP nomination? It is I who cast the dissenting ballot and the stones you throw as a result only make me stronger....

Geez, maybe Neil McElvoy will ask for JC Abbott to be part of the negotiations when Betts' agent rightfully suggests his client should be the league's highest paid defensive player to remain on the west coast in 2024?
I'm pretty sure I saw #90 getting doubled a lot in the 2nd half of the season with the extra attention slowly down his sack total but also leading to some frustration and those undisciplined penalties too.

LOL.

That reminds me of the story that Mark Crawford told about Brian Burke at an event for Burke and how Burke thought it'd be good for him to sit in negotiations and learn something with Brendan Morrison, the Centre on the high flying line with Todd Bertuzzi and Marcus Naslund.

Burke told Brendan in the negotiation meeting that the line consisted of two elephants and a mouse. "Brendan, you are the mouse!"

[Toppy Vann]

Chad Kelly, Brady Oliveira named finalists for CFL Most Outstanding Player award
By 3Down Staff -November 1, 2023

Betts and Whyte still in the running.

The CFL has unveiled the divisional nominees for this year’s awards as voted upon by members of the media.

Most Outstanding Player

RB Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
QB Chad Kelly, Toronto Argonauts

Most Outstanding Defensive Player

DL Mathieu Betts, B.C. Lions
LB Adarius Pickett, Toronto Argonauts

Most Outstanding Canadian

RB Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Montreal Alouettes

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman

OL Jermarcus Hardrick, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
OL Dejon Allen, Toronto Argonauts

Most Outstanding Special Teams Player

K Sean Whyte, B.C. Lions
KR Javon Leake, Toronto Argonauts

Most Outstanding Rookie

DB Kai Gray, Edmonton Elks
DB Qwan’tez Stiggers, Toronto Argonauts

Coach of the Year

Mike O’Shea, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Ryan Dinwiddie, Toronto Argonauts

The CFL awards show will take place at the Avalon Theatre at Fallsview Casino & Resort in Niagara Falls, Ont. on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

https://3downnation.com/2023/11/01/chad ... yer-award/

[Toppy Vann]

Four sure winners are:

MOP:
Chad Kelly over Oliviera

Most Outstanding Canadian:

RB Brady Oliveira over DB DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Montreal Alouettes

Special Teams:
Javon Leake over Sean Whyte

Coach of the Year:

Dinwiddie over O'Shea

....

Most Outstanding Defensive Player

DL Mathieu Betts, over Adarius Pickett , Toronto is too close to call.


...

My reasoning is that Oliviera won't be shut out but Kelly will be MOP.
Sad for Dequoy if he doesn't win as he's had a great year.

Leake was just too spectacular over the steady, sure-footed Lions FG Kicker.