2006 CFL season

The 2006 CFL season is the 53rd season of modern Canadian professional football and the 49th official league season. The season started on June 16, 2006 and ended with the BC Lions winning the 94th Grey Cup on November 19, 2006. The preseason began on June 2, 2006.

[edit] CFL News in 2006

It was announced on April 9, 2006 that the CFL had suspended the operations of the Ottawa Renegades for the 2006 season, thus making the CFL an 8 team league and moving the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the East Division for at least the 2006 season. On April 12, 2006 a dispersal draft was held where the remaining 8 teams chose players from the Ottawa Renegades' roster. On September 28, it was confirmed that Ottawa would return no sooner than the 2008 season, to give potential new owners enough time to set up the new franchise.

The 2006 season is the first season where teams will be able to challenge officials' calls using instant replay. The CFL's replay system seems to be largely modelled on the one used in the NFL although there are some differences.

A new salary cap and salary management system (SMS) was adopted for the 2006 season, although the enforcement part of the new system will not take effect until the 2007 season. The cap for the 2007 season has been set at $4.05 million Canadian dollars.

It was announced on July 5, 2006 that Tom Wright, commissioner of the CFL, had informed the CFL that he would not be seeking a contract extension as league commissioner after this season, thus ending his tenure as the 11th CFL commissioner.

On October 26, 2006 Hugh Campbell stepped down as CEO of the Eskimos.

The number of TDs scored on kicking or punting plays dropped dramatically in 2006, which many attributed to stricter rules on blocking. There were 16 such TDs in 2005, and just 3 in the 2006 season.

Records: Damon Allen became pro-football's all-time passing yardage leader on September 4th by surpassing Warren Moon's total of 70,553 yards (in both the CFL and NFL combined) as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 40-6. Terry Vaughn became the all-time receptions leader, surpassing Darren Flutie with 973 on July 14th. Then on September 22nd, Vaughn became the first football receiver in CFL history to record 1,000 all-time receptions. On October 14, Byron Parker sets a new CFL single-season record for most interception return yardage with 342 on a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in Edmonton. Then on October 20, Mike O'Shea becomes the first Canadian and third player (behind Willie Pless and Alondra Johnson) to have had 1,000 career tackles. The Eskimos' streak of 34 straight years in the playoffs came to an end in 2006.

[edit] Regular season

[edit] Final regular season standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points

• Ottawa Renegades have suspended operations for the 2006 season.
• Bold text indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
• British Columbia and Montreal both have first round byes.

[edit] Grey Cup playoffs

Main article: 94th Grey Cup

The British Columbia Lions are the 2006 Grey Cup Champions, defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25-14 at Winnipeg's Canad Inns Stadium. It was the first Grey Cup for the Lions since they defeated the same Alouettes in the 88th Grey Cup game in 2000. The Lions' Dave Dickenson (QB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player and the Lions' Paul McCallum (K) was the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

[edit] 2006 CFL All-Stars

[edit] OFFENCE

• QB - Ricky Ray, Edmonton Eskimos
• WR - Geroy Simon, British Columbia Lions
• WR - Milt Stegall, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• WR - Arland Bruce III, Toronto Argonauts
• WR - Jason Tucker, Edmonton Eskimos
• RB - Joffrey Reynolds, Calgary Stampeders
• RB - Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• OT - Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• OT - Rob Murphy, British Columbia Lions
• OG - Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes
• OG - Jay McNeil, Calgary Stampeders
• C - Jeremy O'Day, Saskatchewan Roughriders

[edit] DEFENCE

• DE - Brent Johnson, British Columbia Lions
• DE - Fred Perry, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• DT - Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• DT - Tyrone Williams, British Columbia Lions
• LB - Brian Clark, Calgary Stampeders
• LB - Otis Floyd, British Columbia Lions
• LB - Barrin Simpson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• DB - Korey Banks, British Columbia Lions
• DB - Eddie Davis, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• CB - Byron Parker, Toronto Argonauts
• CB - Coby Rhinehart, Calgary Stampeders
• DS - Barron Miles, British Columbia Lions

[edit] SPECIAL TEAMS

• K - Sandro DeAngelis, Calgary Stampeders
• P - Noel Prefontaine, Toronto Argonauts
• ST - Albert Johnson III, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

[edit] 2006 Rogers CFL Awards

• CFL's Outstanding Player Award - Geroy Simon (SB), British Columbia Lions
• CFL's Outstanding Canadian Award - Brent Johnson (DE), British Columbia Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award - Brent Johnson (DE), British Columbia Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award - Rob Murphy (OG), British Columbia Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award - Aaron Hunt (DT), British Columbia Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Award - Sandro DeAngelis (K), Calgary Stampeders
• CFLPA's Most Outstanding Community Service Award - Mark Washington (DB), British Columbia Lions
• Rogers Fans' Choice Award - Geroy Simon (SB), British Columbia Lions
• CFL's Scotiabank Coach of the Year - Wally Buono, British Columbia Lions