2007 CFL season

The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on Saturday, November 3, 2007. The playoffs began on Sunday, November 11, 2007, and ended with the championship game, the 95th Grey Cup, at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, on November 25, 2007, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as champion.

CFL News in 2007

chedule

On February 14, 2007 the CFL announced the game schedule for the 2007 season, introducing a 19-week schedule that includes 18 regular-season games and one bye week for each team. Bye weeks will be taken consecutively by each division beginning with the East in Week 8, creating two weeks of divisional rivalry games.

This year’s regular-season schedule kicks off on Canada Day weekend and includes the CFL’s annual traditional rivalries – highlighted by the Labour Day and Thanksgiving Classics. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame game, this year featuring the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on September 15, returns to Ivor Wynne Stadium on induction weekend as the CFL celebrates and honours its heroes and legends of the past.

The regular-season concludes with a triple-header on Saturday, November 3 as teams finalize post-season positioning before the Division Semi-Finals get underway eight days later on Sunday, November 11. The CFL’s Division Championships will qualify this season’s two Grey Cup competing teams one week later on November 18. The 2007 season will officially conclude with the 95th Grey Cup on Sunday, November 25, returning to Toronto for the first time since 1992.

Television

On February 28, 2007, the CFL announced details of the 2007 broadcast schedule which includes all 77 games broadcast across the country by partners TSN, CBC or RDS.

This year’s regular season schedule will see 50 games aired on TSN, which will also be carried live on TSN Broadband, 22 games on CBC and a minimum of 16 Montreal Alouettes’ games on RDS. Coverage of the entire post-season, including the 95th Grey Cup in Toronto, Ontario, returns to CBC and RDS this fall. The 2007 season will be the CBC's final season as a CFL broadcaster for the foreseeable future, as the CFL and TSN begin an exclusive 5-year deal with the 2008 season.

TSN's 50-game CFL broadcast schedule will be available for the first time ever on multiple TSN distribution platforms. All 50 games will air live on TSN and TSN Broadband, with a minimum of 35 broadcasts produced and televised in High Definition on TSN HD. The majority of HD telecasts will air Friday nights during the 11th season of Wendy's Friday Night Football.

TSN's broadcast schedule gets underway on June 28 with a season opening double-header featuring B.C. at Toronto followed by Winnipeg at Edmonton. Additional highlights include two Grey Cup rematches featuring Montreal vs. B.C. (Aug. 31 and Sept. 9), the traditional Labour Day Classic Weekend with Winnipeg at Saskatchewan (Sept. 2) and the Hall of Fame Game featuring Winnipeg at Hamilton (Sept. 15).

The first of 22 CFL on CBC regular-season games airs on Saturday, June 30 when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats play the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. CBC’s regular-season line-up features the first-ever CFL on CBC triple-header as well as the traditional double-headers, the Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day Classics.

CFL in Ottawa

The Ottawa franchise will not take part in the 2007 season. The CFL has indicated that there is not enough time for a potential new owner to get the franchise up and running until 2009 at the earliest. [http://tsn.ca/cfl/news_story/?ID=179110&hubname=cfl]

alary Management System

2007 is the first year the new salary cap and salary management system is enforced. The cap is set at $4.05 million. [http://tsn.ca/cfl/news_story/?ID=179287&hubname=cfl]

New Commissioner

On March 12, 2007, Mark Cohon was named the CFL's 12th commissioner. The son of McDonald's of Canada founder George Cohon will succeed Tom Wright. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Cohon moved to Toronto, Ontario when he was two years old. Cohon is a graduate of Chicago's Northwestern University with a Bachelors of Science majoring in communication studiescite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060502.gtsrtop40/BNStory/National/?pageRequested=all|title=Top 40 under 40|work=The Globe and Mail|accessdate=2007-03-28] and was a business consultant to environmental and youth organizations in Torontocite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E2DE1530F934A25752C1A9649C8B63|title= WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Suzanne Lucido, Mark Cohon|work=The New York Times|accessdate=2007-03-28] before becoming President and chief executive officer of AudienceView Ticketing, a company which sells ticketing systems and services to sports, arts and entertainment events. In 2006, he was appointed new chair of the Ontario Science Centre. He was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2003. [cite web|url=http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/about/n141105.htm|title= MINISTER OF CULTURE NAMES MARK COHON NEW CHAIR OF THE ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE|work=Ontario Ministry of Culture|accessdate=2007-03-28]

Rule Changes

The "Ricky Williams Rule"

Outgoing CFL commissioner Tom Wright, stated that a rule will be introduced before the start of next season that would prevent a player under suspension in the NFL from signing with a CFL club. Some columnists dubbed this "The Ricky Williams Rule" because the running back joined the Toronto Argonauts after that league suspended him for the 2006 season for failing its substance abuse program for the fourth time. [http://www.thestar.com/article/154141]

Illegal Movement

This rule will penalize offensive linemen 5 yards for abrupt snap down into 2 or 3 point stance. This rule is aimed at eliminating a tactic by offensive linemen, solely designed to draw the defence offside.

=Kick from Scrim

On a kick from scrimmage going out of bounds in flight between the 20-yard lines, the receiving team will have the option of taking possession at the point the ball went out of bounds in flight, or having a 10-yard penalty applied against the kicking team at the point of the last scrimmage, with the down repeated. This forces the kicking team on punts and field goal attempts to land the ball in the field of play.

Unnecessary Roughness

*Any player in possession of the ball, who falls to the ground without contact and is not attempting to advance the ball, may only be touched down and may not be contacted in any other manner. Players on the ground are in an extremely vulnerable position and should be protected from excessive contact.
*Horse-collar tackles will be penalized.
*Contact above the shoulders on the long snapper will be penalized.

Roughing the Passer

*Contact below a quarterback's knees will no longer be accepted.
*Defensive players may no longer lead with the head or use the head as the primary contact point to hit a passer. Ducking the head and launching at a passer is not acceptable. In the 2006 season, Spergon Wynn was the victim of such a hit at the hands of Scott Schultz [http://www.scott-schultz.com/Images/DSC_7082.jpgClick here for image] . There was no penalty on the play, although Schultz was subsequently fined.

Blocking on Kick Returns

Players on the return team will once again be allowed to block oncoming tacklers from the sides. This was the rule until 2006, when the CFL outlawed blocks on the back of the side, leading to the temporary demise of the kick return touchdown. In 2006, there were only three touchdowns from kick returns, compared to eighteen in 2005. In addition to fewer touchdowns being scored, shorter kick returns lead to offences having to cover a larger portion of the field to score a touchdown, leading to more field goals and fewer touchdowns. With the long kick returns coming back in 2007, we can expect games to be higher scoring and more exciting.

Records and Milestones

Winnipeg Blue Bombers slotback, Milt Stegall passed Mike Pringle and George Reed for the most career touchdowns with 137 on July 27, and currently has 140 career touchdowns. Stegall is now trying to pass Allen Pitts all-time league record of 14,891 receiving yards.

Toronto Argonauts slotback, Derrell Mitchell surpassed Paul Masotti as the franchise's all-time leading receiver on July 26.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back, Charles Roberts passed Leo Lewis to become the franchise's all-time leading rusher on September 2.

BC running back, Joe Smith broke former Lion great Cory Philpot's franchise single season rushing record on October 28.

Regular season

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 2007 season."
* Bold text indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
* "British Columbia and Toronto both have first round byes."

Grey Cup playoffs

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the 2007 Grey Cup Champions, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 at Toronto's Rogers Centre. It was the first Grey Cup for the Roughriders since they won it in 1989 ending an 18-year drought. The Roughriders' James Johnson (DB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player and Andy Fantuz (SB) was named as the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Playoff bracket

6TeamBracket
RD1=November 11: Division Semifinals
RD2=November 18: Division Finals
RD3=November 25: 95th Grey Cup Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON
group1=East
group2=West
RD1-seed2=E2
RD1-team2=Winnipeg Blue Bombers
RD1-score2=24
RD1-seed1=E3
RD1-team1=Montreal Alouettes
RD1-score1=22
RD1-seed4=W2
RD1-team4=Saskatchewan Roughriders
RD1-score4=26
RD1-seed3=W3
RD1-team3=Calgary Stampeders
RD1-score3=24
RD2-seed2=E1
RD2-team2=Toronto Argonauts
RD2-score2=9
RD2-seed1=E2
RD2-team1=Winnipeg Blue Bombers
RD2-score1=19
RD2-seed4=W1
RD2-team4=British Columbia Lions
RD2-score4=17
RD2-seed3=W2
RD2-team3=Saskatchewan Roughriders
RD2-score3=26
RD3-seed1=E2
RD3-team1=Winnipeg Blue Bombers
RD3-score1=19
RD3-seed2=W2
RD3-team2=Saskatchewan Roughriders
RD3-score2=23

2007 CFL All-Stars

OFFENCE

*QB - Kerry Joseph, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*WR - Derick Armstrong, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*WR - Jason Clermont, British Columbia Lions
*WR - Terrence Edwards, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*WR - Geroy Simon, British Columbia Lions
*RB - Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*RB - Joe Smith, British Columbia Lions
*OT - Dan Goodspeed, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*OT - Rob Murphy, British Columbia Lions
*OG - Kelly Bates, British Columbia Lions
*OG - Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes
*C - Jeremy O'Day, Saskatchewan Roughriders

DEFENCE

*DE - Jonathan Brown, Toronto Argonauts
*DE - Cameron Wake, British Columbia Lions
*DT - Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*DT - Tyrone Williams, British Columbia Lions
*LB - Kevin Eiben, Toronto Argonauts
*LB - Zeke Moreno, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*LB - Barrin Simpson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*DB - Ryan Phillips, British Columbia Lions
*DB - Kenny Wheaton, Toronto Argonauts
*CB - Byron Parker, Toronto Argonauts
*CB - Jordan Younger, Toronto Argonauts
*DS - Orlondo Steinauer, Toronto Argonauts

PECIAL TEAMS

*K - Nick Setta, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*P - Damon Duval, Montreal Alouettes
*ST - Ian Smart, British Columbia Lions

2007 Western All-Stars

OFFENCE

*QB - Kerry Joseph, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*WR - Jason Clermont, British Columbia Lions
*WR - D.J. Flick, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*WR - Nik Lewis, Calgary Stampeders
*WR - Geroy Simon, British Columbia Lions
*RB - Joffrey Reynolds, Calgary Stampeders
*RB - Joe Smith, British Columbia Lions
*OT - Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*OT - Rob Murphy, British Columbia Lions
*OG - Kelly Bates, British Columbia Lions
*OG - Jay McNeil, Calgary Stampeders
*C - Jeremy O'Day, Saskatchewan Roughriders

DEFENCE

*DE - Fred Perry, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*DE - Cameron Wake, British Columbia Lions
*DT - Aaron Hunt, British Columbia Lions
*DT - Tyrone Williams, British Columbia Lions
*LB - Otis Floyd, British Columbia Lions
*LB - Reggie Hunt, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*LB - Maurice Lloyd, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*DB - Korey Banks, British Columbia Lions
*DB - Ryan Phillips, British Columbia Lions
*CB - Lavar Glover, British Columbia Lions
*CB - James Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*DS - Barron Miles, British Columbia Lions

PECIAL TEAMS

*K - Sandro DeAngelis, Calgary Stampeders
*P - Paul McCallum, British Columbia Lions
*ST - Ian Smart, British Columbia Lions

2007 Eastern All-Stars

OFFENCE

*QB - Kevin Glenn, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*WR - Derick Armstrong, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*WR - Ben Cahoon, Montreal Alouettes
*WR - Terrence Edwards, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*WR - Milt Stegall, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*RB - Jesse Lumsden, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*RB - Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*OT - Alexandre Gauthier, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*OT - Dan Goodspeed, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*OG - Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes
*OG - Taylor Robertson, Toronto Argonauts
*C - Marwan Hage, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

DEFENCE

*DE - Jonathan Brown, Toronto Argonauts
*DE - Tom Canada, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*DT - Adriano Belli, Toronto Argonauts
*DT - Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*LB - Kevin Eiben, Toronto Argonauts
*LB - Zeke Moreno, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*LB - Barrin Simpson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*DB - Randee Drew, Montreal Alouettes
*DB - Kenny Wheaton, Toronto Argonauts
*CB - Byron Parker, Toronto Argonauts
*CB - Jordan Younger, Toronto Argonauts
*DS - Orlondo Steinauer, Toronto Argonauts

PECIAL TEAMS

*K - Nick Setta, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*P - Damon Duval, Montreal Alouettes
*ST - Dominique Dorsey, Toronto Argonauts

2007 Rogers CFL Awards

*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award - Kerry Joseph (QB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award - Jason Clermont (SB), British Columbia Lions
*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award - Cameron Wake (DE), British Columbia Lions
*CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award - Rob Murphy (OG), British Columbia Lions
*CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award - Cameron Wake (DE), British Columbia Lions
*CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Award - Ian Smart (RB), British Columbia Lions
*CFLPA's Most Outstanding Community Service Award - Milt Stegall (SB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*Rogers Fans' Choice Award - Charles Roberts (RB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*CFL's Scotiabank Coach of the Year - Kent Austin, Saskatchewan Roughriders

References