Then & Now
Some of this year's CFL stars have Hall of Fame counterparts
Last Updated Nov. 17, 2006
Tony Care, CBC Sports Online
| ANGELO
MOSCA Position: Defensive Tackle Teams: Hamilton Accomplishments: nine Grey Cup appearances, five-time Grey Cup winner, elected to the CFL's Hall of Fame in 1987, five-time CFL all-star Attributes: Big, strong, reputation as the nastiest football player of his era Best known for: During the 1963 Grey Cup, Mosca drilled B.C. Lions star Willie Fleming with a late hit out-of-bounds. The hit, considered by many to be premeditated, knocked Fleming out of the game. |
| ED PHILION Position: Defensive Tackle Teams: Montreal Accomplishments: 2002 Grey Cup champion, three-time all-star Attributes: Intense, aggressive, nasty streak, productive Why he reminds us of Mosca: While he doesn't possess the pedigree of Mosca, Philion is regarded by his peers as one of the dirtiest players in the game. Like Mosca, the Essex, Ont., native is revered by his teammates, but loathed by opposing teams. |
| DARREN
FLUTIE Position: Wide Receiver Teams: B.C., Edmonton, Hamilton Accomplishments: two-time Grey Cup winner, three-time all-star, holds CFL records for most regular season and playoff receptions Attributes: Great route runner, superior hands, deceptively fast Best known for: Darren, the younger brother of former CFL superstar Doug Flutie, was best remembered for his clutch catches when the game was on the line. |
| BEN CAHOON Position: Wide Receiver Teams: Montreal Accomplishments: 2002 Grey Cup winner, two-time most outstanding Canadian, first Alouette receiver to post five straight 1,000 yard seasons Attributes: Fearless, relishes catching the ball in traffic, sure-handed Why he reminds us of Flutie: Many compare Cahoon to Flutie because both are undersized receivers who excelled in the CFL by running great routes while rarely dropping passes. Despite his size, Cahoon can also leap in the air to make acrobatic receptions. |
| GEORGE
REED Position: Running Back Teams: Saskatchewan Accomplishments: 1966 Grey Cup winner, nine-time all-star, elected to the CFL's Hall of Fame in 1979, second on the all-time list with 16,116 rushing yards Attributes: Dominant goal-line runner, strong, durable Best known for: One of the most revered athletes ever to done a Saskatchewan Roughriders uniform, Reed retired in 1975 as the greatest running back in CFL history, setting 44 records, including most career touchdowns (137). |
| ROBERT EDWARDS Position: Running Back Teams: Montreal Accomplishments: Led the CFL with 15 rushing TDs in 2006, led the Alouettes in rushing in 2005, overcame a devastating knee injury in 1999 to return to football in 2002 with the Miami Dolphins Attributes: Strong inside runner, difficult to bring down, can bounce a play to the outside Why he reminds us of Reed: Edwards is a scoring machine near the goal-line and like Reed, is a tireless workers. While it's doubtful Edwards will come close to Reed's career rushing total, the 32-year-old running back continues to be a driving force for the Alouettes. |
| DIETER
BROCK Position: Quarterback Teams: Winnipeg, Hamilton Accomplishments: Four-time CFL passing leader, two-time CFL most outstanding player, elected to CFL Hall of Fame in 1995 Attributes: Strong arm, accurate, composed pocket passer Best known for: Playing for Winnipeg during the city's notoriously cold season, Brock could always slice through the strong wind with his rocket arm while continually hitting receivers in stride. |
| ANTHONY CALVILLO Position: Quarterback Teams: Las Vegas, Hamilton, Montreal Accomplishments: 2002 Grey Cup winner, 2002 CFL MVP, 2003 Most Outstanding Player Attributes: Accurate, smart, good arm strength Why he reminds us of Brock: Calvillo continues to pile up passing statistics that may some day lead him to the CFL's Hall of Fame. Calvillo doesn't possess great scrambling ability, but he's able buy enough time in the pocket to avoid the initial pressure. |
| LESS
BROWNE Position: Defensive Back Teams: Hamilton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, B.C. Accomplishments: three-time Grey Cup winner, six-time CFL all-star, all-time CFL interception leader (87), elected to the CFL Hall of Fame in 2002 Attributes: Smart, quick in his breaks, able to read quarterbacks Best known for: Browne always seemed to be around the ball and rarely was out of position. The Ohio native not only made opposing quarterbacks pay for throwing in his direction, but he seldom dropped an interception opportunity. |
| BARRON MILES Position: Defensive Back Teams: Montreal, B.C. Accomplishments: 2002 Grey Cup winner, five-time CFL All-Star, led the CFL with 10 interceptions in 2006 Attributes: Fast, able to break to the ball quickly, sure tackler, Why he reminds us of Browne: Miles reads the quarterback's eyes the same way Browne used to do when he patrolled the secondary for four CFL teams. Miles has 46 career interceptions during his eight-year CFL career and posted his best season in 2006. |
|
ALLEN PITTS Position: Wide Receiver Teams: Calgary Accomplishments: Two-time Grey Cup winner, CFL's all-time receiving leader (14,891 yards), five-time CFL all-star Attributes: Big-play receiver, terrific speed, able to elude double teams Best known for: Pitts lived for the big play, averaging 15.4 yards on 966 career passes. Whether his quarterback was Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, or Dave Dickenson, Pitts always delivered the big catch when his team needed it the most. |
| GEROY SIMON Position: Wide Receiver Teams: Winnipeg, B.C. Accomplishments: 2000 Grey Cup winner, 2006 CFL's most outstanding player, led CFL in receiving (1,890 yards) in 2006 Attributes: Deep threat, smooth route runner, can score from anywhere on the field Why he reminds us of Pitts: Even when opposing defences roll their coverage to Simon, the Pennsylvania native can still burn secondaries for big plays. The 31-year-old Simon may fall short of Pitts's Hall of Fame stature, but his production and impact have kept the B.C. Lions perennial Grey Cup contenders the past three seasons. |
| RON
LANCASTER Position: Quarterback Teams: Ottawa, Saskatchewan Accomplishments: Two-time CFL most outstanding player, two-time Grey Cup winner, four-time CFL all-star, elected in the CFL Hall of Fame in 2002 Attributes: Smart, composed, accurate, able to make plays with his feet Best known for: Lancaster was a master of converting big plays when under a heavy pass rush. The former Roughrider great wasn't especially fast, but he could keep a defence honest by rolling out and making a play with his arm or running ability. |
| DAVE DICKENSON Position: Quarterback Teams: Calgary, B.C. Accomplishments: Established a CFL record in 2005 with a 118.8 passer rating, CFL most outstanding player in 2000, two-time West all-star Attributes: Smart, accurate, nimble, poised Why he reminds us of Lancaster: At first glance, Dickenson appears to be a slow-footed, pocket passer, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Dickenson's passing numbers over the years have placed him among the best quarterbacks in the league and routinely scorches opposing teams with his scrambling ability. |
| GROVER
COVINGTON Position: Defensive End Teams: Montreal, Hamilton Accomplishments: 1986 Grey Cup winner, all-time sacks leader (157), 1988 CFL most outstanding Canadian, four-time CFL all-star, selected to the CFL Hall of Fame in 2000 Attributes: Strong, overpowering, fast, relentless in pursuit Best known for: Covington terrorized opposing quarterbacks during his 11-year, averaging 14.2 sacks a season. What separated Covington from his peers was an ability to chase down quarterbacks from anywhere on the football field. |
| BRENT JOHNSON Position: Defensive End Teams: B.C. Accomplishments: Two-time CFL most outstanding Canadian, 2006 CFL most outstanding defensive player, led the CFL in sacks the last two years, two-time CFL all-star Attributes: Strong, quick, can beat double teams Why he reminds us of Covington: Aside from Johnson's obvious passing rushing prowess, the B.C. Lions' defensive end has a non-stop motor and never gives up on a play. His overall abilities have allowed him to become one of the top defensive players in the CFL, amassing 43 sacks in his last three seasons. |
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