Toronto Argonauts sign Heisman winner Rashaan Salaam
February 20, 2004 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Toronto Argonauts News Release
Toronto â The Toronto Argonauts Football Club has signed CFL rookie, but a veteran of professional football, Rashaan Salaam. The running back from Colorado won the Heisman trophy in 1994 as a junior after rushing for 2055 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was a unanimous All-American and All-Big Eight first-team. In addition to the Heisman, Salaam was the NCAA rushing, scoring and all-purpose champ. He won the prestigious Doak Walker Award (nation's top back) and was named the Walter Camp Foundation and Football News Player of the Year. Salaam finished his three-year career at Colorado with 3,057 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns.
In 1995, the San Diego-born Salaam was a first round pick (21st overall) in the NFL draft for the Chicago Bears, where he played from 1995-1997, rushing for 1074 yards as a rookie, establishing a Bears' rookie record. After brief stints with the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, Salaam moved to the XFL's Memphis Maniax in 2001 where he was one of the leading rushers. In six games with the Maniax, he rushed for 526 yards on 114 carries and five touchdowns. Salaam went back to the NFL for a short time in 2003 where he attended training camp for the San Francisco 49ers but was released on the final roster cut.
Greg Mohns, Toronto Argonauts' Director of Player Personnel, commented, "We are extremely happy to have Rashaan become part of the Argonaut family and join the list of other former Argonauts, namely Doug Flutie and Andre Ware, who have won the Heisman trophy. This will be a great opportunity for him to resurrect his football career. He has gone through some troubled times but has worked hard and focused to re-energize himself and regain his old form. He is in the best shape of his life."
The Toronto Argonauts are North America's oldest professional football club, having celebrated their 130th anniversary in 2003. The Toronto Argonauts have 14 Grey Cup championships to their credit.
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