Argos cover three on defence
Published on February 23, 2007 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Toronto Argonauts News Release
Mississauga - The Toronto Argonauts Football Club have added depth to all facets of its defence by signing DB Abdual Howard, DL Darrell Lee and S/LB Willie Pile to contracts.
A graduate of Florida State University, Abdual Howard recently spent time in the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions, as well as NFL Europe's Rhein Fire. In 2004, he led NFL Europe in interceptions with 4 for 107 yards and 1 TD and finished fourth in the league in tackles.
Similarly, Darrell Lee has also spent time with both the NFL and NFL Europe, primarily seeing action with the Berlin Thunder and the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. The former Gator defender racked up 109 tackles to go along with four quarterback sacks in his four years at Florida University.
Originally a draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, Willie Pile spent the last two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. In 2004, Pile spent his off-season with the Admirals of NFL Europe as well where he generated 53 tackles. In that same year, he played in all 16 regular season games with the Chiefs on defence and special teams, starting five at defensive halfback and seeing time at safety as well. The Virginia Tech grad currently ranks third on the Hokies' all-time single-season interceptions list with 14.
Abdual Howard
Defensive Back
6'0", 209 lbs.
Florida State
Born: January 27, 1979
Quincy, Florida
1st Year Argo / 1st Year CFL
Import
Acquired: Signed as a free agent with the Argonauts on February 23, 2007.
2005-2006: Spent both seasons working out with various NFL clubs.
2004: Re-signed with Detroit on August 13...Returned to NFL Europe to play with the Rhein Fire...Led NFL Europe in interceptions with 4 for 107 yards and 1 TD and finished fourth in the league in tackles... Named to All-NFLE Team on defence... Attended training camp with the Lions for the second time before being a final camp cut on August 31.
2003: Signed with Jacksonville on January 27...Allocated to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe where he tied for second on the team and fifth in the league with 63 tackles...He also recorded two interceptions, one of which he returned 93 yards for a touchdown...Waived by Jacksonville at the end of training camp on August 31.
2002: Signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions (NFL) on April 26...Allocated to the Lions' practice squad on September 1...Released by Detroit on November 19.
College: Played four years at Florida State University (1999-2002) where he recorded 163 career tackles (97 solo), three interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble...His most productive season came in his senior year in 2002 when he recorded career-highs in tackles with 101 (63 solo)...In his junior year, he played in 12 of Florida's State's 13 games as a special teams player...Tallied 33 tackles (20 solo) and one interception...Helped lead the team to a win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl in his freshman year.
Personal: Abdual spends his off-season in Miami, Florida...Attended Shanks High School... Named to the All-State and AJC Super Southern 100 teams in his senior season.
Darrell Lee
Defensive Lineman
6'3", 279 lbs.
Florida
Born: June 28, 1982
Kirkwood, Missouri
1st Year Argo/1st Year CFL
Import
Acquired: Signed with Toronto as a free agent on February 23, 2007.
2006: Re-signed with the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) on January 11...Allocated to Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe on January 27 and made 27 tackles, 1 pass knocked down and 1 forced fumble...Attended Philadelphia's training camp and signed to practice roster.
2005: Allocated to the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe and played in 10 games, recorded 10 tackles and 3.5 sacks...Played in World Bowl XIII loss...Signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles on August 18 and released by the Eagles on September 6...Signed a practice roster agreement with the Baltimore Ravens (NFL) on September 6 and released on October 20...Signed to the Eagles' practice roster on October 26.
2004: Signed as a rookie free agent with the Dallas Cowboys...Waived by Dallas on September 1 and added to the team's practice roster.
College: Played four seasons at Florida (2000-03) dressing in 45 games, with 15 starts...Registered 109 career tackles and 8 sacks...2003 Named Team captain in two games...Played in 13 games and twelve...Led the defensive line unit with 55 tackles, also had 4 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries...2002 Named Florida's Most Improved Player on Defence...Saw action in nine games...Suffered a hairline fracture to his shoulder blade in practice on Sept. 4 and missed four games...Totaled 22 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 forced fumble...2001 Played in all 11 regular season games with three starts...Finished season with 21 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 tackles for a loss...Suffered a broken wrist versus Florida State and missed the Orange Bowl...2000 A backup at defensive end as a true freshman...Played in all 12 regular season games...Played in Sugar Bowl...Recorded 11 tackles, 1 sack and 1 tackle for a loss.
Personal: Darrell was born in Osaka, Japan and was a consensus All-America choice and first-team USA Today All-America selection as a defensive end while growing up in Missouri. He describes himself as a "zany individual" and lists his ideal dinner guests as Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass and Louis Farrakhan. Darrell's favourite hobbies are fishing, snowboarding and playing video games.
Willie Pile
Safety/Linebacker
6'2", 206 lbs.
Virginia Tech
Born: May 25, 1980
New York, New York
1st Year Argo / 1st Year CFL
Import
Acquired: Signed as a free agent with Toronto on February 23, 2007.
2006: Re-signed with Dallas on March 31 and attended training camp with the Cowboys...Released on September 3 by Dallas before the regular season.
2005: Waived by Kansas City on August 30...Signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) on September 5...Played in all 16 regular season games with Dallas, starting one at defensive back...Finished the season with 18 solo tackles and 4 assisted tackles...His most productive game came on October 16 when he recorded 3 tackles versus the New York Giants.
2004: Allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe before joining the Chiefs for training camp...Ranked third on the Admirals with 53 tackles (41 solo), 6 pass knockdowns and an interception...Also added five special teams tackles...Played in all 16 regular season games on defence and special teams with Kansas City, starting five at defensive halfback and seeing time at safety...Finished the year with 28 solo tackles and 8 assisted tackles...Made his debut on defence on September 12 where he recorded 4 DT and 1 ST.
2003: Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) in the seventh round (252nd overall) in the NFL Draft...Signed a three-year contract with Kansas City on April 12...Spent the majority of the year on the Chiefs' practice roster and did not see any game action.
College: Played 39 games at Virginia Tech at free safety and registered 267 career tackles and 267 interception return yards...His 14 career interceptions currently ranks him third on the Hokies' all-time single-season interceptions list...2002 Started 14 games at free safety for the Hokies in his senior year, earning a second-team All-American choice by the Sporting News and a second-team All-Big East selection...Recorded a career-best 105 tackles (67 solo), 5 PKD, 2 FR and 2 FF...Also added four interceptions for 171 yards and one touchdown...2001 Started all 11 games for the Hokies at free safety, producing 94 tackles (53 solo) 6 KD and 4 INT for 77 return yards...2000 Started all 11 of Virginia Tech's games at free safety and finished the year with 56 tackles (35 solo) and a career-best six interceptions (1TD)...1999 Appeared in three games as a redshirted freshman, recording 12 tackles (5 solo)...Missed the remaining six games of the season after suffering a neck injury versus Rutgers.
Personal: Before moving to the defensive side of the ball, Willie was a quarterback and wide receiver at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia...Named the Northeast Region and Patriot District Offensive Player of the Year...Majored with a degree in Sports Management at Virginia Tech.
NFL Regular Season Statistics
Tackles Interceptions
GP UT AT TT INT YDS TD FF FR QB
2003 KC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004 KC 16 28 8 36 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005 KC/DAL 16 18 4 22 0 0 0 0 0 0
2006 DAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 32 46 12 58 0 0 0 0 0 0
COLLEGE Statistics
Tackles Interceptions
GP UT AT TT INT YDS TD FF FR QB KD
1999 6 5 7 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2000 11 35 21 56 6 22 1 0 0 0 10
2001 11 53 41 94 4 77 0 2 2 0 6
2002 14 67 38 105 4 171 1 2 2 0 5
TOTALS 42 160 107 267 14 270 2 4 4 1 21
The Toronto Argonauts are North America's oldest professional football club, celebrating their 134th anniversary in 2007. As Toronto's #1 community team through player involvement, community programs and The Argos Foundation - Stop The Violence, the Toronto Argonauts, a member of the Canadian Football League (CFL), have 15 Grey Cup championships to their credit and are hosting the 2007 Grey Cup game, the first Grey Cup in Toronto in 15 years. For 2007 season ticket packages, group sales and Grey Cup tickets, please contact the sales team at (416) 341-ARGO. For more information on the Toronto Argonauts Football Club, please visit www.argonauts.ca.
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- Argos trade Landon to Esks - Toronto Argonauts
- Esks acquire OL Landon in trade with Argos - Edmonton Elks
- Eskimos release three veterans - Edmonton Elks
- Argos cover three on defence - Toronto Argonauts
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