CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Five Bombers named CFL All-Stars

Published on November 7, 2006 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release


TORONTO, ONT. - The Canadian Football League announced the 2006 CFL All-Stars earlier today and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were prominently featured with a total of five selections.

The five Blue Bomber selections included slotback Milt Stegall, running back Charles Roberts, defensive tackle Doug Brown, linebacker Barrin Simpson and kick returner Albert Johnson III.

The Big Blue led the way in the CFL's East Division All-Star selections. Five of the nine selections out of the east were members of the Blue & Gold.

The all-stars were selected by 47 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada representing eight CFL markets and a national chapter. For the final ballot, voters were asked to select players from the league whom they believed excelled at their position during the 2006 CFL regular season.

Charles Roberts won the CFL rushing crown for the third time in the past four seasons, rushing for 1,609 yards on a league-leading 303 carries. He was also the league-leader in combined yards (2,020 yards) and yards from scrimmage (2,020).

Milt Stegall continued to make his presence felt throughout the league. Despite missing four games due to injury, the 'Turtle Man' was once again among the top CFL pass catchers with 1,269 yards on 79 receptions. He also had the longest TD reception of the year, a 100-yard, last-second catch in Edmonton that gave the Bombers a thrilling win over the Eskimos. He also closed to within two TDs of setting the new all-time CFL touchdown record with seven TD catches this season.

Barrin Simpson was a veritable tackling machine for the Blue & Gold in '06. He led the league in defensive tackles with 110, 27 more than Reggie Hunt of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who finished second. It was the fourth time Simpson led the CFL in defensive tackles in a season. He was also among the Bomber leaders in quarterback sacks with three. In his first season with Winnipeg, he was the quarterback of a Bomber defence that finished first or second in five defensive categories.

Doug Brown enjoyed one of his best seasons since joining the Blue Bombers in 2001. He was fourth on the Bombers in defensive tackles with 51 and added three quarterback sacks. The constant pressure he applied along the Bombers' D-line is a big reason why the team was third in the CFL in quarterback sacks with 43.

Albert Johnson III was among the league leaders in combined yardage, finishing second to Roberts with 1,992 total yards. Johnson led the league in punt returns (85) and punt return yardage (810) and was among the top kickoff returners with 1,000 yards on 50 kickoff returns.

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Canadian Football League Stories from November 7, 2006


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