CFL Toronto Argonauts

O'Shea to star

Published on March 15, 2006 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Toronto Argonauts News Release


Mississauga - The Toronto Argonauts Football Club is pleased to announce that the entire starting defence from last season will remain together for 2006 as defensive captain Mike O'Shea has signed a new contract with the club.

Commented O'Shea, "Obviously, I am very excited to be rooted as an Argo in the middle of my career. The goal in off-season training is to put ourselves in the best position to win the Grey Cup -that's the only thing. There have been some changes on our team this off-season but I'm always excited for training camp to start. I hope our fans keep coming out and supporting us because we are going to do even better for them this season."

The 13-year CFL veteran is known as one of the toughest and most dedicated professionals that football has to offer. Entering the 2005 season, the rugged linebacker had participated in 162 consecutive games. O'Shea is a four-time East Division All-Star and has also been named a CFL All-Star, as well as a CFL Outstanding Canadian.

Last season, the Argonauts co-captain led one of the league's most dominant defences, which finished the year allowing the fewest total points and fewest total touchdowns. O'Shea finished the 2005 season with 76 total tackles and one forced fumble in 17 contests.

Defensive Coordinator Rich Stubler remarked, "O'Shea is the captain of our defence and the leader of our squad. It is always great to have your leader back with you. He plays and leads by example. With O'Shea back and Fletcher extended, the true passion of our defensive unit will take us into another great season."

O'Shea and his wife Richere just welcomed their third child, Aisling, into the world and they are pleased to continue calling Toronto their football home. O'Shea spends his spare time working at Philthy McNasty's, Yonge and Eglinton, where he is an owner.

Michael O'Shea #50

Linebacker

6'3", 230 lbs

University of Guelph

Born: September 21, 1970

North Bay, Ontario

10th Year Argo / 14th Year CFL

Non-Import

Acquired: Re-signed as a free-agent with the Argonauts on March 14, 2006

2005: Started at LB in both pre-season games versus Hamilton and tied with Ray Mariuz for most DT with 6 in the second game...Had another productive season, starting at LB for 17 of the club's 18 regular season games...Week 1, finished second on the team with 8 DT....Week 2, finished second on the team in DT in win over Calgary...Week 5, finished second on the team in total tackles with 7...Week 8, knocked down two passes, injured his shoulder midway through the game but continued to play...Week 10, missed first CFL game since 1996 in Labour Day game at Hamilton...Week 11, returned to the lineup as a starting LB and had 1 fumble recovery...Week 15, recorded 7 DT in win at Winnipeg...2005 Playoffs Started at LB in East Championship versus Montreal.

2004: Started all 18 regular season games...Week 5, made 2 DT and intercepted a pass late in the 4th quarter of the game to seal the win over Saskatchewan...Week 8, started at OLB and recorded 800th career DT, made 8 DT, knocked away 1 pass and made a ST on the night versus Edmonton...Week 11, started at OLB and made 8 DT Week 15, recorded 7 DT in Edmonton, was named 2nd runner-up for CFL Defensive Player of the Week award...Week 16, made 8 tackles, forcing one fumble, made one interception and one ST tackle, named 2nd runner up for CFL Defensive Player of the Week award...Week 19, started at OLB and had an outstanding game recording 7 DT, 2 ST tackles, 1 forced fumble and had 1 interception of 25 yards vs Hamilton, was named CFL Defensive Player of the Week for the first time since 1997...Week 20, played in 200th career regular season CFL game in loss vs Montreal...2004 Playoffs Started at OLB and played special teams in East Semi-Final vs Hamilton, making 7 DT and knocking down 1 pass...Started at OLB and played special teams in East Championship vs Montreal, recording 3 DT...Grey Cup Championship Started at OLB and recorded 5 DT in win vs BC.

2003: Re-signed as a free agent with Toronto on May 15...Started 18 games at LB...led team with 90 DT and 98 TT... honoured by the Toronto chapter of the FRC as the club's Outstanding Canadian...Week 2, made four DT and two QB sacks on consecutive plays in the victory over Hamilton...Week 6, led team with 7 DT...Week 8, made 8 DT in the loss to the Eskimos...Week 9, made 4 DT and 2 ST tackles, and had 1 interception on the goal line...Week 12, made 9 DT and 2 special teams tackles in the loss to Bombers...Week 17, made 4 DT in the loss to Ottawa...tackles moved O'Shea into 3rd place all time in DT in CFL history...2003 Playoffs Started at MLB, for the Argos in the East Semi-Final...led the team with 5 DT in the victory over the Lions...started at MLB in the East Championship at Montreal...tallied 5 DT and one ST tackle.

2002: Led Argos to their first playoff berth in three seasons...was the team's second-leading tackler with 81 DT...started all 18 games at MLB...was a huge factor in the Argos' 30-22 win over B.C. on July 9 with 7 DT, 2 special teams tackles, a forced fumble, and a 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown to seal the win...named the Argos Player of the Game when he made 9 total tackles in a losing cause against Edmonton on August 23...made 6 total tackles in Toronto's first playoff win since 1997, a 24-14 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the East Semi-Final.

2001: Played in all 18 regular season games for the Argonauts after returning to the Double Blue as a free-agent on April 30...did not play in either of Toronto's two pre-season games while nursing a minor ankle strain...made 7 DT vs. Montreal in the Argos season opener on July 4...had his best game of the season on October 26 vs. Winnipeg when he recorded 9 DT...finished the season with 62 DT, 7 special teams tackles, 3 pass knock-downs and 2 QB sacks.

2000: Acquired by Hamilton from Toronto in exchange for RB Eric Lapointe, the right of first refusal on all offensive lineman and the playing rights to Orlondo Steinauer on June 11...made an immediate impact in the season opener vs. B.C. as he contributed with 7 DT...made 3 DT vs. the Argonauts in his return to Toronto on July 28...on October 13 in the Tiger-Cats' 32-8 loss to Toronto, had his best individual game of the season with 12 DT and 1 pass knockdown...finished the season third in the league with 90 DT.

1999: Started in all 18 regular season games at MLB and the East Division Semi-Final vs. Hamilton...had a season-high 8 DT vs. Winnipeg on October 29...had 7 DT in four straight games vs. Hamilton on July 23, vs. Winnipeg on August 6, vs. Montreal on August 27 and on October 9 against Calgary...became the first player in Argo history to be honoured with the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Player Award ... selected to the CFL All-Star team for the first time in his career... selected to the East Division All-Star team for the 3rd time and a division All-Star team for the 4th time in his career.

1998: Started at MLB in all 18 regular season games for the Argos...had a season-high 7 DT and 2 QB sacks on October 3 vs. Saskatchewan...second on the team with 64 DT, tied for the team lead and tied for fourth in the CFL with 19 special teams tackles...also set a single season career high 6 QB sacks for 58 yards in losses.

1997: Nominated by the Toronto FRC as the Argos' Outstanding Canadian ...named to the East Division All-Star team at MLB...led the team with 8 tackles (5 defensive and 3 special teams) in the Argos' 20-15 win over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton on July 6... honoured with the CFL Defensive Player of the Week Award for his effort vs. Hamilton...led team with 74 total tackles...his 30 special teams tackles led the team, and was good for second in the league...had 3 DT in the Argos' 37-30 win over Montreal in the East Division Final...had 5 DT and forced a fumble in a 47-23 Toronto win over Saskatchewan for the Grey Cup.

1996: Played in the last 8 games of the regular season with the Argos after signing with Toronto as a free-agent on September 7...started Toronto's final 5 games at middle linebacker...started in the Grey Cup at Ivor Wynne Stadium...made 5 defensive and 1 special teams tackle in the Argos' 43-37 win over Edmonton for the championship...during joined the Argonauts after attending training camp with the Detroit Lions where he was one of the team's final cuts.

1995: Played in 10 games for Hamilton...made 69 DT, 4 special teams tackles and intercepted 2 passes during the regular season...named to the North Division All-Star team...in Hamilton's 31-13 loss to Calgary in the North Division Semi-Final, made 4 DT and 1 special teams tackle.

1994: Played in all 18 games during the regular season...had 95 DT, 11 special teams tackles and 5 interceptions during the regular season...was named to the East Division All-Star team at middle linebacker.

1993: Played in all 18 regular season games as a rookie with Hamilton...traded to Hamilton by Edmonton along with QB DeChane Cameron, linebacker DeWayne Odom and a negotiation list player in exchange for QB Damon Allen on February 16...selected by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 1st round (4th overall) in the 1993 CFL Canadian College Draft.

College: Played for the University of Guelph Gryphons from 1989 to 1992...started at linebacker and was also the team's long snapper...1st team OUAA all-star and CIAU all-star in 1992, when the Gryphons won the Yates Cup as the champions of the OUAA...named OUAA Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and also played in the East-West Shrine Game in California...holds Guelph's record for QB sacks with 21...also made 86 tackles, 2 interceptions and two fumble returns during his career at the University of Guelph.

Personal: A team leader, Mike is a licensed pilot and a member of Actra. He enjoys travelling and lists his favourite place to vacation as Southeat Asia. Osh co-owns a restaurant/bar called Philthy McNasty's at Yonge and Eglinton in Toronto. He spent part of his off-season organizing a corporate team-building seminar for the Argos. Mike and his wife Richere live in Milton with their three children, Michael, Ailish and Aisling.

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