CFL Calgary Stampeders

Stampeders Name Player Nominees

Published on October 26, 2004 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Calgary Stampeders News Release


(Calgary) – The Calgary Stampeder Football Club is pleased to announce their team nominees for the 2004 CFL Player Awards as picked by the members of the local chapter of the Football Reporters of Canada. Linebacker John Grace and Receiver Nik Lewis received double recognition as Grace was named the Stampeders Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player, while Lewis was chosen Stampeder Rookie of the Year and Special Teams Player. Offensive Lineman Jay McNeil was recognized as the teams Most Outstanding Lineman and Linebacker Scott Coe was named Outstanding Canadian.

Here is a closer look at each of the Stampeder Player Nominees:

Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player - John Grace

Grace who was acquired this off-season in a trade with the Ottawa Renegades has shown his playmaking throughout the 2004 season on a week to week basis. Thus far in 2004 Grace has recorded 51 defensive tackles (5th on the team), 7 sacks (1st on team), 7 pass knockdowns (2nd on team), 4 tackles for a loss (tied for 4th on the team), 4 special team tackles, 3 interceptions (tied for 1st on team), 2 fumble recoveries (tied for 2nd on team), and 1 blocked kick (tied for 1st on team). This is John's second time being named Most Outstanding Player for his team, as he was recognized with the Renegades in 2002.

In 2004 Grace has already made individual single season career high's in the following: sacks (7), interceptions (tied with 2002 total at 3), interception return yardage (117 yards which included 2 TD's), and pass knockdowns (7). Grace may have had his most impressive game against his former club the Ottawa Renegades back on July 29. In the first quarter alone Grace recorded 3 quarterback sacks for a total loss of 43 yards along with a tackle for a loss of 2 yards, moving the Renegades back 45 yards. Grace would finish the game making a statement as he recorded 3 defensive tackles, 3 quarterback sacks, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 special team tackle. He also holds the CFL season's best return for yards on interceptions with 95 and is tied with several players for most interceptions in a game with 2 on August 7th vs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Thus far in the 2004 season Grace has been named Defensive Player of the Week four times (Week 2, 7, 8, 12) and Defensive Player of the Month twice (August and September). During the month of August Grace recorded 13 tackles and one (1) special teams tackle, four (4) quarterback sacks, two (2) interceptions for 95 yards, returning one for a touchdown. While in September, Grace recorded 18 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, two quarterback sacks, five pass knockdowns, and one fumble recovery. He was also named CFL Defensive Player of the Week first runner up during week 15.

Outstanding Rookie and Outstanding Special Teams Player – Nikolas Lewis

Lewis entered his first season with the Stampeders as the youngest player on the team, born on June 3rd, 1982. Thus far in 2004 Lewis has turned many heads on his determination to pick up yards after the catch. He currently leads the Stampeders in receptions (67), receiving yards (961), touchdowns (8), yards from scrimmage (961), punt return yards (385) and is second in all purpose yards (1412).

Nik has also played a big part on special teams returning the ball 31 times for 385 yards. Nik is currently 4th in the league on punt return average (12.4) with a minimum of 20 returns or more. Nik's biggest game statistically came back on July 15 vs one of the toughest defences in the Montreal Alouettes. During that game he recorded 7 catches (season high) for 100 yards receiving (season high). Another big game came a couple weeks' later on August 7 vs Winnipeg. In that game Nik recorded 5 catches for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns (season high).

Outstanding Offensive Lineman – Jay McNeil

Jay has been named the Stampeder Outstanding Lineman nominee three times (2001, 2002, 2004). Once again Jay has had a solid year helping the Offensive Line come together as a unit. In the last four games Jay has helped newcomer Running Back Joffrey Reynolds become a dominant back. In only four games Reynolds has picked up 73 carries for 420 yards with an impressive 5.8 average and 2 touchdowns. Jay has also been a big part of the Stampeder Offensive Line who is ranked 2nd in the league with only 19 quarterback sacks given up.

In 2001 Jay represented the West as the League's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

Outstanding Canadian – Scott Coe

During the 2004 off-season Linebacker Scott Coe joined the Stampeders as a free agent signing. Not only did he crack the line-up in one of the best linebacker cores in the CFL, but he has made a major impact despite playing through injury throughout the last half of the season. Thus far in the 2004 season Coe has recorded 68 defensive tackles (3rd on the team – 10th in the league), 6 special team tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 4 quarterback sacks, 4 fumble recoveries (leads team – tied 1st in league), 3 pass knockdowns, 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. All of which are individual career highs, with the exception of his special team tackles total.

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Canadian Football League Stories from October 26, 2004


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