Stampeders Nominees Announced
October 28, 2008 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Calgary Stampeders News Release
The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce their six finalists for the 2008 Gibson's Finest Canadian Football League Player Awards - Henry Burris, Dimitri Tsoumpas, Shannon James, Mike Labinjo, Sandro DeAngelis and Rob Lazeo.
These six team nominees were selected by five members of the Football Reporters of Canada (Calgary chapter), as well as one ballot cast by the Stamps coaching staff.
They will now compete against other West Division team nominees for the right to represent the West at the Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards ceremony during Grey Cup week in Montreal.
The next round of winners will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and the CFL Awards are Thursday, Nov. 20.
Here's a look at the six nominees:
Quarterback Henry Burris - Most outstanding player
Leads all CFL quarterbacks with a 12-5 win-loss record, including a 7-3 mark against teams with a winning record. With one game remaining, Burris has set career highs for passing yardage (4,929), touchdown passes (38), completions (370), completion percentage (64.6) and touchdown-to-interception ration (38:14). He leads all quarterbacks with 574 rushing yards.
Linebacker Shannon James - Most outstanding defensive player
The versatile strong-side linebacker leads or is tied for the team lead in the following categories:
Tackles (66), pass knockdowns (10), forced fumbles (four). He's among the leaders with four tackles for a loss, eight special-team tackles and two sacks, and he also returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown.
Defensive end Mike Labinjo - Top Canadian
After starting the season moving between middle linebacker and defensive end, Labinjo settled in up front and became a force. He's tied for the team lead with five sacks. He also has forced two fumbles, notched six tackles for a loss and 31 tackles. In his first full season with the Stamps, he instantly became a ratio changer and key part of the league's top-rated defence.
Guard Dimitri Tsoumpas - Top rookie
The Stamps made a draft-day trade with the Edmonton Eskimos in April to move up and draft Tsoumpas, the Edmonton native. He already has paid huge dividends, starting all 17 games this season and proving himself as a vital member of the West Division's top offensive line. The Stamps have allowed just 26 sacks (second in CFL) and rushed for 130 yards per game (second in CFL), partly due to his development.
Centre Rob Lazeo - Top offensive lineman
Calgary's rushing and passing stats (under Tsoumpas' entry) highlight Lazeo's importance to the club. For the first time in his 11-year career, Lazeo started every game in a season and he was the cornerstone of a predominantly young unit.
Kicker Sandro DeAngelis - Top special teams player
The most accurate kicker in CFL history has enjoyed another stellar season. DeAngelis has converted a league-high 48 of 56 field goals for an 85.7 percentage. He also has been strong on kickoffs and is tied for the league lead with 206 points.
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Canadian Football League Stories from October 28, 2008
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- Team Nominees Announced for 2008 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards - CFL
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