And The Winners Were!

The CFL handed out it's prized possessions on Thursday night as the league celebrated excellence with a gala presentation at Vancouver's Performing Arts Centre. The Rogers CFL Players Awards recognized outstanding performances from a memorable 2005.

The man of the night by far was Toronto Argonaut Quarterback, Damon Allen. The 21 year veteran of the CFL was a double winner on Thursday, taking home the Rogers fans choice award and the award for Most Valuable Player for 2005. It was Allen's first win of the MVP trophy in his storied career, an oversight that should have been corrected many years ago but finally was and to universal acclaim.

Another long serving Quarterback, Danny McManus of the Hamilton Tiger Cats picked up the Tom Pate Award, an award presented by the CFLPA to recognize community involvement. And judging by McManus' qualifications it might take a St. Theresa to wrest the trophy from his grasp. McManus has raised over 200,000 dollars for the McMaster Children's Foundation, a testimony to his dedication to the children of South Western Ontario.

Cory Holmes did not go home empty handed either. Up against Damon Allen for outstanding player even Holmes must have known that was not going to happen this year. But his work on special teams certainly qualified him for recognition. Holmes not only starred on the Saskatchewan Roughriders special teams but dominated in the running game this season as well. A versatile and talented back who can break a play with a change of direction. By the end of the night Holmes was on winners row with the John Agro trophy.

One of the few rays of hope in Winnipeg came from Defensive End Gavin Wells, who pulled more than his share of work in a horrid season for the Blue and Gold. Wells was in on 12 quarterback sacks in 2005. Not a bad beginning for a guy in his rookie year, good enough to win him the title of Rookie of the Year.

The top lineman of the year award went to Gene Makowsky, his second year in a row in collecting trophies from the CFL. Makowski's presence on the Saskatchewan Offensive Line provided a great amount of protection for Saskatchewans QB's and opened up those holes that allowed Cory Holmes to run the wide open prairie.

Top Defensive honours went to Calgary's John Grace, part of the fast tracked rebuilding program in the Stampede City. Grace is the anchor of the Stampeders linebacker department and was a major reason that Calgary's defence has come on so strong in the last year.

The Top Canadian this year is BC Lion Brent Johnson, the Leos linebacker had a record 16 sacks and came into his own in 2005.

The Commissioner's Award went to the local Vancouver group that organized this years Grey Cup Week events. Known locally as the waterboys, the group was formed by Bobby Ackles in 2003 to rebuild the base of football support that once was a mainstay in BC. Two short years later the Leos are one of the lynch pins of the CFL, a stable and model franchise that contends year in and year out.

For Commissioner Tom Wright the CFL Awards always present an opportunity to celebrate what is so right about the CFL. Thursday night proved once again that the league continues to showcase the kind of talent and citizenship which should help continue the leagues growth for years to come.