Let the great debate begin.
TSN announced its Top 50 CFL players in a special aired across the network on Tuesday evening, beginning what is sure to be an endless debate.
Three current members of the Toronto Argonauts made the list, with Bear Woods ranked the highest at No. 18. Woods was the third-ranked linebacker, behind BC’s Solomon Elimimian (4) and Hamilton’s Simoni Lawrence (14).
The two other Argos ranked on the list were Ricky Ray (27), the fifth-ranked quarterback, and Shawn Lemon (34), who, despite leading the East Division in sacks in 2016, was listed behind 11 other defensive players.
The full list can be found here.
Bear Woods, ranked 18th, was a late addition to this year’s Argos squad, signing as a free agent on June 7. Woods was selected as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2016, in what was his second season leading the division in defensive tackles.
Ricky Ray, ranked 27th, enters his 15th CFL season just four touchdown passes shy of becoming the sixth quarterback in league history with 300 or more. His 54,883 career passing yards and 78 career 300-yard games rank fourth and third respectively in CFL history.
Shawn Lemon, ranked 34th, led the East Division in sacks (14) in 2016, finishing two short of league-leader Charleston Hughes. In his last three seasons, the Charleston, SC, native has averaged 11 sacks each season, despite playing just half a season in 2015 with Ottawa.