MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – The Canadian Football League announced on Wednesday the nominees for the 2011 Most Outstanding Player awards in the East Division. Three Montreal Alouettes were selected by a group which included the voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and the eight CFL head coaches.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: ANTHONY CALVILLO
This is Anthony Calvillo‘s seventh career nomination for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award, having captured the honour on three occasions in 2003, 2008, and 2009. Calvillo was also a finalist for the award in 2002, 2004, and 2010.
The 39-year old Alouettes quarterback led the league in passing with 5,251 yards, tied for the lead in touchdowns thrown with 32, and was second with a 98.2 quarterback rating. He was named the CFL’s Offensive Player of the Week four times in 2011.
Calvillo also enjoyed a record-breaking season becoming pro football’s all-time leading passer, eclipsing the previous mark set by Damon Allen. Furthermore, he became the CFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (418) and completions (5,444).
MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN PLAYER: SEAN WHYTE
Canadian kicker Sean Whyte finished tied for second in the CFL in points scored (197) and third in field goals made (45). Whyte successfully connected on 45-of-52 field goal attempts in 2011, good for 86.5% and was perfect on all 50 of his extra point attempts. Earlier this season, Whyte etched his name in the Alouettes’ record books by breaking the team’s all-time mark with 24 consecutive field goals, shattering the club mark of 21 previously set by Don Sweet in 1976.
Whyte also excelled in the punting game, averaging 41.3 yards per kick on his 115 attempts. Whyte was named the CFL’s Special Teams Player of the Month in August after being perfect on all nine of his field goals, marking the first time he ever received the honour. Whyte was also named the Special Teams Player of the Week twice in August.
MOST OUTSTANDING LINEMAN: JOSH BOURKE
Josh Bourke earns his second consecutive nomination as the Alouettes’ Most Outstanding Lineman. Bourke played an integral part on the Alouettes’ offensive line on a team which ranked first in points scored, passing yards and points scored per game. Bourke is also part of an o-line which has only allowed 34 sacks – tied for second fewest in the league this season. He also contributed to a o-line that has helped running back Brandon Whitaker lead the league in rushing yards this season. Bourke also halted the opposing pass rushes, allowing Anthony Calvillo extra time in the pocket to locate his many different receiving targets including the likes of league-leader Jamel Richardson and S.J. Green, who both surpassed the 1,000 yard mark in 2011.
The league-wide winners will be announced during Grey Cup week at the CFL Player Awards on Thursday, November 24 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, B.C.
