Team Nominees Announced for 2008 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards

Toronto, ON (October 28, 2008) -The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced today the team nominees for the 2008 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards. The players were selected by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and the CFL head coaches.

"Canadians have rallied to our league this year, and the exciting play of these talented individuals is one of the big reasons why," said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.

"On behalf of our Board of Governors, our teams and our fans from across the country, we congratulate the nominees on this honour, and wish them our best as the divisional nominees, and league-wide winners, are named in the weeks ahead."

In this first ballot, FRC representatives from each CFL city plus the respective head coach submitted votes for the six categories. Voters were asked to select players from their local CFL club who through on-field performance excellence, best represent the awards' title - Outstanding Player, Outstanding Canadian Player, Outstanding Defensive Player, Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Outstanding Rookie, and Outstanding Special Teams Player.

The East and West nominees for the 2008 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards will be announced on Tuesday, November 4.

The league-wide winners will be announced during Grey Cup week at the Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards on Thursday, November 20 at the Casino de Montrйal.

Below are the first ballot nominee results:

* - Indicates a unanimous selection

EAST DIVISION

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

PLAYER CANADIAN DEFENSIVE O-LINEMAN ROOKIE SPECIAL TEAMS

Anthony Calvillo* (QB) Ben

Cahoon (SB) Keron Williams* (DT) Scott

Flory* (G) Larry

Taylor (KR) Larry

Taylor (KR)

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

PLAYER CANADIAN DEFENSIVE O-LINEMAN ROOKIE SPECIAL TEAMS

Dominique Dorsey* (KR/RB) Andre

Talbot (SB) Willie

Pile (LB) Taylor Robertson

(G) Kenny Heatly (DB) Dominique Dorsey*

(KR/RB)

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

PLAYER CANADIAN DEFENSIVE O-LINEMAN ROOKIE SPECIAL TEAMS

Chris Thompson (DB) Ray Mariuz (LB) Chris Thompson (DB) Marwan

Hage (C) Prechae Rodriguez* (WR) Nick

Setta* (K/P)

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

PLAYER CANADIAN DEFENSIVE O-LINEMAN ROOKIE SPECIAL TEAMS

Doug

Brown (DT) Doug

Brown* (DT) Doug

Brown (DT) Dan

Goodspeed (T) Brendon LaBatte* (G) Graeme

Bell (RB)

WEST DIVISION

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

PLAYER CANADIAN DEFENSIVE O-LINEMAN ROOKIE SPECIAL TEAMS

Wes

Cates (RB) Gene Makowsky (T) Maurice

Lloyd (LB) Gene Makowsky* (T) Weston Dressler*

(SB) Luca

Congi (K)

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

PLAYER CANADIAN DEFENSIVE O-LINEMAN ROOKIE SPECIAL TEAMS

Henry

Burris* (QB) Mike

Labinjo (DE) Shannon

James* (LB) Rob

Lazeo (OL) Dimitri Tsoumpas (G) Sandro DeAngelis* (K)

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

PLAYER CANADIAN DEFENSIVE O-LINEMAN ROOKIE SPECIAL TEAMS

Ricky

Ray* (QB) Kamau

Peterson* (WR) Jason

Goss (DB) John Comiskey (G) Tristan Jackson* (KR/DB) Tristan

Jackson (KR/DB)

B.C. LIONS

PLAYER CANADIAN DEFENSIVE O-LINEMAN ROOKIE SPECIAL TEAMS

Cameron Wake* (DE) Paris Jackson* (SB) Cameron Wake* (DE) Jason Jimenez (OT) Stefan Logan* (RB) Ian

Smart (RB)