Williams was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. He played 56 games over five seasons with the Lions, Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks.
In 2010, he rejuvenated his career in Seattle under former USC coach Pete Carroll's watch, catching 65 balls for 751 yards and two touchdowns, but he followed that up with only 236 yards and one touchdown in 2011.
The 6'5" wideout hasn't played professional football since being released by the Seahawks in July 2012.
Williams, 29, will now try to find success with the reigning Grey Cup champions in Canada. The Argonauts went 9-9 last season, but ended up winning the championship with a formidable 35-22 victory over the Calgary Stampeders.
It must be a tough pill for Williams to swallow.
There was hope for him after the 2010 campaign, but he quickly reverted back to the bust of yore in 2011. He was a star coming out of USC, when he totaled 176 receptions for 2,579 yards and 30 touchdowns in two years at the university.
However, he learned the hard way that the NFL is a whole different ballgame.
Williams is getting older. Any hope of him finding success in the NFL appears to have evaporated. But he has a chance to win a Grey Cup with the Argonauts in Canada, and he can either look at this as an opportunity, or fail to ever live up to his potential coming out of college.
This is another opportunity for him to prove he can still contribute at a high level.
Canadian Football League Draft 2013 Recap
May 6, 2013
The CFL held its annual entry draft today, with 60 players being selected by the nine teams, including picks by the newly minted Ottawa franchise.
To the surprise of no one, defensive lineman Lindon Gaydosh was selected first overall by the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The 6'4" 305-pound former Dino was the first University of Calgary alumnus to be taken, but not the last.
In fact, U of C set a new school record with three alumni in the first five picks.
Linebacker Mike Edem was taken by the Montreal Alouettes with the third pick overall and running back Steven Lumbala was also selected by Montreal with the fifth pick.
No other university or college would be represented as many times in the first two rounds as Calgary was in the top five.
Eastern Michigan was also well represented in the first round, with alumni coming in the second and fourth picks. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers took defensive end Andy Mulumba with the second pick and the Saskatchewan Roughriders chose offensive lineman Corey Watman with the fourth selection.
Mulumba is a gamble on the Blue Bombers' part as he has already signed a free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. Should he make the Packers, the Bombers come up empty in the first round.
Ottawa made picks in each of the first four rounds, giving them a foundation of redshirt athletes to build around leading up to their 2014 debut in the CFL.
With the ninth-overall selection, the as-to-be-named franchise took Iowa offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan. In the second round, they chose Ottawa-native Connor Williams, a defensive end at Utah State. Their third pick was defensive end Kalonji Kashama, another Eastern Michigan representative, and with their final pick, they took tight end Tyler Digby from Robert Morris University. Digby, from New Westminster, BC, is a two-sport athlete, also playing lacrosse for Robert Morris where he is fourth on the team in scoring.
Rounding out the first-round selections, Liberty University offensive lineman Hunter Steward was taken by the BC Lions, the Calgary Stampeders chose non-import offensive lineman Brander Craighead from Texas El Paso and the Toronto Argonauts took offensive lineman Matthew Sewell from McMaster University.
Of all the players chosen this year, not a single one was a quarterback, while only two place kickers and one punter were chosen in the final round.
Moon, a Hall of Fame quarterback in both the CFL and NFL, said (via the NY Daily News):
“You have to be able to throw the ball up there if anything and they throw the ball a lot. There are only three downs so the passing game is much more important up there. You have got to be able to throw it and I think that’s his biggest problem, just being [able] to complete passes, be an accurate passer. I think he’s a really good athlete playing the position but I don’t think that’s enough sometimes.”
Statistically speaking, Moon might be right.
Last year in the CFL, quarterbacks averaged 33.2 pass attempts per game and 21 completions. Anthony Calvillo, Montreal's pivot since 2002 and the CFL's all-time leader in passing yards, pass completions and touchdown passes, threw 555 times last year.
By contrast, when Tebow was a starter for the Denver Broncos in 2011, he attempted just 271 passes in 14 games and completed only 46.5 percent of them. That's almost half of the CFL average for pass attempts per game and 17 percent lower than the normal success rate.
His college numbers at Florida paint a similar picture. His busiest passing season was his sophomore year in 2007 when he threw 317 passes, completing a very solid 68.5 percent of them and earning the Heisman Trophy. Still that was just 22.6 pass attempts per game, well short of the CFL average.
Calvillo is signed with the Alouettes for two more years and is showing few signs of slowing down. He was second in the CFL in attempts, yards and passing touchdowns last year, and fourth in QB rating. Were Tebow to sign with Montreal, he could reasonably expect to be playing second fiddle to Calvillo until 2015, which means taking on a similar role as he had in New York.
He could, however, be used more frequently in short-yardage situations and stunt plays, where the CFL game lends itself to more creative play-calling.
Picking up first downs in 3rd-and-inches scenarios could become a common role for him, and his size and running ability would also give him a significant advantage over Calvillo in quarterback keeper plays and give him a handful of opportunities each and every game, something he did not have with the Jets.
Likewise, dropping Tebow into a fullback role on a regular basis would give the Alouettes some interesting options-play possibilities, which could spread defenses paper thin and open up holes to exploit.
In the meantime, two years behind one of the all-time great quarterbacks in CFL history could pay significant dividends in terms of giving the kid a chance to develop his throwing abilities up to a CFL standard.
The CFL entry draft happens on Monday, May 6, with Montreal owning the third and fifth picks overall. Whether or not they opt to add more depth in the quarterback position will say a lot about whether they have an interest in signing Tebow to a contract.
If they don't select a quarterback with one of their eight picks, it could mean there is room for Tebow to sign with the Alouettes and try to earn a roster spot north of the border.
Toronto Argos: Toronto's Argo Support a Mile Wide, but an Inch Deep
Dec 11, 2012
On November 25 over 53,000 fans packed a sold out Rogers Center for the historic 100th annual Grey Cup. The hometown Argos were playing in the Grey Cup for the first time since 2004.
The country’s 100th annual football championship was well marketed and had a great halftime show thanks to the duo of Gordon Lightfoot and Justin Bieber.
While the game was an overall success for the city of Toronto, fans support for the Argos will quickly fade.
Historically, the Grey Cup has always been a success. The Rogers Center would have sold out whether or not the Argos made the Grey Cup.
Many fans attended to the game because it was the fashionable thing to do. While the Argos have a fanbase; there were many who attended strictly because the event's historic nature.
Toronto seems to enjoy pretending to take an interest when the city hosts major events. The city sells more tickets for car races, tennis tournaments, and the Yates Cup than it probably should.
Much like every other event, the city has seen the 100th Grey Cup follow the same fate; it was temporarily popular, buoyed by the fact that the Argos were playing and won.
In a city hungry for a championship team—something the Leafs, Raptors, TFC and Jays haven’t been—it took the less popular Argonauts to give Toronto the championship it desperately wanted.
The Grey Cup used to be a big deal in Toronto and regular season games used to sell out, but that was long time ago. These days, the team has difficulty bringing in a new generation of fans.
With the NHL lockout, the Leafs have become irrelevant, the Raptors are once again struggling badly and while the Jays have made some noise trading in the offseason they are not taking the field until the spring.
Despite the city’s great support for their beloved Leafs, they haven’t had a championship season since 1967. They continued to disappoint their fans since the 2004-05 lockout and haven’t made the postseason once since then.
Even with the team’s misfortunes, fans continue to have false hopes, as each year, fans are deluded into believing the team can be a contender.
It’s been over 1,600 days since a Toronto team, other than the Argos, last won a playoff game. The Raptors beat the Orlando Magic but it ultimately it didn’t matter because they ended up losing the series.
Jays GM Alex Anthopolous has created a buzz in the city of Toronto, but fans have to wait until 2013 to see their improved baseball team in action.
He has made some notable trades and fans have reasons to be optimistic. The team may actually have put together a serious contender.
Despite the hype, it’s been 20 years since Joe Carter’s championship home run. No playoff game has taken place in the Rogers Center since then.
While it is great to see the Argos winning the hardware, fans are desperately waiting for another team to win a championship.
While many other Toronto teams struggle, people can pretend to have an interest in the Argos.
Grey Cup 2012: Argos QB Ricky Ray Cements Legacy with 3rd CFL Title
Nov 25, 2012
Toronto Argonauts QB Ricky Ray has been the buzz of the CFL season due to his unexpected trade from the Edmonton Eskimos nearly a year ago.
On Sunday night, Ray's legacy will be all the more heralded after winning his third Grey Cup for a previously struggling Toronto franchise that couldn't have dreamed of reaching this point before the star quarterback's arrival.
Already the league's sixth all-time leading passer (h/t Toronto Sun)—and holder of all the Eskimos' passing records—Ray's presence lifted the Argonauts to unforeseen heights. The front office traded away their second overall pick in this past year's draft to acquire Ray, and it certainly paid off.
GM Eric Tillman will continue to be the laughingstock of the league, since he's the one who orchestrated the Ray trade from the Eskimos' side for the aforementioned pick, a kicker and an unproven QB.
Checking out the story of the deal on the official Eskimos' website spells out even more of Ray's impressive accolades, including a CFL record 479 completions in the 2005 season, which surpassed the record set by Doug Flutie.
Rob Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun tweeted a sarcastic, hypothetical quote from Tillman as the Argonauts' 35-22 blowout of the Calgary Stampeders unfolded on the Canadian football's ultimate stage:
"Sure, the Argos might win a Grey Cup with Ricky Ray, but I don't like their depth at kicker one bit." - Eric Tillman
The strategy behind that deal will forever be questioned. But the fact that Ray sparked a team that had gone four years without a winning season to the league's pinnacle proves how great he was.
Ray's numbers were solid, if not spectacular: 18-of-30, 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Yet it was Ray who was the catalyst. His seven-yard strike to No. 1 receiver Chad Owens opened the scoring and set the tone after a sluggish start from the Argos.
Thanks to the calm of Ray and immense help from outstanding stocky RB Chad Keckert—the game's most outstanding player—Toronto was able to dominate in cruising to a 24-6 halftime lead.
From there, Keckert was able to ground-and-pound the Stampeders to their demise, but it was Ray who was the tone-setter.
First-year head coach Scott Milanovich deserves an immense amount of credit for the Argos' sudden success. You can't say that he wasn't absolutely giddy when he got word of the team landing Ray, though.
Winning a Grey Cup for two different franchises cements Ray's status as a future Hall of Famer, and should make him a first-ballot lock if he wasn't so already.
After the massive triumph, Ray continued to discuss how he has wanted to retire for years, but was glad he returned to be a part of this Toronto team. It had been seven years since Ray last played in the Grey Cup despite his consistently high level of play, and it had to be frustrating to perpetually fall short. But the offense in Toronto better suited his strengths and the fresh start rejuvenated the 33-year-old's career (h/t The Star).
Perhaps Ray can finally settle on retirement after yet another CFL title. Then again, he has returned each of the past six years with immense success.
Let's see if he can be talked into the "repeat" hype sure to stir in Toronto.
Grey Cup 2012: Score, Recap and More from Calgary vs. Toronto
Nov 25, 2012
The Toronto Argonauts added the 2012 Grey Cup title to their collection on Sunday night.
In the 100th edition of Canada's Super Bowl, they defeated the Calgary Stampeders by the score of 35-22 for their 16th CFL championship. That's the most in the in league history—three more than any other club—but Toronto's latest triumph was just its first since 2004.
Calgary was aiming for its seventh championship, its first since 2008, and had won 13 of its past 15 games. But despite entering with loads of momentum, it failed to upset the Argonauts, who had already defeated the Stampeders twice this season.
Here’s a complete recap of the contest.
Tweets of the Night
Judging by the photo’s angle, it looks like Doug Flutie, who spent eight years in the CFL and won three Grey Cups, had a VIP pass to the pre-game party.
Speaking of music, over 19,000 re-tweets later, a large fraction of the Grey Cup’s audience were Justin Beiber fans just waiting for the halftime show.
gonna perform at halftime for the Grey Cup tomorrow and then my @oprah interview is at night. WATCH. thanks
In one of his best seasons as a pro, the 12-year veteran threw for 4,220 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2012. What could’ve been a Cinderella story wasn’t, though, as he completed just 14 of 27 passes for 222 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
Jon Cornish, RB: C
Cornish led the CFL in rushing this season racking up a career-high 1,457 yards on the ground. But with Calgary behind most of the game, it couldn’t get him going as he gained just 57 yards on 15 carries.
Keon Raymond, DB: B-
Only one player, Joe Burnett, had more interceptions than Raymond did this year—five. While he managed to help shut down Chad Owens, he also drew a key holding penalty on a return touchdown.
Charleston Hughes, DL: A-
Hughes wrestled the opposing passer to the ground 11 times this season, finishing second in the league in sacks. He got another against the Argonauts, but it was his team’s only one of the evening.
Grades for Key Toronto Players
Ricky Ray, QB: A
It was more of the same for the 10-year vet this season: 4,000 yards, 20 touchdowns. What he hadn’t done in a while was lead his team to a title, and that’s exactly what he did, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns on the night.
Chad Owens, SB: B+
Owens established himself as the best receiver in the CFL, reeling in a league-high 94 receptions for 1,328 yards and six touchdowns this year. He didn’t dominate, only catching two passes for 14 yards, but one was a key touchdown that helped put Toronto up early.
Robert McCune, LB: A-
McCune led the team in tackles in the regular season, wrapping up 86 ball-carriers. He recorded six on Sunday and was a key part of a front seven that held Cornish to 3.8 yards a carry.
Jordan Younger, S: B
After snagging just three interceptions over the past five seasons, Younger picked off five passes in 2012. He didn’t steal one from Glenn, but he did get his hands on the football with a deflection.
Deciding Factor: Running Game
While Calgary boasted the CFL’s leading rusher, Toronto’s Chad Kackert ran wild, rushing for 133 yards on 6.65 yards a pop. His effort was the difference as both passers were able to move the football through the air, but only one team had success on the ground.
Grey Cup MVP: Chad Kackert
Ray is deserving of the honor as well, but again, Kackert’s performance played a greater role. He only rushed for 638 yards on the season, but he blew up when it mattered most.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
Grey Cup 2012 Winner: Argonauts Defeat Stampeders to Win 100th Grey Cup
Nov 25, 2012
The Toronto Argonauts got off to an early start and never looked back as they defeated the Calgary Stampeders 35-22 to win the 100th Grey Cup.
Toronto had the home-field advantage, although that was incidental considering that the location was decided upon over two years prior. Nevertheless, the home crowd certainly played a factor in the win as it was loud all game.
Chad Owens, who led the CFL in receiving yards this season, started off the scoring with a five-yard touchdown. The Argos then extended the lead with a Pacino Horne interception returned for a touchdown.
By the time the game reached halftime and Justin Bieber took the stage, Toronto had a 24-6 lead.
The Argos were able to stay ahead in the second half to earn the championship.
Ricky Ray was the veteran leader, winning his third-career title after earning two with the Edmonton Eskimos. The quarterback finished with 231 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Calgary could not get going on offense, especially in the running game. Jon Cornish, who led the CFL in rushing yards, had little room to run and it slowed the team to a crawl.
The Stampeders had a big performance from Nikolas Lewis, who had six receptions for 100 yards. Unfortunately, it was not enough to help his team on the scoreboard.
The matchup itself was a bit of surprise, as neither team was expected to even reach this stage after mediocre regular seasons.
Toronto needed consecutive playoff wins over the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes in order to reach the Grey Cup. Calgary needed to pull a huge upset on the road against the BC Lions to represent the West.
However, championships are won in the postseason, and both these teams came to play in the final few weeks.
Of course, the Argonauts did a little more and ended up earning the 2012 Grey Cup.
Grey Cup 2012: Important Players to Watch in Championship Game
Nov 25, 2012
Canada's version of the Super Bowl takes place in Toronto on Sunday night, as the Calgary Stampeders will take on the Toronto Argonauts at 6 p.m ET.
Though both squads finished second in their respected divisions, their tough play down the stretch was enough to clinch a Grey Cup appearance.
You're more likely to know who Peyton Manning or Tom Brady is, which is why I'm here to provide you with a few players to watch in this game.
Jon Cornish, Calgary, RB
Cornish is having his most productive season of his six with the Stampeders.
This season, Cornish has rushed for 1,457 yards and 11 TDs, which is two more touchdowns than he recorded last season for Calgary, according to the Stampeders official website.
A double threat, Cornish also boasts 38 receptions out of the backfield for 338 yards and two touchdowns, which is something the Argonauts will need to key in on.
Chad Owens, Toronto, WR
Wideout Chad Owens is closing in on a 100-reception season if he has a big game in the Grey Cup.
As the Argonauts website posts, Owens has recorded 94 receptions this season for 1,328 yards and six touchdowns, which is quite impressive.
What's even more impressive is Owens' kick-return skills, as he's averaging 22.4 yards per return in 2012.
If Owens has a successful Grey Cup, perhaps the New York Jets may want to look into this guy.
Nik Lewis, Calgary, WR
Another player the Jets could use is Nik Lewis, who has been an absolute beast for Calgary this season.
Calgary's official site tells us that Lewis has 100 catches for 1,241 yards and an astounding 10 touchdowns this season, only adding to a powerful Stampeders offense.
All around, it's been a career year for Lewis, who is looking to complete this season with a championship.
Ricky Ray, Toronto, QB
Ricky Ray could probably start for a handful of NFL teams.
If his 68.6-percent completion percentage isn't impressive enough, maybe his 4,059 yards and 20 touchdowns are (h/t Toronto Argonaut website).
While Ray has had much better seasons in his career, he's still an important guy to watch in the 2012 Grey Cup.
Grey Cup 2012 Predictions: Calgary Will Defeat Toronto in Convincing Fashion
Nov 25, 2012
The Canadian Football League will host the 2012 Grey Cup—the league's championship game—on Sunday, November 25, at 6:00 p.m. ET.
In the United States, Canadian football lives under the shadows of NFL and NCAA football, which makes the Grey Cup a secondary event. But regardless, it's still a league with talented athletes and impressive performances, making the Grey Cup worth your time.
This year's game will be between the Toronto Argonauts of the East Division and the Calgary Stampeders of the West. Both teams had second-place finishes in their respective divisions, but they were able to rise to the challenge and march through the playoffs.
And while both teams are resilient and capable, the Argonauts will surely struggle to overcome a red-hot Calgary team that has won its last six games.
Outmatched Toronto Will Be Overwhelmed By Calgary
For the majority of the 2012 season, the Calgary Stampeders have been outdone in the West division by the powerful and always dangerous BC Lions.
The BC Lions are a breeding ground for future NFL players, and they are frequently competitive and in the hunt.
The Lions finished with a CFL-best 13-5 record and seemed to be in a position for a second consecutive Grey Cup victory. But a bye week in the first round of the playoffs threw them off their axis, and Calgary came to BC in the finals and walked away with a 34-29 victory.
Now, the Stampeders have an insane level of momentum following a win over the top CFL team, which gives them a clear advantage in this year's game.
Calgary will rely on the production of RB Jon Cornish, who is having a breakout year with a CFL-high 1,457 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
Cornish's elite rushing skills gives Calgary a chance to eat the clock and maintain drives on offense, but the Stampeders can also go airborne and win in a shootout if necessary, as QB Kevin Glenn has been phenomenal this season.
Glenn, a 10-year CFL veteran, has had trouble at times with turning the ball over, with 16 interceptions this season. But his 4,220 passing yards and 25 touchdowns makes it clear that he can play a gun-slinger role if necessary.
With a multi-dimensional offensive attack and an unbelievable amount of momentum, it's hard to go against Calgary in the 2012 Grey Cup.
Grey Cup 2012: Calgary Stampeders Will Knock off Toronto Argonauts
Nov 24, 2012
The Calgary Stampeders are better than the Toronto Argonauts in almost every facet of the game.
They just haven't proven it on the field this season.
They lost both head-to-head matchups with the Argonauts this season—but we all know how tough it is to beat a team three times in one season.
Despite playing on the Argonauts' home field at the Rogers Centre, the Stampeders will bring home the Grey Cup.
Beyond being the ultimate trophy for a team in the CFL, this year's game carries a little more significance. This is the 100th Grey Cup, and both teams would love to have their names inscribed on it.
The passing/receiving tandem of Kevin Glenn and Nik Lewis will be a major factor for the Stampeders. Glenn has thrown for 4,220 yards this season and Lewis is clearly his favorite target. Lewis looks more like a FB, but he is indeed one of the CFL's best pass-catchers.
Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Patrick Watkins may have an issue staying with the quick, 5'10" 240-pound Lewis. Watkins is 6'5" and doesn't have the most fluid hips in coverage. Lewis won't win many jump-ball situations against Watkins, but he can have his way in the slot.
The keys to the game for the Stampeders are ball security and disciplined special teams play. The Argonauts defense has been proficient at taking the ball away; Watkins and safety Jordan Younger each have five interceptions on the season.
Glenn knows that, and he'll be smart with his throws. He threw two interceptions in the Stampeders 39-36 loss to the Argonauts in July and another pick in the second game in August.
He has to limit those mistakes in the Grey Cup.
The Stampeders must also focus on Chad Owens. The Argos' great receiver led the league in receiving yards, but he also led the league in return yards. The Stampeders can't allow Owens to be a factor in the return game.
Winning the field position battle is huge, and it begins there.
Expect the Stampeders to get off to a fast start and for Glenn to have a great and efficient day throwing the ball.
My prediction is a 42-30 victory for the Stampeders.
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