CFL Players Of The Month Named

(from CFL.ca)


Travis Lulay, Byron Parker, Paul McCallum and Jerome Messam were named the Gibson's Finest CFL Players of the Month for October of the 2011 season, the Canadian Football League announced today.

The four players were chosen by a panel of judges that includes former Canadian Football League players Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde, now of TSN, and Pierre Vercheval of RDS.

BC quarterback Travis Lulay is the offensive player of the month, after leading the Lions to a 4-1 record over the final five games of the regular season.

Lulay played an instrumental role in leading the Lions to their first Western Division title since the 2007 season.

The quarterback was dominant in the final month of the season, throwing for 1,359 yards with 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His big month saw him finish near the top in almost ever passing category this season, as his 32 touchdown passes were good enough to give him a share of the league-lead.
Argonauts cornerback Byron Parker is the Defensive Player of the Month. Parker was a force in the Toronto secondary through the final stretch of the season. The eight-year veteran picked up 21 tackles and two interceptions - both of which he returned for touchdowns.

His 50-yard pick-six against the Bombers in Week 18 was the ninth of his career, which set a new CFL record.

After a near-perfect month of October, Lions kicker Paul McCallum is October's top special teams player. McCallum's strong month capped off a stellar season for the 41-year old Vancouver native.

In Week 15 against the Stampeders, McCallum set a new league record with his 30th consecutive field goal. That same game, he kicked the game-winning field goal from 53 yards out to vault the Lions into first place in the West.

McCallum connected on 17 of his 18 attempts, and finished the season with a staggering 94.3 field goal percentage, breaking former Lion Lui Passaglia's record of 90.9.

Jerome Messam is the Canadian Player of the month for the second time this season. Messam piled up 400 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in Edmonton's final five games.

The Toronto native becamse the first Canadian-born tailback to run for 1,000 yards since Sean Millington reached the millenium mark during the 2000 season.