CFL Notebook

BC Lions Football Club GM and head coach Wally Buono announced this morning that special teams coordinator and running backs coach Chuck McMann has informed the team that he will not return in 2016.

"Chuck has decided to retire from coaching and will not be part of our staff in 2016," said Buono. "I had the pleasure of working with him in both Calgary as well as here in BC and I am grateful for his outstanding contributions to our club and our league. He was a great coach and even better person who played a significant role in building a number of championship teams."

Today's news follows Buono's earlier announcement that he will return to the sidelines for the 2016 campaign as well as the retirement announcement of offensive coordinator George Cortez.

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The Edmonton Eskimos have signed national slot back Cory Watson to a contract extension, keeping him in Green and Gold through 2017.

He was set to be a free agent in February.

Leading the Eskimos national receiving corps this season, Watson recorded 42 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns in 18 games with 18 starts. He also rushed three times for 13 yards, adding one tackle.

During the 103rd Grey Cup, Watson recorded two catches for 26 yards en route to the Eskimos 14th championship victory.

Watson was acquired by Edmonton in a trade with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in May 2015 in exchange for the rights to national long snapper Jorgen Hus and a third round pick in the 2016 CFL Draft.

A six year veteran, the six-foot-three, 211-pound native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec was originally selected by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round of the 2010 CFL Draft. He has since amassed 220 catches for 2,536 yards with nine touchdowns. In 2011, he was the Bombers nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian.

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The Edmonton Eskimos, the CFL, the CFLPA and Dexter McCoil have reached a settlement of all outstanding matters.

Effective immediately and until May 1, 2016, McCoil is free to attempt to sign with an NFL team. Should McCoil be unsuccessful in securing an NFL standard player contract for the 2016 season, he has entered into an agreement to play for the Edmonton Eskimos for the 2016 and 2017 CFL seasons.

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The Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced today that QB Ricky Ray has been extended through the 2017 season.

Commented Argonauts General Manager, Jim Barker, “Ricky Ray worked very hard to return from shoulder surgery this past season. We watched his progress closely and remained patient, just like we said we would. When he was ready for game action he showed us that he still had the ability to play at a very high level and that he was still as driven and as competitive as ever. He will be 100% healthy by next season and, when fully healed, is obviously a hall of fame player. We are happy that he will continue his career here in Toronto.”

Ricky Ray is one of the most decorated and celebrated quarterbacks in Argos franchise history. In four seasons with the club he has been crowned a Grey Cup champion (2012) and twice earned recognition as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Player (Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy), CFL All-Star and East Division All-Star (2013 & 2014).

Argonauts Head Coach Scott Milanovich remarked, “Ricky Ray has a strong work ethic, great aptitude for the game and excellent ability as a quarterback. He is also a man of great character and I’m glad he’ll remain in Toronto for years to come.”

“I am excited to remain with the Double Blue,” said Ricky Ray. “I believe it is a great time to be an Argo with the incoming ownership group, the move to BMO Field and the upcoming Grey Cup in Toronto. I really enjoy playing in Toronto and I look forward to playing with my teammates and coaches in this new era for the Argonauts.”

His CFL career numbers are impressive but his numbers as an Argonaut are staggering. While in Double Blue he has completed 70.5% of his passes (1,027 completions on 1,456 attempts) for 11,955 yards and 71 touchdowns to just 21 interceptions (more than a 3:1 ratio). He has established, or is already in the top-3, several team passing records and is listed among legends Condredge Holloway, Damon Allen and Doug Flutie, to name a few. His average Passer Efficiency Rating while with the Boatmen is an impressive 103.65 over 50 regular season games in which he has dressed.

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