2006 CFL season

2006 CFL season
Regular season
Duration	June 16, 2006 – October 28, 2006
Ottawa Renegades suspended operations in April
Playoffs
Start date	November 5, 2006
East champions	Montreal Alouettes
West champions	BC Lions
94th Grey Cup
Date	November 19, 2006
Site	Canad Inns Stadium, Winnipeg
Champions	BC Lions
2005 ← CFL seasons → 2007

The 2006 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 53rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 49th Canadian Football League season.

CFL News in 2006

It was announced on April 9, 2006 that the CFL had suspended the operations of the Ottawa Renegades for the 2006 season,^[1] thus making the CFL an 8 team league and moving the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the East Division for at least the 2006 season. On April 12, 2006 an Ottawa Dispersal Draft was held where the remaining 8 teams chose players from the Ottawa Renegades' roster.^[2] On September 28, it was confirmed that Ottawa would return no sooner than the 2008 season, to give potential new owners enough time to set up the new franchise.^[3]

Ultimately, the Renegades never returned. They would not be replaced until the formation of the Ottawa Redblacks, who began play for the 2014 CFL season.

The 2006 season is the first season where teams will be able to challenge officials' calls using instant replay. The CFL's replay system seems to be largely modelled on the one used in the NFL although there are some differences.^[4]

A new salary cap and salary management system (SMS) was adopted for the 2006 season, although the enforcement part of the new system will not take effect until the 2007 season.^[4][5] The cap for the 2007 season has been set at $4.05 million.^[6]

It was announced on July 5, 2006 that Tom Wright, commissioner of the CFL, had informed the CFL that he would not be seeking a contract extension as league commissioner after this season, thus ending his tenure as the 11th CFL commissioner.^[7] Prior to his final day in the office, Wright presented the Grey Cup to the BC Lions as they defeated the Montreal Alouettes in the championship game at Winnipeg's Canad Inns Stadium.^[8] Commissioner Wright and TSN President Phil King announced a landmark five-year multi-platform agreement between the League and TSN to commence in 2008 on December 20.^[8]

On October 26, 2006 Hugh Campbell stepped down as CEO of the Eskimos.^[9]

The number of TDs scored on kicking or punting plays dropped dramatically in 2006, which many attributed to stricter rules on blocking. There were 16 such TDs in 2005, and just 3 in the 2006 season.^[10]

Records and Milestones

Damon Allen became pro-football's all-time passing yardage leader on September 4 by surpassing Warren Moon's total of 70,553 yards (in both the CFL and NFL combined) as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 40–6.

Terry Vaughn became the all-time receptions leader, surpassing Darren Flutie with 973 on July 14. Then on September 22, Vaughn became the first football receiver in CFL history to record 1,000 all-time receptions.

On October 14, Byron Parker sets a new CFL single-season record for most interception return yardage with 342 on a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in Edmonton.^[11]

On October 20, Mike O'Shea becomes the first Canadian and third player (behind Willie Pless and Alondra Johnson) to have had 1,000 career tackles.

The Edmonton Eskimos' streak of 34 straight years in the playoffs came to an end in 2006.

Regular season

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points

Teams in bold finished in playoff positions.
X – clinched playoff berth
Y – clinched first place

West Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Y-BC Lions 18 13 5 0 555 355 26 Details X-Calgary Stampeders 18 10 8 0 477 426 20 Details X-Saskatchewan Roughriders 18 9 9 0 465 434 18 Details Edmonton Eskimos 18 7 11 0 399 468 14 Details

East Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Y-Montreal Alouettes 18 10 8 0 451 431 20 Details X-Toronto Argonauts 18 10 8 0 359 343 20 Details X-Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 9 9 0 362 408 18 Details Hamilton Tiger-Cats 18 4 14 0 292 495 8 Details

Notes

• Ottawa Renegades have suspended operations for the 2006 season.

Grey Cup playoffs

The BC Lions are the 2006 Grey Cup Champions, defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25–14 at Winnipeg's Canad Inns Stadium. It was the first Grey Cup for the Lions since they defeated the same Alouettes in the 88th Grey Cup game in 2000. The Lions' Dave Dickenson (QB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player and the Lions' Paul McCallum (K) was the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Playoff bracket

November 5: Division Semifinals

November 12: Division Finals

November 19: 94th Grey Cup Canad Inns Stadium – Winnipeg, MB

East

E2

Toronto Argonauts

24

E3

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

27

E1

Montreal Alouettes

33

E2

Toronto Argonauts

31

E1

Montreal Alouettes

14

W1

BC Lions

25

West

W3

Saskatchewan Roughriders

18

W3

Saskatchewan Roughriders

30

W1

BC Lions

45

W2

Calgary Stampeders

21

CFL Leaders

• CFL Passing Leaders
• CFL Rushing Leaders
• CFL Receiving Leaders ^[12]

2006 CFL All-Stars

Offence

• QB – Ricky Ray, Edmonton Eskimos
• WR – Geroy Simon, BC Lions
• WR – Milt Stegall, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• WR – Arland Bruce III, Toronto Argonauts
• WR – Jason Tucker, Edmonton Eskimos
• RB – Joffrey Reynolds, Calgary Stampeders
• RB – Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• OT – Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• OT – Rob Murphy, BC Lions
• OG – Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes
• OG – Jay McNeil, Calgary Stampeders
• C – Jeremy O'Day, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Defence

• DE – Brent Johnson, BC Lions
• DE – Fred Perry, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• DT – Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• DT – Tyrone Williams, BC Lions
• LB – Brian Clark, Calgary Stampeders
• LB – Otis Floyd, BC Lions
• LB – Barrin Simpson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• DB – Korey Banks, BC Lions
• DB – Eddie Davis, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• CB – Byron Parker, Toronto Argonauts
• CB – Coby Rhinehart, Calgary Stampeders
• DS – Barron Miles, BC Lions

Special teams

• K – Sandro DeAngelis, Calgary Stampeders
• P – Noel Prefontaine, Toronto Argonauts
• ST – Albert Johnson III, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

2006 Western All-Stars

Offence

• QB – Ricky Ray, Edmonton Eskimos
• WR – Geroy Simon, BC Lions
• WR – Matt Dominguez, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• WR – Nik Lewis, Calgary Stampeders
• WR – Jason Tucker, Edmonton Eskimos
• RB – Joffrey Reynolds, Calgary Stampeders
• RB – Kenton Keith, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• OT – Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• OT – Rob Murphy, BC Lions
• OG – Dan Comiskey, Edmonton Eskimos
• OG – Jay McNeil, Calgary Stampeders
• C – Jeremy O'Day, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Defence

• DE – Brent Johnson, BC Lions
• DE – Fred Perry, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• DT – Aaron Hunt, BC Lions
• DT – Tyrone Williams, BC Lions
• LB – Brian Clark, Calgary Stampeders
• LB – Otis Floyd, BC Lions
• LB – Reggie Hunt, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• DB – Korey Banks, BC Lions
• DB – Eddie Davis, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• CB – Dante Marsh, BC Lions
• CB – Coby Rhinehart, Calgary Stampeders
• DS – Barron Miles, BC Lions

Special teams

• K – Sandro DeAngelis, Calgary Stampeders
• P – Burke Dales, Calgary Stampeders
• ST – Carl Kidd, BC Lions

2006 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

• QB – Anthony Calvillo, Montreal Alouettes
• WR – Ben Cahoon, Montreal Alouettes
• WR – Milt Stegall, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• WR – Arland Bruce III, Toronto Argonauts
• WR – Kerry Watkins, Montreal Alouettes
• RB – Robert Edwards, Montreal Alouettes
• RB – Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• OT – Bernard Williams, Toronto Argonauts
• OT – Jerome Davis, Toronto Argonauts
• OG – Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes
• OG – Jude St. John, Toronto Argonauts
• C – Bryan Chiu, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

• DE – Gavin Walls, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• DE – Jonathan Brown, Toronto Argonauts
• DT – Ed Philion, Montreal Alouettes
• DT – Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• LB – Kevin Eiben, Toronto Argonauts
• LB – Tim Strickland, Montreal Alouettes
• LB – Barrin Simpson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• DB – Tay Cody Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• DB – Kenny Wheaton, Toronto Argonauts
• CB – Byron Parker, Toronto Argonauts
• CB – Jordan Younger, Toronto Argonauts
• DS – Orlondo Steinauer, Toronto Argonauts

Special teams

• K – Damon Duval, Montreal Alouettes
• P – Noel Prefontaine, Toronto Argonauts
• ST – Albert Johnson III, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

2006 Intergold CFLPA All-Stars

Offence

• QB – Henry Burris, Calgary Stampeders
• OT – Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• OT – Bernard Williams, Toronto Argonauts
• OG – Dan Comiskey, Edmonton Eskimos
• OG – Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes
• C – Bryan Chiu, Montreal Alouettes
• RB – Joffrey Reynolds, Calgary Stampeders
• FB – Chris Szarka, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• SB – Geroy Simon, BC Lions
• SB – Milton Stegall, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• WR – Arland Bruce, Toronto Argonauts
• WR – Kerry Watkins, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

• DE – Brent Johnson, BC Lions
• DE – Fred Perry, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• DT – Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• DT – Tyrone Williams, BC Lions
• LB – Barrin Simpson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• LB – Otis Floyd, BC Lions
• LB – Brian Clark, Calgary Stampeders
• CB – Tay Cody, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• CB – Omarr Morgan, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• HB – Korey Banks, BC Lions
• HB – Eddie Davis, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• S – Barron Miles, BC Lions

Special teams

• K – Sandro DeAngelis, Calgary Stampeders
• ST – Sandro DeAngelis, Calgary Stampeders
• P – Damon Duval, Montreal Alouettes

Head Coach

• Wally Buono, BC Lions

^[13]

2006 Rogers CFL Awards

• CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon (SB), BC Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson (DE), BC Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson (DE), BC Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award – Rob Murphy (OG), BC Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Aaron Hunt (DT), BC Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Award – Sandro DeAngelis (K), Calgary Stampeders
• CFLPA's Outstanding Community Service Award – Mark Washington (DB), BC Lions
• Rogers Fans' Choice Award – Geroy Simon (SB), BC Lions
• CFL's Scotiabank Coach of the Year – Wally Buono, BC Lions
• Commissioner's Award - Winnipeg Blue Bombers Ghosts
• Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award - Hugh Campbell, Edmonton Eskimos

References

1. "CFL suspends operations of Renegades". Tsn.ca. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
2. "Riders take Joseph in dispersal draft". Tsn.ca. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
3. "404". TSN. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
4. "404". TSN. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
5. "CFL launches new era with player partners". CFL.ca. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
6. "404". TSN. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
7. "404". TSN. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
8. "CFL.ca". CFL.ca. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
9. "404". TSN. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
10. "404". TSN. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
11. "404". TSN. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
12. "CFLapedia".
13. "CFLPA.com". Retrieved 7 August 2015.