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************************* Doug Flutie voted greatest CFL player in TSN Top 50 CFL players program WINNIPEG - He's a six-time CFL Most Outstanding Player, three-time Grey Cup champion, three-time Grey Cup MVP, and the record-holder for most TD passes in a single season.
Now quarterback Doug Flutie can add to his long list of accomplishments the title of No. 1 CFL player of the modern era, as chosen by the TSN Top 50 CFL Players panel. Flutie was a definitive choice for the honour, receiving 35 of 60 first place votes.
The fleet-of-foot six-time All-Canadian set the CFL on fire during his eight-year career (1990-97) with the B.C. Lions, Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts.
In all, he collected 3,384 voting points in weighted balloting - 402 more than runner-up George Reed, the Saskatchewan Roughriders' nine-time All-Canadian running back (2,982 points).
Reed outpolled No. 3 Jackie Parker, the Edmonton Eskimos' quarterback who collected 16 first-place votes and finished third with 2,819 points. Parker, who also played for Toronto and B.C., passed away Nov. 7. The TSN Top 50 CFL Players was created and managed by TSN, in partnership with the Canadian Football League..
TSN assembled an independent voting panel of 60 CFL past and present executives, players and media, who were asked to rank the top 50 players from a list of 185 nominees, in order, from the post-WWII history of the CFL.
The candidates were identified following a comprehensive three-month research and consultation process.
The results were tabulated by BDO Dunwoody LLP. Fans are invited to voice their opinions on TSN.ca with the Your Call poll, allowing them to pick their own top 10 from the list of the Top 50 selections.
The poll will close in two weeks, with the fan results posted on TSN.ca shortly thereafter. ************************** TSN TOP 50 FOOTBALL PLAYERS
(*) Honoured member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (+) Canadian
1. Doug Flutie
QB (BC/Cgy/Tor) 8 seasons: 1990-97
Record 6 Most Outstanding Player awards and 3 Grey Cup MVP awards
2. George Reed(*)
RB (Sask) 13 seasons: 1963-75 Shares all-time lead in TDs (137) and 9 All-Canadian berths
3. Jackie Parker(*) QB/RB/DB (Edm/Tor/BC) 13 seasons: 1954-68 Three Most Outstanding Player awards
4. Mike Pringle RB (Sac/Bal/Mtl/Edm) 13 seasons: 1992-04 All-time leader in rushing yards (16,425)
5. Warren Moon(*) QB (Edm) 6 seasons: 1978-83
Five Grey Cup wins in 6 CFL seasons
6. Garney Henley(*) DB/Rec (Ham) 16 seasons: 1960-75 Record 10 straight All-Canadian berths
7. Ron Lancaster(*) QB (Ott/Sask) 19 seasons: 1960-78 Two Most Outstanding Player awards
8. Russ Jackson(*)(+) QB (Ott) 12 seasons: 1958-69 Three Most Outstanding Player awards
9. Wayne Harris Sr.(*) LB (Cgy) 12 seasons: 1961-72 Record four Most Outstanding Lineman awards
10. Allen Pitts(*) Rec (Cgy) 11 seasons: 1990-00 All-time leader in receiving yards (14,891)
11. Dan Kepley(*) LB (Edm) 10 seasons: 1975-84
Three Most Outstanding Defensive Player awards
12. John Helton(*) DL (Cgy/Wpg) 14 seasons: 1969-82 Nine All-Canadian berths
13. Hal Patterson(*) Rec/DB (Mtl/Ham) 14 seasons: 1954-67 13 Division All-Star berths
14. Damon Allen QB (Edm/Ott/Ham/Mps/BC/Tor) 22 seasons: 1985-06 Two Grey Cup MVP awards and 1 Grey Cup Top Offensive Player award
15. Milt Stegall Rec (Wpg) 12 seasons: 1995-06 All-time leader in receiving TDs (133)
16. Willie Pless(*) LB (Tor/BC/Edm/Sask) 14 seasons: 1986-99 Record 11 All-Canadian berths
17. John Barrow(*) DL/OL (Ham) 14 seasons: 1957-70 Record 16 Division All-Star berths (at 3 positions)
18. Tony Gabriel(*)(+) Rec (Ham/Ott) 11 seasons: 1971-81 Receiver record 8 All-Canadian berths
19. Johnny Bright(*) RB (Cgy/Edm) 13 seasons: 1952-64 Four-time CFL rushing yards leader
20. Brian Kelly(*) Rec (Edm) 9 seasons: 1979-87 3rd all-time in career receiving TDs (97)
21. James Parker(*) DL/LB (Edm/BC/Tor) 12 seasons: 1980-91 4th in career sacks (139.5)
22. Chris Walby(*)(+) OL (Mtl/Wpg) 16 seasons: 1981-96 Offensive Lineman record 9 All-Canadian berths
23. Less Browne(*) DB (Ham/Wpg/Ott/BC) 11 seasons: 1984-94 All-time leader in interceptions (87)
24. Dave Fennell(*)(+) DL (Edm) 10 seasons: 1974-83 Two Grey Cup Top Defensive Player awards
25. Henry (Gizmo) Williams(*) ST (Edm) 15 seasons: 1986-00 All-time leader in career punt return TDs (26)
Click here to read the remaining 25 selections