Copeland avoids FA with Argos extension
Posted January 11, 2011 3:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Toronto Argonauts have signed offensive team captain and 10-year CFL veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland to a contract extension, the club announced Monday.
“We originally traded for Copeland to bring us veteran leadership and a winning attitude to Toronto and he did both,” Argos general manager and head coach Jim Barker said in a statement.
“He is another key piece of our puzzle as we move forward and I’m thrilled to have him back as an Argonaut. He and I have won three championships together and we both came to Toronto to make it four.”
Despite missing four games due to injury, the ten-year CFL veteran led the Argos with 639 receiving yards on 48 catches (2nd most for the club) and three receiving touchdowns in his first season with Toronto.
Copeland’s veteran leadership was instrumental in mobilizing an offence full of youth and talent. In Toronto’s two playoff games, he led all Argos receivers with 11 catches for 121 yards and one touchdown.
“It’s great to sign back with the Double Blue,” said Copeland who was scheduled to become a free agent. “I think Mr. Braley, Bob Nicholson, and Coach Barker have brought pride back to the Argos. I know that we as a team have the chance to be Grey Cup Champions and that’s what this game is all about – being champions.
“We surprised a lot of people last year and we were a young team. Now we have another year to come together and be better than we were last year and give the Argos fans a reason to wear their Double Blue around town. I know that’s what we have in our team and that’s why I signed back. The Argos, with the support of our great Argos fans, will be championship contenders,” Copeland said.
Copeland has caught 579 passes for 9,382 yards and 75 touchdowns throughout his CFL career. He is in striking distance of becoming the 14th player in league history to catch for at least 10,000 career yards. The product of the University of Tennessee has notched five 1,000-plus yard campaigns, his most recent in 2009.
Copeland has missed the CFL playoffs only once (as a rookie in 2001) and has competed in eleven playoff games, while also starting in three Grey Cup championship games. A two-time CFL All-Star (2003 & 2009), Copeland has earned divisional all-star on three occasions (2003, 2004 & 2009).
