"Pair of REDBLACKS named CFL East Division All-Stars"

Since we're talking about awards and recognition this morning (see earlier post about the OUS all-star and all-rookie selections), may as well include the REDBLACKS selections. It won't take long.

 The text below is from a press release by the team.

The CFL unveiled its divisional all-stars on Wednesday and a pair of Ottawa REDBLACKS made the cut.  

Announced as members of the East Division All-Star squad are Canadian and original REDBLACK Nolan MacMillan and American punter Richie Leone.  

Both players were nominated by the club for end-of-year awards this year, with MacMillan named Ottawa's best Canadian and offensive lineman. Leone, meanwhile, was named the REDBLACKS Special Teams player of the year.  

In his sixth CFL season, all with Ottawa, MacMillan started 14 games and provided his usual steadying veteran presence up front for the REDBLACKS before missing the final games of the season due to injury.  

Photography by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia 

Leone had a busy 2019 campaign for the REDBLACKS with 128 punts in 17 games played, averaging 48.7 yards and a net field position flip of 39.5 yards. Leone also accumulated 2,917 yards on kickoffs, averaging 62.1 yards per kick. 

Let's adjust these a bit; Leone, of course, ended up playing in all 18 games so his totals are actually 132 punts for a 48.4 average. His kickoff average was ultimately 61.8 yards.

No disrespect intended towards either gentleman but anytime you have to refer to your star punter as "busy" is bad. Leone's personal achievements (i.e. averages) are quite good, so the award is well-deserved, but it's also partially an indictment of the offence, obviously. Montreal's Boris Bede has the second-most punts with 109.