2010 CFL season

The 2010 CFL season is the 57th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it is the 53rd Canadian Football League season. Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton hosted the 98th Grey Cup on November 28 when the Montreal Alouettes became the first team to repeat as Grey Cup Champions in 13 years, defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 21–18. The league announced on its Twitter page on January 29, 2010, that the season would start on July 1, 2010. As of 2021 this is the most recent CFL regular season to start in July.

CFL retro
As the league approaches the 100th Grey Cup, the CFL will celebrate the 1970s with all eight teams wearing retro-themed uniforms from that era during Weeks 6 and 7. Since Saskatchewan's alternate jersey is a version of the 1970s home jersey, they were the only team to wear both home and away retro jerseys during these games.

Additionally, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the players donned red and black centennial jerseys that the team wore from 1912 to 1947 on July 17 when they played Edmonton at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field in Regina.

Debut of the Moncton series
The CFL began a series of annual games in Moncton, New Brunswick, during the 2010 season. The first game, marketed under the "Touchdown Atlantic" banner, took place on September 26, as the Edmonton Eskimos defeated the Toronto Argonauts, 24–6, in front of a sold out crowd of 20,725 at the new Moncton Stadium. Tickets for the game sold out within 32 hours of going on sale. The success of Touchdown Atlantic 2010 has moved Moncton towards a position of candidate for CFL expansion.

Labour agreement
The collective bargaining agreement between the CFL and the CFL Players' Association expires on June 5, 2010. Negotiations between the two parties have been stalled since October 2009; a meeting is scheduled on April 26, 2010, in Toronto. Stu Laird, president of the CFLPA, has sent e-mails to all players. According to Canwest News Service, the e-mails advise the players to remain unified and "It continues to be the opinion of the executive committee that a CFL management lockout of the players is a very real possibility."

On June 29, 2010, two days before the start of the regular season, it was announced that the CFL and CFLPA had agreed to a new 4-year CBA, set to expire before the 2014 CFL season. While many changes were made, the most prominent were those made to the salaries and the introduction of a drug policy. The 2010 team salary cap is set at $4,250,000 with a team salary floor of $3,900,000 and a minimum player salary of $42,000. The salary cap is set to increase $50,000 per season, reaching $4,400,000 by 2013, with the floor being $4,000,000 by that time. The minimum player salary is set to increase by $1000 per season until 2013 where it would be $45,000.

Rule changes
Like in the 2009 CFL season, another fan contest on what rule changes the fans wanted to see was done, this time the fans were asked by Commissioner Mark Cohon to focus on what changes could be made to the overtime format to improve it. While a complete overhaul of the format such as going to a "mini game" of playing two 5 minute no quarter halves or eliminating over time in the regular season, fans endorsed the current overtime format with one significant change. The four rules changes for the season approved by the rules committee, including a change to overtime the fans call on in the contest, are as follows:

Changes to overtime


 * Teams that score a touchdown in overtime must go for a two-point convert by running or passing the ball into the end zone instead of kicking for a single point. A similar rule is used in United States intercollegiate football, where a similar overtime is used, starting with the third overtime session (overtime sessions are unlimited). This rule has been experimented in other football leagues like the World Football League and the XFL.

Changes in regulation


 * Will allow a team that gives up a field goal the option of scrimmaging from its 35-yard line instead of receiving a kick-off. In 2009, this option was eliminated, but has been overturned as it failed to make any significant difference in entertainment value as it was intended, and was unpopular with the coaches.
 * Will ensure there is no penalty for pass interference applied if a forward pass is deemed uncatchable.
 * Fixing the no yards or halo rule that will result in a penalty of five instead of fifteen yards when a ball is punted, hits the ground and hits a player from the covering team.

Broadcasting
TSN remains the exclusive broadcaster for all CFL games in Canada. In the United States, the CFL ended its longstanding agreement with America One and signed a more limited deal with NFL Network, which will air 14 games for the season (as opposed to the roughly 70 games per year carried by America One). As with America One, NFL Network will simulcast the TSN broadcast. RDS remains the exclusive French broadcaster of the CFL showing all 18 Montreal Alouettes regular season games and all of the CFL Playoffs.

Records and milestones

 * On October 11, 2010, Ben Cahoon became the CFL's all-time reception leader, catching his 1,007th career pass from Anthony Calvillo in a home game against the Calgary Stampeders.
 * November 7, 2010, saw the first time that a regular season Buffalo Bills home game at Rogers Centre in Toronto had been played during the regular CFL season; the Bills against the Chicago Bears kicked off at 1:00 pm, while the Toronto Argonauts kicked off their final regular season game at the Montreal Alouettes at 4:00 pm.

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

Teams in bold are currently in playoff positions.

Hamilton finished ahead of Toronto in the standings because they won their head-to-head regular season series 3-0.

CFL Player of the Week
Source

CFL Player of the Month
Source

CFL playoffs
The Montreal Alouettes became the first team to repeat as Grey Cup Champions in 13 years, defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 21–18 at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium. Alouettes' wide receiver Jamel Richardson was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player, and Roughriders' defensive tackle, Keith Shologan was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian.

Playoff bracket
*-Team won in Double Overtime.

CFL Leaders

 * CFL Passing Leaders
 * CFL Rushing Leaders
 * CFL Receiving Leaders

Offence

 * QB – Henry Burris, Calgary Stampeders
 * RB – Cory Boyd, Toronto Argonauts
 * RB – Fred Reid, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * WR – Arland Bruce III, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * SB – Andy Fantuz, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * SB – Nik Lewis, Calgary Stampeders
 * WR – Terrence Edwards, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OT – Ben Archibald, Calgary Stampeders
 * OT – Rob Murphy, Toronto Argonauts
 * OG – Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes
 * OG – Dimitri Tsoumpas, Calgary Stampeders
 * OC – Marwan Hage, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Defence

 * DT – Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DT – Kevin Huntley, Toronto Argonauts
 * DE – Phillip Hunt, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DE – John Bowman, Montreal Alouettes
 * LB – Chip Cox, Montreal Alouettes
 * LB – Markeith Knowlton, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * LB – Juwan Simpson, Calgary Stampeders
 * CB – Dwight Anderson, Calgary Stampeders
 * CB – Brandon Browner, Calgary Stampeders
 * DB – Ryan Phillips, BC Lions
 * DB – Chris Thompson, Edmonton Eskimos
 * S – James Patrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Special teams

 * K – Paul McCallum, BC Lions
 * P – Burke Dales, Calgary Stampeders
 * ST – Chad Owens, Toronto Argonauts

Offence

 * QB – Henry Burris, Calgary Stampeders
 * RB – Wes Cates, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * RB – Joffrey Reynolds, Calgary Stampeders
 * WR – Romby Bryant, Calgary Stampeders
 * SB – Andy Fantuz, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * SB – Nik Lewis, Calgary Stampeders
 * WR – Fred Stamps, Edmonton Eskimos
 * OT – Ben Archibald, Calgary Stampeders
 * OT – Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * OG – Jovan Olafioye, BC Lions
 * OG – Dimitri Tsoumpas, Calgary Stampeders
 * OC – Jeremy O'Day, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Defence

 * DT – DeVone Claybrooks, Calgary Stampeders
 * DT – Tom Johnson, Calgary Stampeders
 * DE – Charleston Hughes, Calgary Stampeders
 * DE – Brent Johnson, BC Lions
 * LB – Korey Banks, BC Lions
 * LB – Barrin Simpson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * LB – Juwan Simpson, Calgary Stampeders
 * CB – Dwight Anderson, Calgary Stampeders
 * CB – Brandon Browner, Calgary Stampeders
 * DB – Ryan Phillips, BC Lions
 * DB – Chris Thompson, Edmonton Eskimos
 * S – James Patrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Special teams

 * K – Paul McCallum, BC Lions
 * P – Burke Dales, Calgary Stampeders
 * ST – Yonus Davis, BC Lions

Offence

 * QB – Anthony Calvillo, Montreal Alouettes
 * RB – Cory Boyd, Toronto Argonauts
 * RB – Fred Reid, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * WR – Arland Bruce III, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * WR – Terrence Edwards, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * WR – Jamel Richardson, Montreal Alouettes
 * WR – Dave Stala, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * OT – Josh Bourke, Montreal Alouettes
 * OT – Rob Murphy, Toronto Argonauts
 * OG – Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes
 * OG – Brendon LaBatte, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OC – Marwan Hage, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Defence

 * DT – Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DT – Kevin Huntley, Toronto Argonauts
 * DE – John Bowman, Montreal Alouettes
 * DE – Phillip Hunt, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * LB – Chip Cox, Montreal Alouettes
 * LB – Kevin Eiben, Toronto Argonauts
 * LB – Markeith Knowlton, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * CB – Mark Estelle, Montreal Alouettes
 * CB – Jovon Johnson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DB – Jerald Brown, Montreal Alouettes
 * DB – Lin-J Shell, Toronto Argonauts
 * S – Willie Pile, Toronto Argonauts

Special teams

 * K – Damon Duval, Montreal Alouettes
 * P – Mike Renaud, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * ST – Chad Owens, Toronto Argonauts

Offence

 * QB: Anthony Calvillo, Montreal Alouettes
 * OT: Ben Archibald, Calgary Stampeders
 * OT: Dan Goodspeed, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * OG: Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, Toronto Argonauts
 * OG: Patrick Kabongo, Edmonton Eskimos
 * C: Marwan Hage, Hamilton Tiger Cats
 * RB: Cory Boyd, Toronto Argonauts
 * RB: Fred Reid, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * SB: Arland Bruce III, Hamilton Tiger Cats
 * SB: Fred Stamps, Edmonton Eskimos
 * WR: Romby Bryant. Calgary Stampeders
 * WR: Jamal Richardson, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

 * DE: Phillip Hunt, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DE: Odell Willis, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DT: Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DT: Dario Romero, Edmonton Eskimos
 * LB: Chip Cox, Montreal Alouettes
 * LB: Barrin Simpson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * LB: Solomon Elimimian, BC Lions
 * CB: Brandon Browner, Calgary Stampeders
 * CB: Dwight Anderson Calgary Stampeders
 * HB: Korey Banks, BC Lions
 * HB: Chris Thompson, Edmonton Eskimos
 * S: James Patrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Special teams

 * PK: Paul McCallum, BC Lions
 * KR/PR: Chad Owens, Toronto Argonauts
 * P: Burke Dales, Calgary Stampeders

Head coach

 * HC: Jim Barker, Toronto Argonauts

Source

2010 Gibson's Finest CFL Awards

 * CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Henry Burris (QB), Calgary Stampeders
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Andy Fantuz (SB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Markeith Knowlton (DB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award – Ben Archibald (OT), Calgary Stampeders
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Solomon Elimimian (LB), BC Lions
 * John Agro Special Teams Award – Chad Owens (WR), Toronto Argonauts
 * Tom Pate Memorial Award – Wes Lysack (DB), Calgary Stampeders
 * Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Trophy – Mike McCullough (LB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * Annis Stukus Trophy – Jim Barker, Toronto Argonauts
 * Commissioner's Award – Rider Nation (The award was given to the entire Rider fan base; it is usually only given to an individual).
 * Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award - Tony Proudfoot, Montreal Alouettes