Geroy Simon leaves B.C. Lions for Saskatchewan

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      The Canadian Football League's all-time leader in receiving yards no longer plays for the B.C. Lions. After a dozen years of starring for the Lions football club, Geroy Simon has been dealt to Saskatchewan in exchange for receiver Justin Harper and a third round draft pick.

      The 37-year-old leaves the Lions Den with a pair of Grey Cup rings (2006 and 2011) and as the league leader in career receiving yards (15,787 with 14,756 of them coming in a Lions uniform). Simon was the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2006 when he posted career bests with 1,856 yards and 15 touchdowns. This past season, however, due to injuries Simon was limited to 700 yards receiving and found the end-zone only twicehis lowest total in a decade. A pending free agent, Simon's role role with the Lions was in question moving forward and the football team made the decision to move him to get something in return.

      In addition to his exemplary on-field performance, Simon had become a fixture in the community representing the Lions and coaching minor football.

      “My 12 seasons with the B.C. Lions have been the most incredible years of my professional life," Simon says in a release issued by the Lions. "I want to thank the entire BC Lions organization for giving me the opportunity to become a true professional.  Most notably, I am extremely grateful to Mr. Braley, Wally Buono, Dennis Skulsky, Mike Benevides, as well as my teammates and coaches for all their years of support.  The fans in BC have treated me as one of their own since I arrived here in 2001, and I'll never forget it.  I'm looking forward to a new and exciting opportunity in Saskatchewan.”

      The Roughriders didn't waste anytime listing Simon as number 81 on their rosterthe number he made famous in B.C.despite the fact they already have a young receiver who was already wearing that number.

      Comments

      2 Comments

      DavidH

      Jan 24, 2013 at 11:00am

      Great player, good man, but he is gonna HATE the winter home games in Saskabush. :)

      (In fact, he should have retired in BC and been given a solid role in the Lions organization. But Buono has a reputation for tossing players who may have exceeded their Best Before date. Unfortunately, Buono doesn't seem to know that he has also curdled.)

      R2

      Jan 24, 2013 at 1:49pm

      Winters don't get bad in Saskabush til early - mid November by that time the season's almost over.
      He's probably going to have a great year for the Riders because he's still got gas in his tank....Good Luck Geroy!