Perry Lefko

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.

Ricky Foley had an impressive year in his first full season at rush end for the Lions.

Next week the Canadian Football League will announce its six player awards for the 2009 season. The ballots have already been sent in, and here's how I voted.

OUTSTANDING PLAYER:

Anthony Calvillo (Montreal) vs. Joffrey Reynolds (Calgary)

Calvillo missed half of one game and all of another with a calf injury. The Als completely fell apart in the full game in which Calvillo didn't play. He returned for the next game and asserted his dominance. With Calvillo on the field, the Als strike early and often dominate the clock, allowing the defence to tee off. He's produced slightly less than 1,000 passing yards from his 2008 totals, but completed a career-high 72 per cent of his passes and had a better quarterback rating than last year. Reynolds is a personal favourite from the time he began his rookie season and might end up becoming the all-time leading rusher in CFL history when he's done. Mike Pringle has 16,425 accumulated over 13 seasons, while Reynolds has 7,536 in only six seasons. This year he led the league in rushing with 1,504 rushing yards and 1,608 receiving yards.

And the pick is: Calvillo.

Defensive Player

Anwar Stewart (Montreal) vs. John Chick (Saskatchewan)

Stewart had nine sacks, 38 tackles and one interception in 18 games (though he didn't play much in the last game). Chick had 11 sacks, 32 defensive tackles and two fumble recoveries in 16 games.

And the pick is: Chick (based on less games played).

Canadian Player

Ben Cahoon (Montreal) vs. Ricky Foley (B.C.)

Cahoon is a two-time winner of this award. He had 1,031 receiving yards off 89 catches and only two touchdown catches, all of which are his lowest totals since his 2001 season, after which he began to dominate as one of the best receivers in CFL history. Foley started his first full season at rush end, replacing Cam Wake who signed with Miami after winning the top defensive player in both seasons he played in the CFL. Foley had 12 sacks, 51 defensive tackles and one fumble recovery. He didn't miss a game despite breaking a thumb. Frankly, this guy should have been a finalist for defensive player of the year.

And the pick is: Foley.

Special Teams

Larry Taylor (Montreal) vs. Jason Arakgi (B.C.)

Taylor led the league with 788 punt-return yards and two touchdowns, placed third in kickoff returns and had two missed-field goal returns, one for a touchdown. The sophomore placed second in the league in special-teams tackles with 35 and has played with an injured quad that forced him to miss one game.

And the pick is: Taylor.

Rookie:

Jonathan Hefney (Winnipeg) vs. Martell Mallett (B.C.)

Hefney proved to be an integral part of the Bombers' back end, his highlight in a home game against Edmonton, recording seven tackles and one interception. He played against his longtime friend Arkee Whitlock in that game (and for what it's worth, Whitlock should have been the Western nominee). Overall, Hefney had 66 tackles and four interceptions. Mallett had 1,240 rushing yards and 342 receiving yards and a total of eight touchdowns in only 16 games.

And the pick is: Hefney

Offensive lineman:

Scott Flory (Montreal) vs. Ben Archibald (Calgary)

Flory won this award last year and has been the East nominee five times, including four of the last five years. Archibald is in his first full year and second overall. Kind of a mystery pick. What happened to Patrick Kabongo of Edmonton? If he wasn't the best offensive lineman, he was the most entertaining.

And the pick is: Flory