THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — The B.C. Lions have released veteran fullback Lyle Green and second-year halfback Darren Toney, the CFL team said Thursday.
Green, a native of Kitchener, Ont., played nine years with the Lions. Last season he shifted to special teams but continued to see spot duty on offence as blocking back. He played 161 consecutive games for the Lions, the most by a running back in franchise history.
"Lyle was a versatile player who never gave less than his best," Wally Buono, the Lions coach and general manager, said in a release. "He was a pleasure to coach."
During his career Green, 34, rushed for 569 yards on 116 carries and scored seven touchdowns. He also had 83 catches for 978 yards and three TDs.
Toney, an import who attended Arkansas State, was signed as a free agent last year and played 18 games. He had 52 tackles and led the team with seven pass knockdowns.
The team also announced receiver Matt Chapdelaine, the son of offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine, will practice with the club during the 2010 season while playing junior football with the Surrey Big Kahuna Rams.
The Lions kick off the 2010 regular season July 4 against the Edmonton Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium.
