September 1, 2014

50K and Counting: Ray joins exclusive passing club

Adam Gagnon

Argonauts.ca Staff

HAMILTON – During the third quarter of tonight’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field, Ricky Ray completed a pass to Jason Barnes to become the sixth CFL quarterback in league history to achieve 50,000 career passing yards. Ray joins Anthony Calvillo, Damon Allen, Danny McManus, Henry Burris and Ron Lancaster who are also members of this elite club.
 
Now in his twelfth CFL season, Ray has reached the 50,000 yard mark at the age of 34 years, ten (10) months and ten (10) days, which makes him the youngest player in league history to accomplish the feat – 10 days faster than Anthony Calvillo.  Ray has also passed this career milestone in his 182nd CFL start, which is fourth-fastest of all-time.
 
Ray has been with the Argonauts since 2012 following a trade with Edmonton Eskimos. He signed as a free agent with Edmonton in 2002 and amassed 40,531 of his 50,000 yards with the Eskimos. Ray collected the remaining 9,469 over the past three seasons in Double Blue.  Within those 50,000 yards, Ray has totalled for 266 passing touchdowns while only throwing 152 interceptions.
 
Among the several league and team records Ray holds, his career accomplishments to date include: Three-time Grey Cup champion (2003, 2005, 2012), East Division Most Outstanding Player in 2013, two-time CFL All-Star in 2006 and 2013, West Division All-Star in 2006, East Division All-Star in 2013, and the MVP of the 2005 Grey Cup.

More to come …