MontrealAlouettes.com Staff

MONTREAL -- The Alouettes announced on Friday the signing of import slotback Jamel Richardson to a new three-year deal with the club.

Richardson reached the 1,000-yard receiving plateau for a fifth consecutive season with the Alouettes in 2012 after hauling in a team-high 63 passes and finishing the year as the team's second-leading receiver with 1,016 yards and five touchdowns in only 15 games.

The two-time CFL All-Star also tied his former teammate Kerry Watkins for third place on the Als' all-time career receiving touchdowns list when he caught No. 48 on October 14 against the Argonauts in Toronto on a spectacular 75-yard play. Richardson is now only 17 TDs shy of the club record held by Ben Cahoon.

"Jamel has obviously flourished in an Alouettes uniform. He has become one of the most identifiable players we have," admitted Alouettes General Manager Jim Popp. "When we play teams, he is a force to be reckoned with. Though he had an off-year last season (due to injuries), we expect Jamel to continue his climb as one of the best in the CFL."

The 31-year-old had his biggest game of 2012 in Week 17, amassing a season-high 161 yards on eight receptions against the Saskatchewan Roughriders en route to earning CFL offensive player of the week honours.

Richardson has led the team in receiving yards three out of the past five seasons and has reeled in 454 passes for 6,401 yards in his five seasons with Montreal. The Syracuse, NY native also set a league record for 100-yard games in a single season with 12 and tied the team record for most receptions in a season with 112 in 2011. That historic season also saw him rack up a league-high 1,777 receiving yards, good for second all-time in Alouettes history.