CFL.ca
Alouettes.com Staff
MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes announced on Tuesday that the club has re-signed All-Star linebacker Chip Cox to a new three-year deal.
Cox (5’9”, 185 lbs.) has been an important fixture of the Alouettes’ defense unit for several seasons already, he who is the Alouettes all-time career leader with 326 defensive tackles. He was named the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player in 2013.
The Columbus, OH native was also the Alouettes defensive player of the year on three different occasions since 2010.
“Chip Cox is a model of consistency. Never one to draw attention, he just comes to work every day as though it’s game day,” declared Alouettes’ General Manager, Jim Popp. “Over the past 6 years, I do not think there has been any one player that has consistently affected the game anymore than Chip. He hasn’t missed a game, he has the uncanny ability to be a game changer at any moment, he gives you the utmost confidence that you have a chance to win when he is on the field, and as affective as he is on defense, he is just as affective on special teams when asked to play.”
“Chip has been Johnny on the Spot for years and in our eyes, is the best defensive player in the CFL. He could have easily been named MOP several times. Although Chip has already been one of the highest paid players in the CFL, we have made sure that he gets his recognition as the highest paid defensive player in the CFL,” added Popp.
This past season, the 31 year-old linebacker amassed 73 defensive tackles, including 8 tackles for losses of 34 yards and three sacks. One of the fastest players in the CFL, Cox also scored two touchdowns in 2014, helping his team come back from a 1-7 start to finish the season with a 9-9 record.
His first touchdown came on a 24-yard interception return after defensive tackle Scott Paxson tossed him the ball, and the second following a forced fumble when defensive end Aaron Lavarias handed him the ball before he returned it 55 yards for the major.
