Music: {allcanada} STAMPEDERS RE-SIGN KICK RETURNER/RECEIVER TAYLOR

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

{allcanada} STAMPEDERS RE-SIGN KICK RETURNER/RECEIVER TAYLOR

The Calgary Stampeders re-signed import kick returner/receiver Larry Taylor to a new contract on Tuesday.

Taylor, who was eligible to become a free agent on Feb. 15, has accumulated a combined 6,710 yards and six touchdowns on kickoff, punt and missed-field goal returns in 60 career regular-season games.

Last season, Taylor was fourth in the CFL with 1,583 combined return yards, despite missing seven games with a knee injury. He returned 44 punts for 484 yards, 44 kickoffs for 900 yards and four missed field goals for 199 yards and one touchdown. The 27-year-old Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product also had nine catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns and six rushes for 32 yards.

In the playoffs, Taylor amassed 364 all-purpose yards in three games.

"Larry is an exciting player and he has been a tremendous asset for us on special teams since he joined the Stampeders in 2011," said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. "His contributions on offence are also very valuable and I'm pleased that he has agreed to continue his career here."

Taylor signed with the Stampeders as a free agent on Feb. 14, 2011, after starting his career in 2008 with the Montreal Alouettes. The University of Connecticut alum was the CFL's special teams player of the year in 2009 and has played in eight playoff games — including three Grey Cup contests — during his career.

In 2011, his first year with the Stamps, he led all West Division players and ranked second in the CFL with 1,778 return yards.

"I'm glad to be remaining with the Stampeders," said Taylor. "My family and I have really enjoyed being in Calgary the past two years and that's why I wanted to stay here. This is a great team and a first-class organization."