Music: {allcanada} ARGONAUTS SIGN QUARTERBACK RAY TO CONTRACT EXTENSION

Friday, May 31, 2013

{allcanada} ARGONAUTS SIGN QUARTERBACK RAY TO CONTRACT EXTENSION

The Toronto Argonauts announced Friday that quarterback Ricky Ray has signed a contract extension with the team through the 2015 CFL season.

"We have worked hard to establish a culture of winning within our football team and it all begins with top calibre players like Ricky Ray," said Argonauts General Manager Jim Barker in a statement.

"Securing him as an Argonaut for the long-term ensures us stability at a key position and makes a clear statement to our fans and our city that we are serious about fielding a competitive club year in and year out. This is a very exciting announcement for the future of our franchise."

In his first season in Double Blue, Ray set a single season club record for completion percentage (68.6%) and threw for 4,059 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games. He played his best football when it mattered most.

In his final two regular season games he completed 44 of 63 passes for 688 yards and 8 touchdowns. Ray and the offence continued to roll through the playoffs completing 69 of 97 for 869 yards, five touchdowns and one interception en route to helping his team capture the 100th Grey Cup championship at Rogers Centre.

"I am very excited for the opportunity to be in Toronto for the years ahead and to build off of the success we had in 2012," said Ray in a statement.

"I enjoy playing in Toronto in front of our fans, and I look forward to working with my teammates and coaches with the goal of winning another Grey Cup."

The Argonauts acquired Ray from the Edmonton Eskimos on December 12, 2011. Over his 11-year CFL career, Ray has tabulated a career completion percentage of 67% and has thrown for 44,588 yards (good for sixth most in league history), and 230 touchdowns. He has captured three Grey Cup championships (2003 and 2005 with Edmonton, and 2012 with Toronto), and was named MVP of the 2005 Grey Cup. Ray has been named a league all-star once (2006), and has earned player of the week honours six times.