When Argonauts head coach Jim Barker and his staff see something they like, they waste no time in getting it. Immediately following the 2010 CFL Evaluation Camp in Toronto this weekend, the Boatmen set their sights on former Queen’s quarterback Danny Brannagan of Burlington, Ontario and signed him through the 2012 season.

Commented Barker, “We are thrilled to welcome Danny to the Toronto Argonauts. Danny comes from the Pat Sheahan offensive system which is similar to what we do. Based on his success in this offence and his proven leadership, we used the opportunity presented at the CFL Evaluation Camp to see him in action to determine both on the field and in our interview if he possesses the specific skills we were looking for. We believe he does and he is a special individual who brings a lot to the table. He can make all the throws and he understands the Canadian game and how to read defences. We are excited to watch Danny compete with the other quarterbacks we have signed.”

In 2009, Brannagan led the Queen’s Gaels to their first Vanier Cup Championship since 1992, earning Vanier Cup MVP and Yates Cup MVP honours along the way. In a prolific 5 season career at Queen’s, Brannagan passed former Argo Tommy Denison as the leading passer in Gaels history as he commanded a potent offence with a 62.14% completion rate in 2009 and led the nation in TD passes in 2008 with 24, earning him OUA First Team All-Star accolades.

Brannagan remarked, “I’m very excited about this opportunity. I’m fortunate to have had a successful university career and realize that not a lot of people get to compete at the next level. The Argos have a great and storied football program that I’ve followed growing up. I was lucky to meet several members of the coaching staff at the CFL Evaluation Camp and I was very impressed with them. I look forward to going out there and competing for a spot on the team.”

Danny Brannagan
Quarterback
6’0”, 198 lbs
Queen’s
Born: July 4, 1986
Burlington, Ontario
1st Year Argos/1st Year CFL
Non-Import
Acquired: Signed as a free agent with Toronto on March 15, 2010.

College: Played for the Gaels from 2005-2009 as QB, becoming Queen’s all-time leading passer… 2009 Vanier Cup MVP… 2009 Yates Cup MVP… 2009 OUA Second Team All-Star… 2008 OUA First Team All-Star… 2008 Second Team All-Canadian… 2005 OUA Rookie of the Year… 2009 Started in 7 games, throwing for 2580 yards, 15 TD and 7 INT (62.14%)… Led Queen’s to 1st Vanier Cup victory since 1992, throwing for 286 yards and 3 TDs as Vanier Cup MVP… 2008 Started in 8 games, passing for 2407 yards, 24 TDs and 10 INT (56.47%) as he was named a CIS All-Canadian (second team) and led the nation in touchdown passes… ranked third in Canada in passing yards... 2007 Started 8 games for 2123 yards, 15 TD and 6 INT (51.61%) finishing the year third in the conference in passing yards…his touchdowns to interception ratio was third best in the OUA... He played for the East in the East/West Bowl in Hamilton… 2006 Started 8 games for 1744 passing yards, 11 TD and 11 INT (48.8%) finishing the season as the third ranked pivot in the conference in passing yards and was ranked in the top ten in the country at his position last season throwing 11 touchdowns… 2005 Played in 8 games, passing for 1860 yards, 12 TD and 10 INT (55.02%) as OUA Rookie of the Year… Dressed for eight games, starting the final seven… Against Laurier, in his first CIS game, Danny came off the bench in the fourth quarter, completing 10 of 16 attempts for 110 yards... He earned the starting job the following week against York, passing for 341 yards.

Personal: Danny was born in Ottawa, Ontario and is a native of Burlington, Ontario where he attended Assumption Secondary School. The Bachelor of Commerce graduate was an accounting major in college. Danny comes from an athletic family. His father Dan played football and was a wrestler at Windsor, his mom Leslie was a swimmer at Waterloo and his older sister Brie, who is currently in second year at Queen’s Law School, was a swimmer at McGill. In his spare time, Danny enjoys training, hanging out with his friends, and playing cards and video games.

The Toronto Argonauts Football Club is thrilled to announce that import RB Cory Boyd has signed with the club through 2011.

While starring for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Boyd became only the second player in school history to gain 1,000 rushing yards and receiving yards in a career. At 6-feet 1-inch and 218 pounds, the big back gained yards by making quick moves around an opponent or carrying the ball through one. As a senior, he rushed for nine touchdowns and 900 yards. The 24 year old was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2008 NFL Draft and spent time with the Denver Broncos.

Commented Argonauts General Manager/Vice President, Football Operations, Adam Rita, “Cory Boyd is a back with size which is important in our game. His great receiving skills coupled with his speed to go the distance make him an intriguing prospect we look forward to seeing on the field.”

Cory Boyd
Running Back
6’1”, 218 lbs.
South Carolina
Born: August 6, 1985
Orange, New Jersey
1st Year Argos / 1st Year CFL
Import
Acquired: Signed as a free agent with Toronto on March 12, 2010.

2009: Waived by Denver on March 31, 2009.

2008: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round (238th overall) of the NFL Draft…Waived by the Buccaneers on July 26 and subsequently placed on season-ending injured reserve…Released by Tampa Bay on October 17…Signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad on November 4…Promoted to the active roster on December 9 when fullback Peyton Hillis was placed on injured reserve…Returned to practice squad the next week…Re-activated for Week 17 following the season ending injuries to Selvin Young and P.J. Pope, but did not dress in a game.

College: Played for the Gamecocks from 2003 to 2007 as a running back…Only the second South Carolina player ever to gain 1000 yards both rushing and receiving in a career…In his senior year, rushed for 9 touchdowns and over 900 yards…2007 Led the Gamecocks in rushing with 823 yards in 12 games... Started seven times.... Averaged 5.0 yards per carry... Scored a team-high eight rushing touchdowns... Also was third on the team and led all SEC running backs with 35 receptions for 406 yards and two scores... Ranked fifth in the SEC and 59th in the country in rushing yards per game at 68.6 and was fourth in all-purpose yards, averaging 107.8 per game... Recorded three 100-yard rushing games... tied the school record with three rushing TDs against Wofford...Had a career-long 40-yard burst against Wofford... Injured his ankle in that contest and did not play against FAU...Named the Ernest A. Brooks Memorial Award winner as the MVP of the Carolina-Clemson game...Given the offensive Everyday Effort Award following the 2006 spring drills…2006 Declared a medical redshirt…2005 Was the team's second leading rusher with 309 yards on 62 carries with three touchdowns and the team's second leading receiver with 35 catches for 347 yards and one TD... Saw duty at both tailback and fullback... 2004 Saw action in all 11 games as a tailback and special team’s performer... Named the team's Freshman of the Year... Team's fourth leading rusher with 232 yards on 58 carries... Had 11 receptions for 145 yards... Scored three rushing touchdowns and had one receiving TD…2003 Redshirt freshman.

Personal: Cory married Brittany in January 2009 and the couple spent this off-season in Aurora, Colorado. Recently, he worked for Rite of Passage where he helped coach and counsel juvenile offenders through education and physical fitness programs. Cory changed his off-season training routine so that it began at 12:00 a.m. and ended at 4:00 a.m. in an effort to spend more time with his wife and family. He attended Orange H.S. where he played high school football and basketball. After high school, he earned a football scholarship to the University of South Carolina.

The Toronto Argonauts Football Club is pleased to announce that QB Gibran Hamdan has signed with the club through the 2011 season.

Commented Hamdan, “I’m excited to learn as much as I can from my new coaches and teammates in Toronto, and want to do whatever I can to help the team prepare and win. I’ve already begun to surround myself with people who know what it takes to be a successful quarterback in the CFL and I’m working very hard to get ready. I hope to bring a sound work ethic, leadership and a commitment to success to training camp that’s consistent with someone who is focused on winning. Coming to Toronto is an excellent opportunity and I’m eager to get started.”

Hamdan is an experienced professional who starred at the University of Indiana before being named MVP of NFL Europa in 2006. That season, he completed 63% of his passes for more than 1,600 yards, 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Hamdan most recently spent time with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and was originally drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Since entering the NFL, he’s also been on rosters with the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.

Jim Barker, Head Coach, Toronto Argonauts, remarked, “Our plan is starting to come together. We are excited to get some new faces under contract and expect more to be added. Gibran is a true professional. He has had success as a starter in NFL Europe where he was the MVP. Gibran is an accurate passer who has the arm strength to make all of the necessary throws. The 2010 Argonauts training camp is going to be extremely competitive and I can’t wait to see our players perform on the field.”

Gibran Hamdan
Quarterback
6’4”, 220 lbs
Indiana
Born: February 8, 1981
San Diego, California
1st Year Argos/ 1st Year CFL
Import

Acquired: Signed as a free agent with Toronto on March 10, 2010.

2009: Played in 4 pre-season games for the Bills completing 32 of 48 passes (66.7%) for 427 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception…Designated at third string QB for Bills and did not enter any games.

2008: Appeared in three preseason games and completed 30 of 47 passes (63.8%) for 258 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions…Spent most of the season as the Bills’ third string quarterback and promoted to backup QB for final two games of the season behind Trent Edwards.

2007: Claimed off of Seattle’s practice squad by the Miami Dolphins on February 6…Attended training camp with Miami and released on September 1…Signed a practice roster agreement with the Buffalo Bills on September 26…Promoted to Bills’ active roster October 20.

2006: Re-signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks and allocated to NFL Europa’s Amsterdam Admirals on January 26…Named NFLE MVP after leading the league in passing while completing 102 of 162 passes (63%) for 1,629 yards with 12 touchdowns and 3 interceptions…Waived by Seattle on August 29 and claimed off of waivers by the San Francisco 49ers on September 3…Assigned to San Francisco’s practice squad…Claimed off of San Francisco’s practice squad by Seattle on October 24 and assigned to the Seahawks’ practice roster.

2005: Signed by the Seattle Seahawks on February 2 and allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europa where he earned the starting job…Broke his collarbone and ended his season before it started…Completed 39 of 75 passes for a total of 556 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions before suffering injury…Returned to Seattle and waived by the Seahawks on September 3.

2004: Assigned to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europa and was a back-up…Completed 40 of 80 passes for 607 yards, 3 TDs and 3 INTs…Released at the end of training camp by Redskins.

2003: Drafted in the seventh round (232nd Overall) of the NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins… Attended training camp and spent 10 weeks of rookie season on practice squad before making the 53-man active roster…Completed 1 of 2 passes for 7 yards.

College: Attended Indiana University from (1999-02)...Posted 2,115 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior…Named Big Ten co-player of the week for his 24-of-36, 310-yard and a career-high 4 touchdowns in a 32-29 win against Wisconsin…Also played for the baseball team, starting at first baseman for his final three years.

Personal: Gibran is engaged to Jenny Grant and his future grandfather-in-law is Canadian Football Hall of Fame Builder, Bud Grant. The couple spent this off-season in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gibran’s mother is Pakistani and his father, a nuclear engineer out of the University of Illinois, is Palestinian. He was born in San Diego but moved to Kuwait when he was only three years old. Gibran was on vacation in 1991 when Iraq invaded Kuwait, destroying his home and family possessions. He returned to the U.S. with his family and attended Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. There, he won the Virginia Independent Schools Player of the Year award. Gibran also played baseball at Indiana and earned his degree in marketing. The gifted athlete was a member of the 15-and-under U.S. National Baseball team.

The Toronto Argonauts Football Club acquired QB Dalton Bell from the Saskatchewan Roughriders in exchange for a fifth round draft pick in the 2010 CFL Canadian Draft. Toronto originally acquired the draft pick from Saskatchewan in the deal that sent import OT Cliff Washburn to the ‘Riders.

Bell is a strong-armed quarterback who shattered passing records while playing in the Lone Star Conference for West Texas A&M. While there, he threw for career totals of 7,841 yards, 63 touchdowns and completed 699 of 1044 pass attempts (66.9%). Bell spent the past two seasons on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ practice roster. He’s also had stops with the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.

Remarked Adam Rita, GM/VP, Football Operations, Toronto Argonauts, “We feel very fortunate to obtain the playing rights of Dalton Bell. He’s a young quarterback with a bright future. He is a good candidate to come to Toronto and compete for a quarterback spot.”

Dalton Bell
Quarterback
6’3”, 210 lbs.
West Texas A&M
Born: March 9, 1983
Canyon, Texas
1st Year Argos / 1st Year CFL
Import

Acquired: Traded to Toronto from Saskatchewan in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2010 CFL Canadian Draft.

2009: Spent entire season on Saskatchewan’s practice roster.

2008: Signed with the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) as a free agent and attended training camp…Added to the club’s practice roster…Released and signed a practice roster agreement with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in October…Remained on Riders’ practice squad for remainder of 2008 season.

2007: Attended portion of training camp with the Carolina Panthers (NFL) and released…Signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers (NFL) and assigned to the club’s practice roster.

College: Dressed in 40 games with 21 starts (2002-‘06) at West Texas A&M…Threw for career totals of 7,841 yards, 63 touchdowns and completed 66.9% (699) of his 1044 pass attempts…2006 As a senior, completed 386 of 583 passes for 3,998 yards and 32 touchdowns…2005 Promoted to starting QB and threw for 3,799 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior…Named First-Team All-Southwest Region and Second-Team All-Lone Star Conference…Honoured as a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award Finalist…2004 Dressed in 10 games as a backup QB completing 1 of 5 passes…2003 Played in six games and completed 1 of 2 passes for 36 yards and scored a touchdown…2002 Redshirt freshman.

Personal: Dalton is married to his high school sweetheart Ibbie and the couple has a 3 year old son named Boston. Both Dalton and Ibbie attended Canyon High School and they still live in their hometown of Canyon, Texas. There, Dalton was a two-year letter winner as a track athlete and earned honourable mention All-District honours as a football player. He was a marketing major in college.