Argos Make Trade With Esks

The Toronto Argonauts Football Club has acquired import DT Eric Taylor and a conditional 2011 draft pick from the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for veteran WR Andre Talbot and WR Brad Smith.

Coming to Toronto is two-year CFL veteran Eric Taylor. His career numbers include: 19 games played, 45 defensive tackles, 3 quarterback sacks, 4 pass knock downs and a fumble return. The 29-year old from Winchester, Tennessee played college football for the Memphis Tigers and was a seventh round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004.

Adam Rita, General Manager/VP, Football Operations, remarked, “With the departure of Walter Curry to the Jacksonville Jaquars, we felt it was important for us to acquire someone with CFL experience at defensive tackle. Eric Taylor brings size and quickness to the anchor spot and we look forward to seeing him compete at training camp.”

Commented Argos’ new defensive tackle, Eric Taylor, “I’m really excited to come to Toronto. There’s a great tradition of football in the city and I’ve heard good things about new head coach Jim Barker. I look forward to being part of the team and helping to get the Argonauts back into the playoffs.”

Talbot, a Toronto native who attended Paul Dwyer high school in Oshawa, played nine seasons and 113 regular season games for the Argonauts. He caught 261 passes for 3,402 yards and 17 touchdowns and was part of the team’s 2004 Grey Cup championship squad. The Argos originally drafted Talbot in the fifth round, 34th overall, of the 2001 CFL Canadian Draft.

Smith was originally drafted by the Argonauts in the sixth round, 45th overall, of the 2007 CFL Canadian Draft. He dressed in 16 games, with six starts, over parts of three seasons with Toronto. Smith enjoyed his best season statistically as a pro in 2009 catching 14 passes for 142 yards.

The Toronto Argonauts also announced today that import CB Jordan Younger has been released.

Eric Taylor

Defensive Tackle
6’2”, 309 lbs.
Memphis
Born: December 14, 1981
Winchester, Tennessee
1st Year Argos / 3rd Year CFL
Import

Acquired: Traded to Toronto from the Edmonton Eskimos on February 10, 2010 along with a 2011 conditional draft pick in exchange for WR Andre Talbot and WR Brad Smith.

2009: Dressed in and started 13 games at defensive tackle, recording 28 DT, three tackles for losses of two yards, three knockdowns and two sacks…Missed five games due to injury.

2008: Attended training camp with the Tennessee Titans (NFL) and released…Signed with the Edmonton Eskimos as a free agent on September 23…Played in all six games with six starts…Recorded 16 defensive tackles, one knockdown, one fumble recovery and two tackles for a loss…Had first CFL quarterback sack in BC (10/10/08)…CFL Playoffs Started at DT in both the East Semi-Final and East Final and had two tackles in each game.

2007: Attended training camp with Seattle and released.

2006: Signed with the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and added to the club’s PR for the entire season.

2005: Attended training camp with Steelers and added to club PR for a brief period before being released during the season…Joined the Minnesota Vikings (NFL) and dressed in one game recording no stats…Released by Minnesota on December 5.

2004: Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round, 212th overall, in the NFL draft…Added to club’s practice roster following training camp.

College: Played 36 games over four years (2000-03) with Memphis Tigers…Recorded career numbers of 89 solo tackles (plus 62 assisted), 20 tackles for losses for 85 yards, six sacks, 12 passes broken up, three forced fumbles and one interception for 52 yards.

Personal: Eric has two older brothers, Willis and Brian. He enjoys spending time with his niece and nephew and driving around in one of the two classic cars that he owns. Eric recently started an after school program called STEP (Striving Towards Excellence & Performance) in his hometown of Winchester, Tennessee that runs a series of clinics to help educate local youths while also keeping them active. He donates a portion of the proceeds from the program to various charities in the Winchester community. Eric says that if he weren’t playing football, he would be a basketball player. Eric played linebacker and tight end at Franklin County H.S. where he also lettered in basketball.