Argos Deal For All-Star Receiver Jeremaine Copeland

The Toronto Argonauts Football is thrilled to announce that it has acquired CFL All-Star receiver Jeremaine Copeland from the Calgary Stampeders in exchange for WR P.K. Sam.

Jim Barker, Head Coach, Toronto Argonauts, commented, “Jeremaine is a productive receiver who brings a presence to our receiving corps. I’ve won championships with him in three different cities and I don’t believe there is a player in the world who is better with a ball in the air than Jeremaine. Beyond his abilities as a receiver, he brings with him many intangibles. He will bring to our locker room and to the field the veteran leadership it takes to win.”

Copeland is coming off a career season that saw him capture CFL and West Division All-Star accolades with the Stamps. The nine-year CFL veteran who has notched five 1,000+ yard campaigns and 72 career receiving touchdowns will join Head Coach Jim Barker for the fourth time in his football career. The two first teamed up in 2001 in Los Angeles where they won the first and only XFL championship together. One season later, Copeland and Barker worked their magic to bring a Grey Cup championship to Montreal and then, in 2008, the pair thrilled the city of Calgary by winning a Grey Cup title at Olympic Stadium.

Copeland enthused, “Coach Barker is one person I do not mind following from team to team and riding for. I love him as a coach and a person and will always give my all for him. Toronto is great city which deserves to have a great CFL team. I believe I can contribute and help turn things around this year.”

Copeland is one of the most electrifying receivers in the Canadian Football League. His career numbers are extraordinary having caught 531 passes for 8,765 yards. He’s missed the CFL playoffs only once (as a rookie in 2001) and has competed in nine playoff games, starting in three Grey Cup championship games. A two-time CFL All-Star (2003 & 2009), Copeland has earned divisional all-star on three occasions (2003, 2004 & 2009).

Jeremaine Copeland will be in Toronto for the exclusive Argos season ticket holder Fan Forum on Tuesday, February 23.

Jeremaine Copeland
Receiver
6’2”, 210 lbs.
Tennessee
Born: February 19, 1977
Harriman, Tennessee
1st Year Argos/10th Year CFL
Import

Acquired: Acquired by Toronto in a trade with the Calgary Stampeders on February 17, 2010 in exchange for import WR P.K. Sam.

2009: Named a CFL All-Star for the second time in his career and West Division All-Star for the first time in his career…Re-invented his game catching 81 passes (third-highest total in his career) for 1,257 yards (second highest total in his career) and 12 TDs (second-highest total in his career)…Finished fifth in the CFL and third in the West in receiving yards…2009 Playoffs Started both playoff games…Caught 2 passes for 22 yards in win over Edmonton in West Semi-Final…Caught 6 passes for 71 yards and TD in West Final loss at Sasktchewan.

2008: Dressed in 18 games for Calgary catching 52 passes for 764 yards and 7 TDs…Completed one 16 yard pass…2008 Playoffs Caught 3 passes for 43 yards in West Final win against B.C….Grey Cup Championship Won his second Grey Cup ring with 7 catches for 53 yards in win over Montreal at Olympic Stadium.

2007: Started 18 games for the Stampeders and caught 67 passes for 1,110 yards and tied for the league lead with 10 TD receptions…Attempted two passes and carried once for (-5) yards…2007 Playoffs Started in West Semi-Final loss to Saskatchewan and caught 3 passes for 44 yards.

2006: Dressed in 18 games for the Stamps catching 54 passes for 978 yards and 6 TDs…Carried twice for 14 yards…2006 Playoffs Started West Semi-Final loss to Saskatchewan catching 3 passes for 63 yards.

2005: Granted free agency by Montreal in February and signed with the Calgary Stampeders…Started in 18 games catching 64 passes for 1,211 yards and 8 TDs…Attempted one pass…2005 Playoffs Made playoff debut for Calgary in West Semi-Final loss to Edmonton…Caught 4 passes for 88 yards.

2004: Named East Division All-Star for second time in his career…Dressed in 16 games for Montreal and caught 83 passes for 1,154 yards and 10 TDs, good for third in the East and sixth in the CFL…Had a career-best three-TD game vs. Saskatchewan (03/07/04)…2004 Playoffs Started in East Final and caught 7 passes for 98 yards in loss to Toronto.

2003: Named East Division All-Star and CFL All-Star for the first time in his career…Named CFLPA All-Star…Set career highs and led the entire CFL with 99 receptions for 1,757 yards and tied for second in the CFL with 14 TDs…Completed 1 of 2 passes for 36 yards and had 2 kickoff returns for 19 yards… Copeland 1,757 receiving yards combined with Montreal Alouettes teammate Ben Cahoon for 3,318 receiving yards, the highest total ever recorded by teammates…Set a career-high with 208 receiving yards vs. Edmonton (21/08/03)…2003 Playoffs Started in East Final for Montreal and caught 6 passes for 83 yards…Grey Cup Championship Caught team-high 8 passes for 102 yards vs. Edmonton in loss at Taylor Field.

2002: Attended training camp with the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) but returned to the Alouettes in September helping the team to win the Grey Cup championship…Caught 18 passes for 352 yards with 4 touchdowns in five regular season games for the Als…He also completed 1 pass for a 36 yard touchdown…2002 Playoffs Dressed in East Final for Montreal and caught 2 passes for 18 yards and 0 TDs…Grey Cup Championship Started Grey Cup game vs. Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium and caught 3 passes for 101 yards with a TD…Recovered an onside kick by Edmonton at the end of the game and raced it back 47 yards for a major to seal the win.

2001: Signed with the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and attended training camp and released as a final cut… Signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Xtreme (XFL) and won an XFL championship with then offensive coordinator Jim Barker…Played in every game for the Xtreme and finished third in the league in receiving catching 67 passes for 755 yards and 5 TDs…Carried once for 5 yards…Signed with the Montreal Alouettes at the end of the XFL season and dressed in seven games for the Als catching 13 passes for 182 yards with a touchdown.

2000: Assigned by Tennessee to the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europa and released upon his return to North America.

1999: Signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans (NFL) and attended training camp…Signed to the club’s practice roster.

College: Played four years at the University of Tennessee (1995-98)…Started as a QB, backing up Peyton Manning, before transitioning to receiver…Career numbers include 103 receptions for 1,301 yards and 10 touchdowns…17-of-24 in passing for 199 yards….Won a BCS National Championship as a senior in 1998.

Personal: Jeremaine has been an active member of the community in each of the two previous CFL cities he’s played. He was a spokesperson for the Salvation Army in Calgary where he lives with his wife Talia and son Isaiah (2). Jeremaine enjoys playing golf and basketball and is a movie buff with a huge collection of DVDs. He currently lists his favourite films as Law Abiding Citizen and Avatar.