Black Players in the CFL and the Argos

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Another early Black quarterback for the Argos was Sandy Stephens, who despite being a second round NFL draft pick and #5 overall draft pick in the American Football League in 1962,he chose to sign with the CFL because the two American leagues wouldn't let him play quarterback despite a great college career. In 1963 (or 1964 depending on which website you look at) he was claimed on waivers (likely because his salary was so high - Gayle Sayers one of the NFL's greatest RBs signed for $25,000 a year for 4 years with a $50,000 bonus in 1966) by the Argos where he completed 65 of 126 passes for 988 yards, 8 TDs and 13 interceptions. He also ran the ball 13 times for 78 yards, caught 8 passes for 151 yards, kicked 9 extra points, and 2 FGs for the Argos and he also did all of these for the Alouettes. (https://www.justsportsstats.com/foot...id=stephsan002) He was injured in a car accident in 1964 and out of football for two years because of that. After that he made it to the NFL but they never let him play QB.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Stephens

I remember Sandy Stephens, who came up to the CFL with the Alouettes, signing for an unheard of salary of 100,000 3 year contract. Back then Canadian TV viewers just got to see NCAA players in on of three New Years Bowl Games, with the Rose Bowl probably the most viewed. Sandy was a star in the Rose Bowl and thus a big name to CFL fans.
Sandy was always a little on the heavy side. I believe he was listed at 6'0 220 as a rookie with the Als but kept growing. When he was picked up by the Argos after two years with Montreal he was listed at 240. As a run first pass second guy that kind of cut down on his production.
Always remembered former Sports Writer Milt Dunnell of the Star writing a little poem about Sandy after he arrived in Toronto.

Sandy Stephens he's no fun,
He can't pass and he can't run,
But when it comes to getting pay,
He's an all star all the way.

[jerrym]

I remember Sandy Stephens, who came up to the CFL with the Alouettes, signing for an unheard of salary of 100,000 3 year contract. Back then Canadian TV viewers just got to see NCAA players in on of three New Years Bowl Games, with the Rose Bowl probably the most viewed. Sandy was a star in the Rose Bowl and thus a big name to CFL fans.
Sandy was always a little on the heavy side. I believe he was listed at 6'0 220 as a rookie with the Als but kept growing. When he was picked up by the Argos after two years with Montreal he was listed at 240. As a run first pass second guy that kind of cut down on his production.
Always remembered former Sports Writer Milt Dunnell of the Star writing a little poem about Sandy after he arrived in Toronto.

Sandy Stephens he's no fun,
He can't pass and he can't run,
But when it comes to getting pay,
He's an all star all the way.

To be fair to Stephens he struggled like a lot of college QBs, even stars one, at the start of his career. He wouldn't be the first player to have weight problems either. Furthermore, not too many players or other people would show the determination and perseverance to return to a field as physically demanding as football after a car accident that took two years to recover from. Doctors considered it a near death experience that would leave him unable to walk for life. He not only recovered, he played in the NFL after that for two years.