Here are the top-10 candidates with four weeks to go in the 2015 CFL season:

 

1. QB Henry Burris, Ottawa RedBlacks

Burris is supposed to be twilighting. He’s supposed to be selling insurance. After all, he’s 40 years old. He’s not, though. The Spiro, Okla., native is wheeling and dealing and completing a career-high 71.6% of his passes in his 16th CFL season. One year after being essentially left for dead, a few weapons and a new offensive co-ordinator in Jason Maas later, and Burris has enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career.

 

2. QB Trevor Harris, Toronto Argonauts

He’s completing a ridiculous 72.1% of his passes in his first season as a starter, but Harris has proved lately that he’s more than just a product of head coach Scott Milanovich’s system, throwing 31 touchdown passes and impressing in crunch time. If the Argos win the East Division, he may be the favourite. No one is missing Ricky Ray these days, and the Boatmen have a doozy of a decision looming when both QBs are free agents this off-season.

 

3. SB Eric Rogers, Calgary Stampeders

The California Lutheran product leads the CFL in receiving yards by a wide margin — he has about 300 yards of cushion — and has piled up 76 receptions and eight touchdowns. The amazing thing about Rogers’ exploits is that he’s doing it at the age of 24. The quarterbacks lead the way, but Rogers’ final numbers will be pretty.

 

4. QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Calgary Stampeders

Mitchell’s early-career exploits have raised the bar so high that it’s almost impossible for the man who was named the top player in the CFL by TSN coming into the season to meet those expectations. That said, Mitchell is third in the league with 21 touchdown passes and has led the Stamps to the second-most points in the CFL up to this point.

 

5. RB Andrew Harris, B.C. Lions

This is where it gets dicey. As a football team, the Lions simply aren’t very good. But as a player, Harris has been fantastic and leads the CFL with 866 rushing yards. He’s a ratio breaker and a dual-threat problem for defences, but probably not the MOP.

 

6. RB Jerome Messam, Calgary Stampeders

His team is now the Stampeders, but Messam became the league leader in yards from scrimmage with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who dealt him west at Wednesday’s trade deadline. Messam is the most physical RB in the league by far.

 

7. SB S.J. Green, Montreal Alouettes

The Alouettes are a team that’s built on defence and running the football this season. But that hasn’t stopped the league’s highest-paid receiver from piling up 60 receptions for 935 yards, good for second in the CFL behind Rogers. The QB carousel hasn’t affected Green.

 

8. SB Marquay McDaniel, Calgary Stampeders

Rogers, Mitchell and Cornish get the attention in Calgary, but folks need to stop sleeping on the best chain-mover in the game. He’ll likely never provide enough highlight-reel plays or numbers to actually win the MOP, but he should be at least in the conversation.

 

9. DE Jamaal Westerman, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

After an extended NFL foray, the Canadian pass-rusher returned to Canuck country this season and hasn’t disappointed one bit, notching 14 sacks thus far to lead the league. He’s definitely the Bombers’ MOP in 2015.

 

10. WR Emmanuel Arceneaux, B.C. Lions

He started slow, but the Manny Show has been prime time lately, notching four-straight games of more than 90 yards as the Leos hunt down the final playoff spot in the West Division. A couple more huge games and he’ll be neck and neck with Harris for team MOP.

I dunno about mop but itll be interesting between westerman and sinopli for canadian

I dunno about mop but itll be interesting between westerman and sinopli for canadian

Sinopoli easy. Ottawa is the feel good story of the year and local boy does good is compelling stuff for reporters who often times can't be bothered to actually follow the league. 

Mitchell has had a great stats year but watching him something is missing.he hasn't had a real dominating game this season & like today his offense just struggles at times. He can't seem to find his second or third receiver when he's doing his check downs or when his primary receiver is covered. BLM game manages well but isn't in the Top 3 in the CFL. He's only 25 so I expect he'll get better. 

Mitchell has had a great stats year but watching him something is missing.he hasn't had a real dominating game this season & like today his offense just struggles at times. He can't seem to find his second or third receiver when he's doing his check downs or when his primary receiver is covered. BLM game manages well but isn't in the Top 3 in the CFL. He's only 25 so I expect he'll get better. 

 

The Cornish threat has basically been eliminated from their O so now I think D's are paying much more attention to pass defending against Cgy.  Mitchell is middle of the pack as a passer.

Westerman should be top Canadian but they'll give it to Sinopli to kiss Ottawa's ass.

Sinopoli has had a great year. By far the best Canadian in the CFL. 

Sinopoli has had a great year. By far the best Canadian in the CFL. 

He has had a great year. Westerman in a national however and he's been better imo. League leader is sacks.

When is the last time a canadian was the league leader in sacks? i can't remember one ever.

Sinopili has like 800 yards receiving. Westerman has 5 sacks over the league lead. It shouldn't be a difficult decision.

Sinopili has like 800 yards receiving. Westerman has 5 sacks over the league lead. It shouldn't be a difficult decision.

And every season we see a canadian either hit or flirt with 1000.. Sack leaders on the other hand.. Personally think that a canadian playing in such an inpact positon and excelling should take the trophy.. If Harris or Cornish were more dominant Id say they would be worthy..

Defense almost always comes second with an award like this but last year BC's Solomon Elimimian took the MOP Award so there's always a chance, I guess.

Sinopoli has had a great year. By far the best Canadian in the CFL. 

Disagree. His ypg pace is good, but certainly not exceptional. Westerman is lapping the field at an American dominated position.

 

Sinopoli has had a great year. By far the best Canadian in the CFL. 

Disagree. His ypg pace is good, but certainly not exceptional. Westerman is lapping the field at an American dominated position.

 

Like I said, usually offense wins this one. We'll see.

Sinopli has been very good, no question. As well, you can argue about him being a "real Canadian" versus Westerman being more of a "Ben Cahoon Canadian". However I think being the league leader is sacks and dominating at a position where NIs usually don't is a greater accomplishment than being a top ten receiver.

Since it got mentioned, Brett Johnson led the CFL in sacks in 2005 and 2006 (thanks google).

I just know that Garney Henley robbed Mack Herron in 72.  Underestimate the sentimental vote at your peril. Sinopli has the better back story so draw your conclusions from that.

No way Garney Henley should have won that award in 1972. Mack Herron led the CFL in rushing with 1,527 yards & a bunch of touchdowns. I don't think Henley got even a thousand yards receiving for Hamilton but he was retiring so the CFL media gave it to him which truly was a travesty. I remember the shock when Henley's name was selected. 

Losing that award had lasting consequences as it turned Herron into a crackhead & heroin addict destined to spend decades in jail after he washed out as a player in the NFL.

Sorry, I kid. He already was into drugs as far back as a teen in Chicago. He threw his career & life away. 

What kind of yards and tds did cahoon pick up when he was automatic at most outstanding cdn.

He was moc in 2002 and 2003, 1060yds 6tds (02) 1561yds 13tds (03) I

I seem to recall the pattern that if it comes down to close race between and offensive and defensive players for the CFL MOP awards it will go to the offensive players almost every time.

Ben Cahoon owes Doug Brown those trophies.

I dunno 1561 yards & 13tds in 2003 seems pretty well deserved for cahoon, however his 02 win seems like a good year but shouldnt have been an award winner unless the ni talent was brutal in 02

What about Bass?

 

He's all over the field making plays, start to finish, and game after game.

 

Pretty hard to chose between Bass and Westerman, at least without watching all the games a few times.

Bass has been solid but unless the bombers are gonna try and spread the love nomination wise, westerman should be up for mop/dmop (dont know if u can be both) outstanding canadian and outstanding rookie.

Bass has been solid but unless the bombers are gonna try and spread the love nomination wise, westerman should be up for mop/dmop (dont know if u can be both) outstanding canadian and outstanding rookie.

Westerman can't be nominated as the rookie, that nomination is all Bass'.