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Veteran defensive lineman Shawn Lemon among 16 players released by the Edmonton Elks

Veteran defensive lineman Shawn Lemon among 16 players released by the Edmonton Elks
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EDMONTON — Veteran CFL players Shawn Lemon, Thaddeus Coleman, Vontae Diggs and Kenny Shaw were among the Edmonton Elks’ final cuts Thursday.

Edmonton made its final roster decisions ahead of the CFL’s deadline of 10 p.m. ET on Friday.

The final roster moves come after receiver Kenny Stafford and linebacker Kevin Brown II, also CFL veterans, were let go earlier.

Lemon signed a one-year contract with Edmonton in February. The six-foot-two, 248-pound defensive lineman has played nine CFL seasons, registering 70 career sacks and 22 forced fumbles over 107 regular-season games.

Lemon is a two-time Grey Cup champion with Calgary (2014) and Toronto (2017).

The six-foot-two, 230-pound Diggs, a linebacker, was Edmonton’s outstanding rookie nominee in 2019 after recording 73 tackles, 11 special-teams tackles, one interception and two sacks.

The six-foot-seven, 320-pound Coleman was in his second stint with Edmonton. The towering offensive lineman had played for the franchise from 2013-16 before joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2016-19).

Shaw had spent time with Toronto (2015-16), Ottawa (2017) and Saskatchewan (2018). The receiver registered 94 catches for 1,223 yards and five TDs in 25 career CFL regular-season games.

Edmonton opens the 2021 CFL season hosting the Ottawa Redblacks on Aug. 7

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2021.

The Canadian Press

CALGARY — Veteran CFL quarterback Dakota Prukop was among 16 players released Thursday by the Calgary Stampeders.

Prukop, an American, signed with Calgary in January. He spent his first three CFL seasons with Toronto (2017-19), completing 18-of-30 passes for 284 yards with three TDs and two interceptions.

He was a member of Toronto’s Grey Cup-winning team in 2017.

Also released were offensive linemen Kwabena Asare and Jay Gutherie, receiver Malcolm Thompson, linebacker/long-snapper Benjamin Whiting, defensive back Michael Asibuo and linebacker Shaydon Philip. All are Canadians.

The Stampeders also let go defensive backs Corrion Ballard, Greg Ducre, Trae Elston and Javien Hamilton, linebacker Cory James, receivers Shawn Bane, Fred Trevillion and Aaren Vaughns as well as running back Trey Williams. All are Americans.

The club also announced that American defensive lineman Cassanova McKinzy has retired.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2021.

The Canadian Press

Lin-J Shell, who played seven CFL seasons with four teams, has died. He was 39.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

Shell was a defensive back with the Toronto Argonauts (2009-11), B.C. Lions (2012-13), Calgary Stampeders (2014) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2015). All four clubs, along with the CFL Alumni Association, took to social media to express their condolences to Shell’s family and friends regarding his sudden passing Thursday.

The five-foot-11, 180-pound Shell was Toronto’s top rookie in 2009 and an East Division all-star in 2010-11. Shell earned a Grey Cup ring with Calgary in 2014 before finishing his CFL career with Winnipeg.

Shell, a native of Orlando, Fla., had become a football coach at Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Fla. upon retiring as a player.

In 2018, Shell was teaching physical education at Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville when he disarmed a woman who had retrieved a gun and was returning to a school gym where an altercation had ensued.

A number of former CFL players took to social media to remember Shell. Many echoed the sentiments of former Argos running back Jeff Johnson.

“This is heartbreaking,” Johnston tweeted. “He impacted everyone on the field and off the field.

“Lin-J was one of those guys going out of his way after practice/game to say hello, visit with kids/fans on the sidelines and share words of positivity. He impacted many. RIP bro.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2021.

The Canadian Press

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