Grey Cup Daily: MOP Collaros ready to go for Sunday

Members of the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers participated in media day ahead of Sunday’s 109th Grey Cup in Regina, answering questions from reporters on Thursday. Here are some of their answers:

"I [have] just been doing what I can to be ready to get out there to play. [I'm] listening to the training staff and doing everything that I can to prepare to help my team win the game. So it's been good" - Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, on how he's been preparing for Sunday's Grey Cup

"It’s been an amazing experience and something that you never take for granted. I think the organization has done a really good job of logistically having it all laid out for us so that we can prepare for the game and that's why we're here. But, obviously, this week, you have different obligations throughout the week so it does interfere with the preparation...It's been an awesome experience. I think the city of Regina has done a really good job of setting the entire thing up." - Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, on his obligations during Grey Cup week

"We're not going to speculate on any kind of limitations for the guy (Collaros). We expect him to play and to be able to do the things that he does well and the things that he's done to help us get here. That's the expectations right now. Obviously, Zach can do some things that help him be successful and I think everybody's everybody's seeing that." -Blue Bombers offensive coorinator Buck Pierce, on Zach Collaros' status for Sunday's Grey Cup

"First and foremost, I play for my brothers. I would love to find a way to get them to hoist a championship trophy at the end of the game. The smile on their face would mean everything to me. That's why I play the game, to earn the respect of my brothers. But beyond that, it's our friends and family, my partner, my daughter, my friends back home, my mom, my dad, my brother, my sister. They're the reason why I've gotten to this point.” -Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, on who he plays for

"You can't help but have the vision of hoisting the Cup right and the joy that it will give me to see my teammates happy. That's why I play the game: [it] is for my brothers. You have those moments, and then you realize that, 'that game is three days away. That game is four days away,' so let me not worry about that or think about that or dwell on that too long.” -Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, on the anticipation of Sunday’s Grey Cup championship

"It’s been 11 years since the last time that I played in this game. And literally every year in between 2011 and this game, I've always participated in some way, shape or form. Whether I'm nominated for an award, or I'm coming here to do work with Athletes in Action at the Grey Cup or doing some work with the CFPA, I'm always here this weekend. I know what it is to get here and the main thought that was running through my mind is just, 'getting yours ain't the prize.' We want to get the real prize: hoisting that trophy.” -Argonauts linebacker Henoc Muamba, on being back at the Grey Cup

"Continuity [and] being together so long. A lot of pieces that they had for a very long time. They're [a] very [well] oiled machine, and they work well together." -Argonauts defensinve lineman Shawn Oakman, on what makes the Blue Bombers such a great team

Collaros named CFL’s Most Outstanding Player for second straight year

On Thursday night, Collaros was named the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Player for the second season in a row at the 2022 CFL Awards in Regina, making him the first player to win back-to-back honours since Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2009.

“I mean it does mean a lot, obviously. It's not lost on me the historical context of the award and the people that have won and the people that have won it two times and things of that nature. But the reason why that I do love the sport is because I think it's the ultimate team sport. And for me to receive an accolade like this, there's a lot that goes into it. The 12 guys on the football field, all the members of the organization, your supporting cast, my wife, my children, it's a total team thing and just really fortunate, blessed, to be in this moment [and] to be able to share with everybody,” Collaros told TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

The 34-year-old from Steubenville, Ohio, topped his 2021 MOP season with a 2022 campaign loaded with career highs.

The three-time Grey Cup champion and the Most Valuable Player of the 108th Grey Cup threw for a CFL-best 37 touchdowns and for a second-best 4,183 yards. A product of the University of Cincinnati, Collaros played in 17 of the Blue Bombers' 18 regular season games, completing 70 per cent of his passes for a quarterback efficiency rating of 116.2

Collaros led the Blue Bombers to a 15-3 record, helping the team clinch the West Division for the second season in a row.

In the Western Final against the BC Lions, Collaros threw for 178 yards and an interception to lead the Bombers to a third straight Grey Cup appearance.

Lions quarterback Rourke named Most Outstanding Canadian

After spending the 2021 season behind Michael Reilly, the Victoria-born, Ontario-raised product dazzled in his first season as a starter with head coach Rick Campbell and the Lions.

“It's a tremendous honour, obviously, to be Canadian, to be in this league is something special. But to be given an opportunity by an organization to lead the team and at the quarterback position is extra special. And I’m certainly not one for individual awards – would give this up in a heartbeat to be playing in that game on Sunday – but certainly a very special honour and happy,” Rourke told TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

Rourke played in 10 games over the 2022 season, missing time after suffering a Lisfranc sprain to his right foot. The former Ohio Bobcat finished the regular season with 3,349 passing yards for 25 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.

Rourke, 24, returned to the Lions in the final week of the regular season before starting the West Division Semi-Final against the Calgary Stampeders, throwing for 321 yards and a pair of touchdowns to advance to the Western Final against the Blue Bombers. Rourke threw for 299 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions the following week as the Lions' season came to an end.

Rourke was named a top performer of the week on multiple occasions and is the first quarterback to win the MOC award since Gerry Dattilio earned it in 1980.