Rams prepare for Mitchell Cup showdown against Laval
1h ago
The Rams play the Laval Rouge et Or in the Mitchell Bowl Saturday for a spot in the 2024 Vanier Cup.
Champ is back in green and white for 2023.
Linebacker Larry Dean, whose nickname is Champ, has signed a one-year contract extension with the CFL team. The 34-year-old was set to become a free agent on Feb. 14.
If the CFL had a comeback player-of-the-year award, Dean would have probably been the favourite to win it. In 2021, Dean suffered a torn Achilles a day before the Riders’ training camp was set to open, ending his season.
In 2022, Dean returned to the field in a big way. He started all 18 games for the Riders and recorded 108 tackles (second only to teammate Darnell Sankey, who had 120) and added three sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Dean has appeared in 90 career CFL games and has recorded 466 defensive tackles in his Canadian football career.
Dean is a three-time divisional all-star (2017-19) and was the East Division’s nominee for most outstanding defensive player in 2018 when he was a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Riders have 23 pending free agents.