THE CANADIAN PRESS
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — It’s been a miserable season for the Toronto Argonauts and veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland.
Toronto will finish the campaign last in the East Division and miss the CFL playoffs for the third time in four years. And through 17 regular-season contests, Copeland has just 41 catches for 595 yards and no TDs.
But the 11-year veteran needs just 23 yards receiving to become just the 15th player in CFL history to reach the 10,000-yard plateau. And Copeland can’t think of a better way to achieve the milestone than with a TD grab Thursday night in a season-ending victory over the arch-rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8-9).
"It would be awesome if my 10,000 yards came when I scored a touchdown," Copeland said Thursday following Toronto’s final practice of the season. "It probably would be a big party, actually.
"I’d definitely have a lot of fun with it in the end zone if it comes down to that and I think everyone that’s in the (Rogers Centre) will definitely see it."
The contest has no playoff implications as Hamilton has cemented third spot in the East Division and, win or lose, will travel to either Montreal or Winnipeg for the conference semifinal.
Earlier in his CFL career, Copeland had earned the reputation of being a master of end-zone celebrations and says he’d give the crowd something to remember if he achieved his milestone the result of a TD grab.
"If it comes down to that, I will have a good time," he said with a broad grin. "I’m going to make everyone happy for coming out.
"I think as an offensive group we’re going to have a good time if I get into the end zone."
Getting into the end zone consistently has been a big problem this year for Toronto (5-12). The Argos are currently second-last in scoring (21.4 points per game) and last in touchdowns (29) and TD passes (15).
Toronto will also be minus starting quarterback Steven Jyles, who is out with a head injury. He was injured in last week’s 27-22 road win in Winnipeg courtesy of a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit by Bombers’ defensive back Johnny Sears Jr.
On Tuesday, the CFL suspended Sears for one game without pay.
Backup Dalton Bell replaces Jyles and understands he, like many Argos, is auditioning for a job next season.
"You want to play well and keep it fresh in the coaches’ minds for the off-season because that’s a long time for those guys to think," Bell said. "You want to set yourself up for next year, not just for myself but for the team."
It’s also been a tough season for Bell, who has completed 40-of-79 passes (50.6 per cent) for 396 yards with just one touchdown against eight interceptions. Ball security, Bell says, will be a priority.
"I’ve thrown a lot picks this year," he said. "I have to go out there and take care of the ball and show the offence can move down the field with me."
Playing well is crucial for Bell, who is completing his third full CFL season and slated to become a free agent this off-season. The Texas native hasn’t received any indication from the Argos regarding what his long-term future.
"I have no clue," he said. "I’d like to come back here … but you never know."
Argos head coach/GM Jim Barker said while Bell will start, he hopes to also get youngster B.J. Hall into the game. Barker definitely knows what he wants to see from Bell.
"I think he has to play well and he knows that," Barker said. "There comes a point when you need to show you can be that guy.
"B.J. isn’t quite as ready as Dalton to play, he’s a younger project that has tremendous upside and you don’t want to put him in a situation where he’s not ready. But he will play some."
Veteran Kevin Glenn will get the start for Hamilton but of late has been involved in a rotation with Quinton Porter, who has split both playing time and starts. And the Ticats also hope to get No. 3 Jason Boltus some snaps against the Argos.
"We need to play a cleaner football game and maintain a baseline that may not be playoff level, but it needs to be high enough that we don’t have very far to climb the next week," Ticats coach Marcel Bellefeuille said.
Toronto receiver Maurice Mann will face his former team for the first time since the Ticats dealt him to the Argos on Oct. 11 for defensive back Dee Webb and a conditional 2013 draft pick.
"It will be fun to go out there and mix it up and test your skills against your former comrades," he said. "It will be good.
"I look forward to every game but this is a special one, of course."
And Mann is expecting plenty of lively on-field banter with his former teammates.
"Just some friendly talk about playing hard and all the stuff the game comes with," he said. "It will just be good to be out there playing against them."
