Real Talk with Nik Lewis on Stamps receiver Marquay McDaniel (Hampton Pirates) going from practice roster to CFL star

CALGARY, AB, Canada --  Football is a game of inches and smart play.  Just ask former Hampton University wide-receiver Marquay McDaniel.  His Calgary Roughriders came within two plays of securing McDaniel's second CFL Grey Cup Championship in November.

At age 33, you don't have many opportunities left.  Especially for a 5'-10"/208 pound All-CFL speedster who's body is beginning to wear down from the injuries.

McDaniel had a strong season leading the Stamps in receiving yards for a fourth consecutive year.

Kamar Jorden's fumble in the waning minutes of the 105th Grey Cup will be a major talking point of the Calgary Stampeders' off-season after the team suffered their second straight upset in the championship game.

Jordan fumbled the ball on the Toronto Argos' four-yard line with the Stampeders up by eight with less than five minutes to play. Argonauts defender Cassius Vaughn scooped up the loose ball and returned it 109 yards for a touchdown. Toronto would tie the game on a successful two-point conversion and win the game with a field goal four minutes later.

MCDANIEL's CAREER STATS

“The fumble was a big-time fumble. I cost this team the game,” Jorden said. “Whatever good I did in that game doesn’t really count when you make a play like that. That’s the biggest moment. I let my team down, and I’ll deal with the consequences.”

Jorden, 28, was the Stampeders' leading receiver on Sunday, posting 117 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. He took responsibility for the mistake, admitting he tried to do much while the Stampeders were already leading.

“In a play like that in that position of the field, I just have to be smart with the ball,” said Jorden. “I should have had two hands on it, and I let it get away from me, and you guys saw what happened. In weather like that and conditions like that, you have to keep the ball to keep your team in a position to win the game. I didn’t do that, it’s simple - just like that. It hurts man. It sucks.”

Fellow receiver Marquay McDaniel, who posted eight catches for 46 yards against the Argonauts, did not appear ready to forgive Jorden.

“It’s a stupid play,” McDaniel said. “You can talk all you want about doing this, doing that, but it’s a dumb play.



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