MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – The Alouettes announced on Tuesday that the club has re-signed Canadian left tackle Josh Bourke to a new two-year deal shortly after the start of the CFL’s 2014 free agency period.
Bourke (6’7”, 300 lbs.), started 17 regular-season games as well as the East Division Semi-Final with the Alouettes in 2013.
Last season, the 31-year-old continued to anchor an offensive line that allowed just 41 sacks — good for third-fewest in the CFL. At left tackle, Bourke has been a prime example of stability through his stellar play despite the many changes to personnel, both on the line and under center.
All season long, the Windsor, ON native helped his teammates on the offensive line give Anthony Calvillo, Troy Smith, Tanner Marsh and Josh Neiswander plenty of time to find open receivers, as the Alouettes accounted for 27 touchdowns through the air.
“Big signing here,” said Alouettes General Manager and Head Coach Jim Popp. “Not only does this signing allow us to maintain one of our all-important non-import starters, but Josh has been an anchor on our O-line as well as a leader both on and off the field for the last number of years.”
In 2011, Bourke was named the league’s Most Outstanding Lineman at the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Awards and in 2012 he earned his second-consecutive nomination as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Lineman, while also being named a back-to-back CFL All-Star.
