MontrealAlouettes.com – The 2014 CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman finalist Jeff Perrett has signed a three-year contract extension with the Montreal Alouettes, linking one of the League’s best blockers to the team through the 2017 season, the club announced on Thursday.
Perrett (6’6″, 330 lbs.) , who played all eight of his CFL seasons with Montreal, started all 18 contests for the Alouettes last season. He continued to highly contribute to the success of the Alouettes’ offensive line that was once again dominant throughout the season allowing only 31 sacs – good for second fewest in the CFL – on 558 passes attempted. During the Alouettes’ remarkable season turnaround, him and his teammates of the offensive line allowed only eight sacks in the team’s final ten regular season outings. In addition to having been at the heart of the solid protection the offensive line gave to the club’s four quarterbacks in 2014, Perrett helped pave the way for the team’s running backs in participating to the effective running game throughout the campaign. In making key blocks at the line of scrimmage, the Alouettes third-round pick in 2008 (24th overall) supported Brandon Whitaker collecting an impressive total of 764 rushing yards on 169 runs. Whitaker was the CFL’s rushing yards leader before injuring his foot on October 10.
“Jeff is not only an outstanding football player for our team, but he is also one of the most respected players in the locker room for his leadership and his infectious personality,” declared Alouettes General Manager, Jim Popp. “He is a very important part for us to retain in order to have continued success on the field and in the community.”
The Alouettes veteran has been an example of consistency for coach Kris Sweet’s unit. Perrett also helped Tyrell Sutton obtain his best performance of the season on November 2 against the Toronto Argonauts amassing 135 rushing yards and a touchdown in 23 runs. Sutton completed the season with an average of 5.2 yards per carry. The Alouettes completed the season with an average time of possession of 30:17 minutes per game. Since joining the Alouettes in 2007, Perrett has been a big piece on the Alouettes offensive line, which allowed the team to always show among the league leaders on offence, both in the passing and rushing categorie.
2011 draft pick Philip Blake joins Alouettes
The Alouettes also announced that the club has signed national offensive lineman Philip Blake to a three-year deal.
Blake (6’2″, 311 lbs.) was drafted by the Alouettes in the third round (23rd total) of the 2011 CFL Canadian Draft. Blake returned to Baylor University for his senior season that fall, where he was named to the first team All-Big 12 after blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. Following his three years at Baylor, where he started all 38 games, the 29-year old Toronto, ON native was drafted in the fourth round (108th total) by the Denver Broncos with a pick they obtained from the New York Jets in the Tim Tebow trade.
“Philip will bring versatility up and down the offensive line all while adding to the depth of our already solid, and only all-National offensive line in the CFL. We welcome Philip to the Alouettes and look forward in seeing him in action at training camp,” said Popp.
After two seasons with the Broncos, Blake signed on with the Arizona Cardinals where he spent the 2013 season on the practice squad. During his college career, he started his first 12 games at right tackle before moving to centre for his last 26 games.
Prior to attending Baylor, Blake played for the Champlain-Lennoxville Cougars in the Cegep AAA league of Quebec.
