Mike Benson (Canadian football) explained

Mike Benson
Team:Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Image Upright:0.95
Status:Active
Import:No
Position1:Long snapper
Birth Date:13 May 1987
Birth Place:Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Number:40
Cis:Acadia
Amateur Title:CJFL
Amateur Team:Winnipeg Rifles
High School:Winnipeg (MB) St. Paul's
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lbs:245
Playing Years1:
Playing Team1:Edmonton Eskimos
Playing Team2:Toronto Argonauts
Playing Years3:
Playing Team3:BC Lions
Playing Team4:Ottawa Redblacks
Playing Team5:Montreal Alouettes
Playing Years6:–present
Playing Team6:Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Career Highlights:
Career Footnotes:*Offseason and/or practice roster member only
Cfl:mike-benson/159046/

Mike Benson (born May 13, 1987) is a Canadian football long snapper for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football for the Acadia Axemen and attended St. Paul's High School in Winnipeg.[1] He has also been a member of the Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, Ottawa Redblacks, and Montreal Alouettes.

Professional career

Edmonton Eskimos

Benson was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos on June 11, 2012. He was released by the Eskimos on June 17, 2012.[2] He signed with the Eskimos on October 18, 2012.[3]

Toronto Argonauts

Benson signed with the Toronto Argonauts on June 1, 2014. He was released by the Argonauts on June 22, 2014.[4]

BC Lions

Benson was signed by the BC Lions on August 31, 2014.[5] During his fourth year as the Lions' long snapper, Benson recovered a muffed punt that he had snapped and which Edmonton wideout Brandon Zylstra failed to secure. Benson returned the ball for a touchdown against his former team.[6] Benson received a one-year contract extension to remain with the Lions on January 11, 2018.[7] He played in all 18 games in 2018, but was released from BC during the following off-season on May 1, 2019. During six years in the CFL and 84 games played, Benson had accumulated 16 tackles on special teams.

Ottawa Redblacks

Benson signed with the Ottawa Redblacks to a practice roster agreement on July 22, 2019.[8] Benson was called up when Ottawa's regular long snapper Louis-Philippe Bourassa was suspended for two games.[9] Benson also played the final three games of the season for Ottawa. He was released by the Redblacks on January 23, 2020.[10]

Montreal Alouettes

On January 27, 2020, it was announced that Benson had signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes.[11] However, the 2020 CFL season was cancelled and he did not play for the Alouettes.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Upon entering free agency, Benson signed with his hometown Winnipeg Blue Bombers on February 9, 2021.[12] He played in all 14 regular season games and both post-season games in 2021 as he finished the season as a Grey Cup champion following the Blue Bombers' victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 108th Grey Cup game.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Benson Bio . ssc-nutrition.com . May 8, 2015 . March 7, 2016 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20160308032117/http://www.ssc-nutrition.com/mike-benson/mike-benson-bio . March 8, 2016 .
  2. Web site: Transactions - June 2012 . cfl.ca . October 10, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151101033556/http://www.cfl.ca/transactions-june-2012 . November 1, 2015 .
  3. Web site: Transactions - October 2012 . cfl.ca . October 10, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140802121120/http://cfl.ca/page/transactions-october-2012 . August 2, 2014 .
  4. Web site: 2014 TRANSACTIONS . argonauts.ca . October 10, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140802132312/http://argonauts.ca/page/2014-transactions . August 2, 2014 .
  5. Web site: Transactions . cfl.ca . October 10, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150730141511/http://www.cfl.ca/page/transactions . July 30, 2015 .
  6. Web site: BC Scores the Ultra-Rare Long Snapper Touchdown.
  7. Web site: Lions ink Benson through 2018. 11 January 2018.
  8. News: Transactions: July 22, 2019. July 22, 2019.
  9. Web site: Redblacks' Bourassa tests positive for banned substance, suspended two games.
  10. Web site: Transactions: January 23, 2020. January 23, 2020. Ottawa Redblacks. en. January 23, 2020.
  11. Web site: Als sign Lalama, Termansen to extensions; add Benson . cfl.ca . January 27, 2020 . January 27, 2020.
  12. Web site: Blue Bombers agree to terms with Winnipeg-born long snapper Mike Benson . . February 9, 2021.