Old Argos Joseph, Boyd strike back Monday

The story of Monday's game was not about Ricky Ray, the high-profile quarterback who went from Edmonton to Toronto this offseason in a blockbuster trade, but rather about some players who have made the reverse transition. It wasn't about Steven Jyles, either, the key figure going to Edmonton in the Ray deal (although kicker Grant Shaw has been a nice pickup as well), as Jyles was knocked out of this one early on. Instead, much of this was about two players cast off by the Argonauts and picked up for nothing by the Eskimos. One, running back Cory Boyd, was somewhat of an expected star, given that the move to release him was so surprising and that there was so much focus on him heading into this. The other, 38-year-old quarterback Kerry Joseph, no one saw coming. His performance wasn't the greatest in the world, but it was one of the deciding factors in the Eskimos' 26-17 win Monday night.

Of course, Joseph was famously acquired by the Argonauts in a blockbuster trade following his selection as the league's most outstanding player in 2007 and his Grey Cup victory with Saskatchewan that year, but his career's seemingly been in a downward spiral ever since. He went through two seasons of struggles with the Argos before being cut in early 2010, then was out of the league entirely before heading to Edmonton as a practice-roster QB in late 2010, being released again, then returning to the Eskimos again in 2011. Since heading to Edmonton, Joseph's mostly been a backup, only throwing 59 passes over the last two seasons and not doing so particularly impressively. However, he came in cold Monday and beat his old team, and although his passing stats weren't the most impressive (13 completions on 20 attempts, 65 per cent, 169 yards with two interceptions), he also used his legs effectively (four rushes for 44 yards and a touchdown), and did enough to move the chains and knock down the Argos and their high-profile quarterback.

Boyd's showing was also notable. After only seeing limited duty last week, he was a key part of the Eskimos' offence this week, running nine times for 45 yards (five yards per carry) and providing some vital yardage while they were trying to close the game out. He also made crucial contributions in the receiving (30 yards on two catches) and blocking games, elements of his game that the Argos had criticized. (Meanwhile, Argos' replacement Chad Kackert did well on the ground Monday, rushing eight times for 58 yards and a touchdown, but missed some crucial blocks.) Boyd wasn't the only factor in Edmonton's win (most of the credit has to go to their solid defence, which once again let the Argos move the ball but held them out of the end zone), and he wasn't even the most-utilized Eskimos' running back (that would be Hugh Charles, with 67 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries), but he and Joseph both played vital roles in Edmonton's triumph. Considering that the Argos ditched both for no return, that has to sting a bit.