Paul Masotti

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Paul Masotti
Date of birth: March 10, 1965 (1965-03-10) (age 43)
Place of birth: Flag of Canada Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Career information
Position(s): Wide receiver
College: Acadia University
Organizations
 As player:
1988-1999 Toronto Argonauts
Career highlights and Awards
CFL All-Star: 1994
Awards: 1997 Dick Suderman Trophy

Paul Masotti (born March 10, 1965 in Hamilton, Ontario) is a former professional Canadian football player and current front office executive with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts. Masotti played the wide receiver position for 12 seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, from 1988 to 1999, retiring just before the 2000 season to join the Argos front office first as Executive Vice-President, and then as General Manager.

[edit] College football career

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Masotti played for the Axemen of Acadia University and was named an AUAA All-Star in 1985 and 1987.

[edit] Professional football career

Masotti was the Toronto Argonauts first pick and 15th overall in the 1988 CFL Canadian College Draft. Masotti, however, first signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League and was one of the Redskins' final cuts. Masotti made his professional debut with the Argos on September 25, 1988.

Masotti's banner hangs in Rogers Centre
Masotti's banner hangs in Rogers Centre

Over his 12 seasons, all with the Argonauts, Masotti amassed four straight 1,000-yard seasons from 1994-1997, caught 556 passes for 8,772 yards (a club record that has since been broken by former teammate Derrell "Mookie" Mitchell) and 44 touchdowns, and won three Grey Cup rings.

In the 1997 Grey Cup Masotti was named the Most Valuable Canadian Player leading the team with six receptions for 102 yards. Argos quarterback Doug Flutie, who won a new Chrysler truck as the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player, gave Masotti the prize in recognition of his accomplishments.

Following his retirement as an active player in 2000, a banner with Masotti's name and photograph was added to the list of All-Time Argonauts hanging from the rafters of the Rogers Centre.

[edit] Trivia

Preceded by
Mike Vanderjagt
Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
1997
Succeeded by
Vince Danielsen