Former receiver S.J. Green part of Canadian Football Hall of Fame's 2024 class
For over a decade, S.J. Green was the enemy of Hamilton Tiger-Cats fans.
He should receive a warmer reception Saturday when recognized as a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Then again . . .
"I'll be honest, if I get a boo or two I won't be surprised," Green said with a chuckle. "It's fun, I'm looking forward to everything that comes with this weekend."
Joining Green in the class of 2024 are former players Chad Owens, Weston Dressler, Vince Goldsmith and Marvin Coleman. Former CFL coach Ray Jauch and amateur football icon Ed Laverty (posthumously) were named as builders.
The seven were scheduled to be formally inducted Friday night, and then honoured Saturday at halftime of the Hamilton-Ottawa game at Tim Hortons Field. Green now fully appreciates the magnitude of the honour.
"Being here and getting to see some of the other inductees has been the ground-breaking moment for me where it's actually starting to set in, that it's a real thing," Green said. "To put it into the shortest phrase I can, it's football eternity.
"Not everyone gets to play the game at a professional level ... to be a part of this brotherhood and statistically elite group is amazing and very humbling."
The six-foot-three, 216-pound Green was a fluid receiver with Montreal (2007-16) and Toronto (2017-19). Green, 39, registered 716 catches for 10,222 yards with 60 TDs.
He suffered a serious knee injury early in 2016 but registered career highs in catches (104) and yards (1,462) the next season with Toronto. The Argos would win the Grey Cup, Green's third (2009-10 with Montreal).
Green's pro career ended in the XFL in 2020 as the CFL didn't play that season due to the global pandemic. However, Green's contract was abruptly terminated when the