Toronto Argonauts part ways with veteran CFL receiver Brandon Banks

TORONTO – Brandon Banks first season with the Toronto Argonauts will be his last.

The CFL club announced Tuesday it has parted ways with the veteran American receiver.

“Brandon arrived here as a bitter rival and leaves as a member of the Argos family,” Argos’ general manager Michael Clemons said in a statement. “We thank him for his contributions on the field and for his veteran leadership in the locker room.

“His time in Double Blue may have been Speedy, but now he’ll always B a champion.”

The move wasn’t entirely surprising given Banks hinted Dec. 31 that something could be coming.

“Thanks @TorontoArgos great doing business!” he tweeted. “And thanks for the opportunity to do what my only goal was … to b a champ ! — speedy B.”

Banks, 35, had 37 catches for 522 yards and four TDs in helping Toronto capture a Grey Cup title last season, Banks’ first championship in Canada. He joined the Argos after eight seasons with the archrival Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The five-foot-seven, 150-pound Banks Banks had 422 catches for 5,678 yards and 44 TDs in 111 career regular-season contests over nine years in Hamilton. He was a league all-star four times and in 2019 captured the CFL’s outstanding player award after registering a club-record 112 catches for 1,550 yards and 13 TDs.

Banks also played in four Grey Cup games with Hamilton, all losses. Banks now becomes a CFL free agent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2023.