Roughriders slotback Simon breaks Cahoon CFL’s career receptions record

MONTREAL – Geroy Simon is the new all-time CFL pass receptions king.

The Saskatchewan slotback made the 1,018th catch of his 15-year career on Sunday when he hauled in a seven-yard pass from Darian Durant nearly 10 minutes into the first quarter of the Roughriders game against the Montreal Alouettes.

He did it in the same place, Percival Molson Stadium, where the man whose record he broke made many of his grabs — former Alouette Ben Cahoon.

Cahoon, who played 13 seasons, all with Montreal, set the record when he passed Terry Vaughn’s 1,006 receptions on Oct. 11, 2010, and added 11 more in the regular season. He retired after winning the Grey Cup that season.

Simon did not celebrate on the field. His catch was short of a first down. He just went to the bench and sat down, to polite applause from the crowd.

A scoreboard message was played from Cahoon congratulating Simon.

“It represents tens of thousands of frequent flyer miles and hundreds of dollars buying all those quarterbacks dinner so they’ll get you ball,” said Cahoon. “Congratulations Geroy, you earned every one of those balls.”

The 38-year-old Simon broke in with Winnipeg in 1999, but rose to stardom after joining the B.C. Lions in 2001. The Johnstown, Pa., native moved to Saskatchewan this season.

Last season, he became the CFL’s all-time leader in reception yards. He entered Sunday’s game with 16,188.