Former NFL quarterback Cleo Lemon, a once-promising youngster who became a journeyman before getting to the point where he had no American non-UFL suitors, has landed in Canada as the starting quarterback of the Toronto Argonauts.
The season opened on Thursday, and Lemon completed 16 of 28 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 30-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders.
Calgary was led on offense by veteran quarterback Henry Burris, who once tried to parlay his Canadian success into an NFL career before bolting back across the border. Burris, 35, completed 27 of 40 passes for 324 yards, with one interceptions. He spent 2001 with the Packers and 2002 with the Bears, appearing in six games and starting a season-ending 15-0 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Buccaneers.
The selection of Lemon, who played for the Chargers, Dolphins, Jags, and Ravens, to lead the Argonauts created some local controversy, given the perception that he was outplayed by Dalton Bell during the two-game preseason.
The Argonauts have now lost nine straight games.
