Monday, August 25, 2003

Yo Murphy signs with Renegades

Receiver and return specialist to begin practising with Renegades this week

 OTTAWA - The Ottawa Renegades are pleased to announce the signing of CFL and NFL veteran receiver and kick returner Yo Murphy to a one-year contract with a club option for a second season.

Murphy (5-10, 187, Idaho) returns to the CFL for the first time since 1993 when he began his professional football career with the B.C. Lions. Eric Tillman, the Renegades GM, brought Murphy into the league while he was general manager of the Lions. Murphy was a teammate in Vancouver of Renegades quarterbacks coach Kent Austin, and also worked under Renegades coach Joe Paopao in 1993 when Paopao was the Lions' offensive coordinator.

"We expect Yo to bring some special qualities to this team; experience, leadership and, of course, playmaking abilities both as a receiver and in the return game," said Tillman.

Murphy joins the Renegades after spending the 2002 season with the NFL's St. Louis Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 30-year-old Murphy also played in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He considers returning the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XXXVI between the Rams and the New England Patriots (Feb. 3, 2002) as one of his career highlights. During the same game, Murphy caught an important 11-yard pass on third down that kept a drive alive that resulted in a game-tying Rams touchdown (Kurt Warner to Ricky Proehl) on the next play late in the fourth quarter.

Murphy also spent part of the 2001 season with the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL. During the final six games of the season, he caught 27 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns.

He also played parts of five seasons with the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe. In 1997, Murphy led the league with 47 catches for 559 yards. During the previous season, he was named the World Bowl MVP after catching eight passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns for the Claymores in the NFL Europe championship game.

Murphy lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho during the off-season. He has established the Yo Murphy Foundation that raises money for various charities, many involving youth programs. His given name is Llewellyn but goes by Yo because his sister couldn't pronounce his real name.