It was do-or-Kai for the Edmonton Eskimos.
Yesterday, the club announced the re-signing of Most Outstanding Defensive Player nominee Kai Ellis to a two-year deal plus an option that will keep him in Edmonton at least through 2011.
"I think that shows you how aggressive he is and how well he played," head coach Richie Hall said of the defensive end's tie for the team lead with 62 tackles in 2009.
"That's chasing the ball carrier down while at the same time taking care of his gaps."
Ellis joined the Eskimos in February in a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for linebacker Siddeeq Shabazz.
In his seventh CFL season, Ellis was also tied for the team lead with six sacks and led the team with five tackles for a loss.
The University of Washington product contributed 11 special-teams tackles, four pass knockdowns, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown by somersaulting into the end zone against Calgary in the Labour Day rematch.
Against the Stampeders in the West Division semifinal, Ellis had three tackles -- one for a loss -- and a sack.
He found himself in the spotlight after Eskimos defensive captain Dario Romero, a defensive tackle, was lost for the final six games of the regular season with a torn bicep.
"Kai was not really overshadowed; he was a force for us all year long," Hall said. "What Dario was inside for us, Kai was outside for us.
"It's not like he had 20 sacks. He was a complete football player.
"He dominated for us in his own way."
Ellis carved out his place on the defensive line over the last 18 games.
"He's an athlete. This is one of the few times he was able to line up in one position from start to finish," Hall said of the six-foot-four, 255-pounder who had bounced around at linebacker on previous teams.
