As we continue this holiday long weekend, we are giving thanks for the next entry on our top 100 list: Calgary Stampeders’ defensive end Cordarro Law.
Law remains the subject of one of my favourite CFL memories. I was sitting with John Hufnagel before the 2016 season and he was asked if there were any surprises or big names he would be adding to the roster before the draft.
He replied, “You know that song?” before breaking into a soft croon, “I fought the law — but I didn’t shoot the deputy.”
Now, I admit it took me a minute.
First, I realized that there is so much football knowledge crammed inside Huf’s head that he mistakenly put the songs “I Fought the Law” and “I Shot the Sheriff” together in some sort of Glee-like mashup.
After that I became excited as Cordarro Law was, at the time, one of those pass rushers who had become common in Calgary — come in, play opposite Charleston Hughes, and get an NFL contract.
Law found his way to Calgary in 2012 after four years with the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, where he made 192 tackles and 28 sacks in 53 games.
Law had a cup of coffee in Seattle before signing with the Stamps and appeared in three games as a CFL rookie. He exploded out of the gate in 2013 as he got to the quarterback 14 times in 16 games, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier pass rushers.
After bouncing around a few NFL teams including the Chargers, Jaguars and Cowboys, Law finally came back to Calgary for good before the 2016 season.
That would start a string of bad luck for the sack-happy native of Alabama as he would play in just 13 games over the next three seasons while dealing with a number of injuries.
Disruptive at the worst of times and a game-changer at his best, Law was the anchor for a 2019 Stampeders’ team that saw a number of defensive linemen rotate through the lineup. He collected 41 tackles, ten sacks, and two forced fumbles over 16 games.
A late-season injury caused him to miss the West Semi-Final against the Blue Bombers, which proved devastating for the Stamps. Calgary couldn’t contain Chris Streveler or Andrew Harris, ending their bid for back-to-back Grey Cups.
Law signed a two-year contract extension in December 2019, which means the Stampeders will have the pass rusher back when football resumes next season.
3DownNation is unveiling its list of the top 100 active CFL players. To read the criteria for player eligibility, click here. The list to date can be found below.
82. DB Brandon Alexander, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
83. OL Jermarcus Hardrick, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
84. DB Branden Dozier, Free Agent
85. SAM Otha Foster, Saskatchewan Roughriders
86. DB Antoine Pruneau, Ottawa Redblacks
87. RB John White, B.C. Lions
88. LB Avery Williams, Ottawa Redblacks
89. LB Jovan Santos-Knox, Free Agent
90. DB Richard Leonard, Calgary Stampeders
91. REC Armanti Edwards, Edmonton Football Team
92. RB C.J. Gable, Free Agent
93. DT Mike Rose, Calgary Stampeders
94. REC S.J. Green, Free Agent
95. DB Mike Edem, Saskatchewan Roughriders
96. DE John Bowman, Montreal Alouettes
97. DB Taylor Loffler, Montreal Alouettes
98. QB Nick Arbuckle, Ottawa Redblacks
99. ST Mike Miller, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
100. DE Chris Casher, B.C. Lions
