Share this Story: 'MY TIME TO BE DONE': Ricky Ray retires with storied legacy 'MY TIME TO BE DONE': Ricky Ray retires with storied legacy Article content The legacy, the humility, the quiet disposition that made Ricky Ray such a great leader, the Grey Cup titles for two heritage franchises — there isn’t much more to be said about one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the CFL. When you think of Ricky Ray, who formally announced his retirement Wednesday in a way that befitted his under-the-radar approach, you think of toughness and leadership. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'MY TIME TO BE DONE': Ricky Ray retires with storied legacy Back to video If you’re looking for a sporting comparison, think of Kawhi Leonard, a player who simply goes about his business by dominating and leading, eschewing the spotlight while always staying even-keeled. The way these high-end athletes project a body language where no one knows whether their teams are leading by 30 or trailing by 30. There were no cameras, none of the formalities you normally associate with a retirement announcement, replaced instead by a conference call and heartfelt words from Ray, who will officially be honoured by the Argos when the club kicks off its season June 22 at BMO. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content As he held court via the call, only a guy such as Ray, a noted homebody, would mention the inconvenience of having to fly to Toronto for a formal goodbye, return home to California and then fly back to be feted by a franchise he led to championships in 2012 and as recently as 2017. His neck injury in the 2018 home opener effectively ended Ray’s playing days. As he has done for many off-seasons, Ray said he contemplated the merits of returning to a game he first played as an eight-year-old. The more time he spent discussing his future, the louder the practical voice inside Ray’s head spoke. “The more I thought about it, physically, I just don’t think I can perform at a standard necessary to play anymore,” Ray said during the call. “Every time I had that competitor inside of me saying, ‘Hey you can still do it, there’s a lot left to accomplish.’ I just had the practical voice in my head saying, ‘Physically, you just can’t do it anymore.’ Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “As an athlete, you’re always trying to overcome something or trying to push yourself and think you can do things that maybe even you don’t think you can. This off-season, the practical side of me just kept coming out and saying it was my time to be done with football.” Ray said he had no regrets about playing last season, when many thought his Grey Cup win in the snow in Ottawa would serve as the ideal backdrop to call it a day. He would have followed in the footsteps of a Henry Burris, Peyton Manning or John Elway. He’s calling it quits now because there’s no more to give. He’ll turn 40 this year and Ray leaves the CFL with more supporters and admirers than passing yards. There have been far more athletic quarterbacks in three-down football, quarterbacks with more titles and more TD passes, but no one has ever conducted himself better and presented himself with so much class than Ricky Ray. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Here’s a guy who took the GO Train to work and who cut his own hair — or what’s left of it. When he was carted off BMO Field in that fateful 2018 opener, Ray was calm and composed, as though he was operating in the pocket. The CFL released a statement from league commissioner Randy Ambrosie, words that best encapsulate Ray. “Ricky has always led by example, quietly but completely,’’ it read. “He is someone who always put his teammates first. Calm under pressure, modest in victory, and accountable in defeat, he has been the consummate professional, on and off the field. “The CFL has been graced by his play and strengthened by his presence. We wish Ricky every success in his future endeavours and thank his family for sharing him with our league and our fans.” Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Ray told reporters he’ll take the next year off. Maybe coaching will one day be in his future, but for now, he’ll relax and reflect on a great career. Ray added how he’ll one day return to Edmonton, where the Eskimos will likely honour him as well, and spend time with his friend, former teammate and coach Jason Maas, who took Ray under his wing. Maas was an assistant in 2012 when Ray helped lead the Argos to a championship in the 100th Grey Cup. “Championships,’’ said former Argos GM Jim Barker when asked to sum up Ray’s career. “When we traded for him, he brought hope to the entire organization. When we went from an organization that was struggling to get back. It’s cyclical, and you can see it in Calgary and watching that franchise turn it around. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “In Toronto, Ricky Ray coming in was as big as anything that could happen in terms of giving everybody in the organization hope.” For an all-time great, Ray never got the recognition he truly deserved in a market such as Toronto, where it’s all about agenda and optics, hockey and star-gazing. Ray never complained because he never wanted the attention. What he cared about was working hard and giving his team a chance by giving it his all. It’s for those reasons, and many more, that he’s the ultimate teammate and winner.<doc-sep>Star quarterback Ricky Ray has officially hung up his cleats. The future Hall of Famer announced his retirement from professional football Wednesday after spending 16 seasons as one of the CFL’s preeminent passers. The Happy Camp, Calif., native spent the first nine seasons of his CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos and led the team to Grey Cups in 2003 and 2005. He joined the Toronto Argonauts in 2012 and also helped lead that franchise to a pair of championships. It’s a shame a brilliant career like Ray’s came to an official end on a random Wednesday afternoon conference call – yet it was somewhat symbolic of how his days on the field ended. The unassuming pivot had the chance to walk away from the sport on top after leading the Argos to an improbable Grey Cup victory in 2017. He decided against retirement at the time and anyone who was at BMO Field on June 23, 2018 watched Ray get stretchered off the field during a blowout loss in front of a sparse crowd after he suffered what would turn out to be a career-ending injury. Ray is one of four CFL quarterbacks with more than 60,000 career passing yards to his name. The 39-year-old had an incredible touch on the ball and his 68.2 career completion percentage is a CFL record. He’s undoubtedly one of the best to ever play the three-down game and compliments were abundant on social media once the announcement was made official. With that in mind, here’s a sample of the praise Ray received from former teammates, peers and fans. While not a surprise and certainly understandable, the legend, Ricky Ray announces his retirement . I'm rather speechless at this point. Let's get #ThankYouRickyRay trending. @TorontoArgos @CFL pic.twitter.com/VtgRqOy2cA — Lori Bursey (@ArgoDiva) May 8, 2019<doc-sep>Getty Images Ricky Ray was never able to latch on in the NFL, but that didn’t keep him from having a long career. According to Dan Ralph of the Canadian Press, the longtime CFL quarterback announced his retirement Wednesday, calling it a career after last season’s neck injury. Of his 17 years, 16 were spent in the CFL, where he was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the league. He’s one of just four quarterbacks to throw for more than 60,000 yards, and he won a record four Grey Cups. It took him a bit to warm to the idea of playing in the CFL. He went to camp with the 49ers in 2001, where they called him “Frito Ray” because he drove a chip delivery truck. Then after a stint with the Edmonton Eskimos, gave it a shot with the Jets in 2004. He dressed for six games, but wasn’t able to leapfrog Quincy Carter on the depth chart and headed back to Canada. Ray suffered a neck injury last June while playing for the Toronto Argonauts, and the 39-year-old realized coming back didn’t make sense. “The more I thought about it, physically I just don’t think I can perform at a standard necessary to play anymore,” Ray said. “Every time I had that competitor inside of me saying, ‘Hey you can still do it, there’s a lot left to accomplish. I just had the practical voice in my head saying, ‘Physically you just can’t do it anymore.’ “As an athlete you’re always trying to overcome something or trying to push yourself and think you can do things that maybe even you don’t think you can. This off-season, the practical side of me just kept coming out and saying it was my time to be done with football.” And even if he never stuck in the NFL, it was an amazing career.<doc-sep>TORONTO — Ricky Ray announced his retirement Wednesday after an outstanding 16-year playing career in the CFL. Here are five memorable moments from the California-born quarterback’s time in Canada: QUITE A DEBUT After starting the 2002 CFL season third on the Edmonton Eskimos’ depth chart as a rookie, Ray moved up to No. 2 in training camp and got his first start in Week 5 following an injury to Jason Maas. Ray fired four touchdown passes in a 37-27 win over the B.C. Lions. Ray went on to throw for 2,991 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with a league-best quarterback rating of 101.3. The great run ended with a Grey Cup loss against the Montreal Alouettes. SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST Ray’s lone Grey Cup MVP award came in 2005 when he guided the Eskimos to a thrilling 38-35 overtime win over the Alouettes in Vancouver. Ray completed 35-of-45 passes for 359 yards and two touchdowns. The big outing came after Ray endured weeks of criticism about his play. Backup Jason Maas came off the bench to help the Eskimos win two prior playoff games and some fans were calling for a quarterback switch for the Grey Cup. “It’s a great way to end the season,” said Ray. “The last few weeks were tough, all the criticism everybody took. We stuck together and never separated as a team. That showed a lot of character for the guys on this team and this organization. That’s what won it for us.” TOAST OF TORONTO After being traded to Toronto in the off-season in a deal still criticized by Eskimos fans, Ray proved to be exactly what the Argonauts needed. Ray beat his old Eskimos team in a division semifinal and then led the Argos to an upset of Montreal in the East final, sending Toronto back home for the 100th Grey Cup at the Rogers Centre. Ray’s late seven-yard touchdown pass to Andre Durie cemented a 35-22 Argos win over the Calgary Stampeders. QB Ricky Ray has retired from the Canadian Football League. Ricky and his family will be in Toronto at BMO Field to be honoured at the Argo’s home opener June 22 vs Hamilton. Media opportunities with Ricky will be available at that time. Congrats, Rick! — Toronto Argonauts Media Relations (@ArgonautsMR) May 8, 2019 ALMOST PERFECT On a summer evening in Winnipeg, Ray was nearly flawless. He completed 19-of-20 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns before exiting with a knee injury in the third quarter in the Argos’ 35-19 win over the Blue Bombers on July 19, 2013. The 95 per cent completion rate broke Ray’s own record of 92 per cent from a game in 2008. “He was unbelievable and he’s played that way all year,” Argos coach Scott Milanovich said. I would just like to congratulate Ricky Ray on a remarkable career and wish him all the best in his retirement. pic.twitter.com/FPqfOy5X5K — Randy Ambrosie (@RandyAmbrosie) May 8, 2019 HAPPY AND HEALTHY After being limited to just 12 combined starts due to injuries the previous two seasons, Ray started 17 games in 2017 for the Argos under new coach Marc Trestman. He threw for 5,546 yards with 28 TDs and 11 interceptions as Toronto won the East Division with a 9-9 record The championship win in the snow in Ottawa was highlighted by Ray’s Grey Cup-record 100-yard TD strike to DeVier Posey against the Calgary Stampeders. It was a record fourth Grey Cup win for Ray as a starting quarterback. “That sounds pretty good. Obviously that’s for myself to celebrate,” Ray said. “I’m just so happy with these guys on this team and what we’ve been through this year. Man, there’s no other way to finish it off than with a Grey Cup. I mean, these guys are such great guys.”<doc-sep>
TORONTO -- Ricky Ray has retired, ending his Canadian Football League career after 16 seasons and a record four Grey Cup titles as a starting quarterback. The 39-year-old former Sacramento State star missed most of last season with the Toronto Argonauts with a neck injury. "The more I thought about it, physically I just don't think I can perform at a standard necessary to play anymore,'' Ray said Wednesday. "Every time I had that competitor inside of me saying, 'Hey you can still do it, there's a lot left to accomplish,' I just had the practical voice in my head saying, 'Physically you just can't do it anymore.' "As an athlete you're always trying to overcome something or trying to push yourself and think you can do things that maybe even you don't think you can. This offseason, the practical side of me just kept coming out and saying it was my time to be done with football.'' Ray leaves as one of the CFL's most prolific passers. He's second in career passing percentage at 68.16, behind only Edmonton's Trevor Harris (70.36). Ray also stands fourth in passing yards (60,736), joining Anthony Calvillo, Damon Allen and Henry Burris as the only players to reach that plateau. He's the career passing leader with Edmonton (40,531 yards) and Toronto (20,205). Ray led Edmonton to the 2003 Grey Cup title, spent the 2004 season with the NFL's New York Jets, then returned to help the Eskimos win the 2005 championship. Toronto acquired Ray from Edmonton prior to the 2012 season and he led the Argos to a championship that season and another in 2017. "When people ask me, 'Do you have fun playing football?' I'm not sure fun is the right word,''' he said. "Rewarding is more the right word because it's not fun all the time. There's a lot of hard practices, a lot of injuries, a lot of tough losses, a lot of things that can beat you down a bit. But when you do get on top and do get to win ... it's just so rewarding. That's what filled me throughout my career, those times of having success with your teammates and team.''