Matt Sheridan
Encyclopedia
Matt Sheridan is a professional Canadian football
offensive lineman who is currently a free agent
. He played eight seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
of the Canadian Football League
and was twice named Winnipeg's Most Outstanding offensive lineman.
Sheridan was born in Montreal, grew up in Winnipeg
, and played CIS football
for the Manitoba Bisons
. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 CFL Draft
by the Blue Bombers and joined the team's practice squad at the start of the 2001 CFL season
.
final and the 89th Grey Cup
.
Sheridan started the first two games of the 2002 CFL season
but a back injury caused him to miss 12 of the 18 regular season matches as well as the playoffs. The 2003 CFL season
saw Sheridan bounce back and start all regular season games and the West Division
semi-final. His playing streak continued in the 2004 CFL season
, starting all 18 regular season games at left guard and Sheridan was honoured with the Ed Kotowich Good Guy Award for "best combining football ability, team camaraderie, and extraordinary effort off the field in the community" and was named the Bombers Most Outstanding offensive lineman.
Sheridan continued his playing streak and superior play for the 2005 CFL season
, the third straight year he played all regular season games and again named Winnipeg's Most Outstanding offensive lineman. He was also name the CFL Lineman of Week 8 and was the Blue Bombers nomination for the Tom Pate Memorial Award
, recognising his contributions to the community.
The last three years of Sheridan's play in Winnipeg was limited by injury beginning in the 2006 CFL season
, in which a nagging groin injury caused him to only five starts and play in seven regular season games. He was able to return strongly for the 2007 CFL season
, starting 15 regular season games at left guard and the East semi-final, East final, and 95th Grey Cup
and considered a big reason the Bombers' offensive line gave up the fewest quarterback sacks (27) in the CFL and running back Charles Roberts
rushed for 1,379 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The 2008 CFL season
appeared promising when Blue Bombers general manager Brendan Taman re-signed him in February and said "Matt Sheridan has been a big part of this team for some time now and we are glad he will continue to be for the foreseeable future". A groin re-injury suffered in training camp, however, saw him miss the beginning of the season and by his expected return in mid-July, a reported shoulder injury caused the Bombers to place him on the nine-game injured list. General Manager Brendan Taman suggested then that his time with the organisation was likely over and, on January 31, 2009, new Winnipeg head coach Mike Kelly said that Sheridan was "another guy who needed a fresh start elsewhere" and he was released.
On April 29, 2010, it was announced that Sheridan had signed with the Calgary Stampeders
.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
offensive lineman who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He played eight seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and was twice named Winnipeg's Most Outstanding offensive lineman.
Sheridan was born in Montreal, grew up in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, and played CIS football
CIS football
Twenty-six universities across Canada compete in football under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport . The teams are divided into four conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of the CIS: Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, Quebec...
for the Manitoba Bisons
Manitoba Bisons
The Manitoba Bisons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The football and soccer teams play their games at University Stadium, which also serves as the location of track & field events...
. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 CFL Draft
2000 CFL Draft
The 2000 CFL Draft took place on April 18, 2000. From a list of 504 eligible CIS football players from Canadian universities and Canadian players in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, 46 players were chosen.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
by the Blue Bombers and joined the team's practice squad at the start of the 2001 CFL season
2001 CFL season
The 2001 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 48th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 44th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 2001:...
.
Professional career
Sheridan made his professional debut in Week 15 of the 2001 season and made his first start the following week. He ended up playing the remainder of the season for a total of four regular season games as well as the East DivisionCanadian Football League East Division
The East Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the East Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.- Pre-1907 :...
final and the 89th Grey Cup
89th Grey Cup
The 89th Grey Cup was held in 2001 in Montreal. The Calgary Stampeders claimed their fifth championship in team history with a 27-19 win over the East Division champions and heavily favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers....
.
Sheridan started the first two games of the 2002 CFL season
2002 CFL season
The 2002 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2002:...
but a back injury caused him to miss 12 of the 18 regular season matches as well as the playoffs. The 2003 CFL season
2003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
saw Sheridan bounce back and start all regular season games and the West Division
Canadian Football League West Division
The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.-Pre-1936:...
semi-final. His playing streak continued in the 2004 CFL season
2004 CFL season
The 2004 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 51st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 47th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2004:...
, starting all 18 regular season games at left guard and Sheridan was honoured with the Ed Kotowich Good Guy Award for "best combining football ability, team camaraderie, and extraordinary effort off the field in the community" and was named the Bombers Most Outstanding offensive lineman.
Sheridan continued his playing streak and superior play for the 2005 CFL season
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
, the third straight year he played all regular season games and again named Winnipeg's Most Outstanding offensive lineman. He was also name the CFL Lineman of Week 8 and was the Blue Bombers nomination for the Tom Pate Memorial Award
Tom Pate Memorial Award
Every year the Canadian Football League Players' Association presents the Tom Pate Award. It is not a "Jock Award," but rather an award given to players who display qualities that distinguish them from their peers....
, recognising his contributions to the community.
The last three years of Sheridan's play in Winnipeg was limited by injury beginning in the 2006 CFL season
2006 CFL season
-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
, in which a nagging groin injury caused him to only five starts and play in seven regular season games. He was able to return strongly for the 2007 CFL season
2007 CFL season
The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on...
, starting 15 regular season games at left guard and the East semi-final, East final, and 95th Grey Cup
95th Grey Cup
The 95th Grey Cup was held in Toronto at the Rogers Centre on November 25, 2007. The Grey Cup, first awarded in 1909, is the championship game of the Canadian Football League. It was played between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, with the Roughriders winning 23-19...
and considered a big reason the Bombers' offensive line gave up the fewest quarterback sacks (27) in the CFL and running back Charles Roberts
Charles Roberts (football player)
Charles Roberts is a free agent running back who most recently played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions in the Canadian Football League.-College:...
rushed for 1,379 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The 2008 CFL season
2008 CFL season
The 2008 CFL season was the 55th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 51st season for the league. It was also the first CFL season in which all of the league's regular season and post-season games, including the Grey Cup game, were aired on TSN. This meant the CFL...
appeared promising when Blue Bombers general manager Brendan Taman re-signed him in February and said "Matt Sheridan has been a big part of this team for some time now and we are glad he will continue to be for the foreseeable future". A groin re-injury suffered in training camp, however, saw him miss the beginning of the season and by his expected return in mid-July, a reported shoulder injury caused the Bombers to place him on the nine-game injured list. General Manager Brendan Taman suggested then that his time with the organisation was likely over and, on January 31, 2009, new Winnipeg head coach Mike Kelly said that Sheridan was "another guy who needed a fresh start elsewhere" and he was released.
On April 29, 2010, it was announced that Sheridan had signed with the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
.