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Paul Shorten

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Paul Shorten
No. 70[1]
Date of birth (1963-01-23) January 23, 1963 (age 62)
Place of birthToronto, Ontario, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)WR
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight170 lb (77 kg)
Canada universityToronto
CFL draft1987 / round: 2 / pick: 18
Drafted byBC Lions
Career history
As player
1987BC Lions*
1987–1988Toronto Argonauts*
1988–1989Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Career highlights and awards

Paul Shorten (born January 23, 1963) is a Canadian former professional football wide receiver who played one season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected by the BC Lions in the second round of the 1987 CFL draft. He played college football at the University of Toronto.

Biography

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University of Toronto (first stint)

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Paul Shorten was born on January 23, 1963, in Toronto, Ontario.[1] He attended the University of Toronto, and played college football for the Toronto Varsity Blues of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU) as a slotback.[1][2] He caught 33 passes for a CIAU-leading 676 yards during the 1986 season, earning All-Canadian honors.[3][2]

BC Lions

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Shorten was selected by the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in the second round, with the 18th overall pick, of the 1987 CFL draft.[1] He officially signed with the team on May 26 for $34,000 plus a $2,000 signing bonus that would have doubled if he made the team.[4][5] He was released on June 20.[6] However, on June 22, it was reported that Shorten had been re-signed to the team's practice roster.[7] On June 27, it was reported that he had been released by the Lions.[8]

Toronto Argonauts and return to the University of Toronto

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Shorten was then signed to the practice roster of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in mid July 1987.[9] He was released by the Argonauts on August 21, 1987, so he could return to the University of Toronto for his final season of college football.[10][3] Initially, the CIAU was not sure if Shorten still qualified as an amateur due to his stints on the practice rosters of both the Lions and Argonauts during the 1987 season.[3] Nonetheless, the CIAU ended up letting him play the 1987 season.[11] He returned to the Argonauts in 1988 but was released in July 1988 before the start of the 1988 CFL season.[12] He was signed to the practice roster again shortly thereafter.[13]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

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On July 17, 1988, it was reported that Shorten had been signed to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' practice roster after being released from the Argonauts' practice roster the same day.[13] He was promoted to the active roster several days later, replacing American wide receiver Ken Winey.[14][15] Shorten dressed in 15 games for the Blue Bombers during the 1988 season, recording three catches for 34 yards, 24 punt returns for 88 yards, one kickoff return for 15 yards, and one tackle.[1] He was released by the Blue Bombers on October 29 but signed back to the team's practice roster in early November.[16][17] The Blue Bombers finished the year with a 9–9 record, second place in the CFL Eastern Division.[18] Shorten replaced offensive guard Brad Tierney on the active roster for the team's Eastern Semi-Final game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[19] Shorten then played in the Eastern Final victory over the Toronto Argonauts.[20] On November 27, 1988, Shorten split time on kick returns with teammate Ken Pettway as the Blue Bombers beat the BC Lions by a score of 22–21 to win the 76th Grey Cup.[21][18] The next year, Shorten was placed on the injured list on July 1, 1989, with a finger injury.[22][23] On August 7, 1989, it was reported that he had been released by the Blue Bombers.[24]

Semi-pro football

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Shorten then played semi-pro football for the Ottawa Bootleggers in 1989.[25] He also later played for the Gateshead Senators in Britain and was inducted into the team's hall of fame in 2003.[26]

University of Toronto (third stint)

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In 1991, Shorten returned to the University of Toronto to earn more credits on his physical education degree with hopes of getting into teachers' college.[27] Despite having already played professional football, Shorten played college football for the Toronto Varsity Blues during the 1991 season as both a cornerback and receiver.[28][27] In one November game that year, he scored four receiving touchdowns.[28]

Touch football

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In 1995, Shorten played for the Landell Lightning at the Canadian touch football championships.[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "PAUL SHORTEN". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Hunter, Paul (November 22, 1986). "U of T slotback named to All-Stars". The Toronto Star. pp. D6. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Hunter, Paul (September 2, 1987). "Blues star sidelined in dispute". The Toronto Star. pp. H8. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  4. ^ "Bombers' draft pick sits at home". Red Deer Advocate. Canadian Press. May 29, 1987. pp. 2C. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  5. ^ "CFL player moves". The Vancouver Sun. May 27, 1987. pp. C5. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  6. ^ "CFL moves". The Vancouver Sun. Canadian Press. June 20, 1987. pp. H4. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  7. ^ "Transactions". Fort McMurray Today. June 22, 1987. p. 7. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  8. ^ "CFL transactions". The Toronto Star. June 27, 1987. pp. D7. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  9. ^ "Transactions". The Sun Times. The Canadian Press. July 14, 1987. p. 11. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  10. ^ "Transactions". The Leader-Post. August 22, 1987. pp. C9. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  11. ^ "Custis pleased with Marauders' season". The Hamilton Spectator. October 26, 1987. pp. B2. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  12. ^ "Transactions". The Kansas City Star. July 10, 1988. p. 14. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Transactions". The Star-Ledger. July 17, 1988. p. 19. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  14. ^ "Transactions". The Hamilton Spectator. July 21, 1988. pp. B5. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "CFL Report / Week Two". The Leader-Post. July 21, 1988. pp. C2. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  16. ^ "CFL moves announced Saturday by the league". The Winnipeg Sun. The Canadian Press. October 30, 1988. p. 53. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  17. ^ "Transactions". The Sun Times. The Canadian Press. November 5, 1988. p. 16. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "1988 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  19. ^ Bender, Jim (November 13, 1988). "Bruno Predicts A Close One: 'They're crazy'". The Winnipeg Sun. p. 18. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  20. ^ "Lions, Blue Bombers advance to Grey Cup". The Times-Transcript. November 21, 1988. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  21. ^ Kerr, Grant (November 28, 1988). "Breeze was an ally for Grey Cup champs". Waterloo Region Record. pp. C1. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  22. ^ "Drop four from lineup". The Winnipeg Sun. July 2, 1989. p. 25. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  23. ^ Bender, Jim (July 18, 1989). "Walking wounded back". The Winnipeg Sun. p. 35. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  24. ^ "Transactions". Whitehorse Daily Star. August 7, 1989. p. 24. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  25. ^ Warren, Ken (September 3, 1989). "Bootleggers remain perfect". The Ottawa Citizen. pp. B2. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  26. ^ "SENATORS HALL OF FAME". Gateshead Senators. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  27. ^ a b "Shorten's back earning points on playing field and classroom". The Toronto Star. September 26, 1991. pp. NY17. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  28. ^ a b Zwolinski (November 3, 1991). "Western stops comeback by the frustrated Blues". The Toronto Star. pp. G4. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  29. ^ Laskaris, Sam (October 5, 1995). "Touch football calls big play". The Toronto Star. pp. SC4. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
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