MONTREAL, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Former Canadian Football League player Tony Proudfoot has died in Montreal after a three-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, authorities say.
Proudfoot, 61, died Thursday at McGill University Health Centre, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Friday.
Proudfoot played nine seasons as an all-star defensive back with the Montreal Alouettes where he won two Grey cups followed by three seasons with the BC Lions.
Montreal Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan said the pro footballer will be remembered by fans for an idea he came up with during a 1977 Grey Cup game played on an icy field.
"The turning point of the game on the frozen turf, Tony had the brilliant idea that if they put staples in their shoes, the players wouldn't slide so much around on the turf," Cowan said.
"So Tony got the staple gun and started hammering staples into the bottom of all the players' shoes, and while the Eskimos were sliding all around the field, the Alouettes were running straight, and ended up winning the Grey Cup game."
After leaving pro football, Proudfoot became a sports broadcaster whom Canadian Football League commissioner Mark Cohon remembered as a mentor.
"What we ultimately learned from him is that you can grow physically weak and frail and yet remain incredibly strong and resilient. To know him was to know character. To see him battle was to witness courage," Cohon said.
