# Paul Shorten

Paul "Shorty" Shorten (born January 23, 1963) is a former Canadian football wide receiver who played one season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the BC Lions in the second round of the 1987 CFL Draft. He played CIAU football at the University of Toronto. He was also a member of the Gateshead Senators of the British American Football Association 1989-1991 and was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2003.

## Early life

Paul Shorten was born on January 23, 1963, in Toronto, Ontario. He played CIAU football for the Toronto Varsity Blues of the University of Toronto. He caught 33 passes for 676 yards during the 1986 season, earning All-Canadian honors.

## Professional career

Shorten was selected by the BC Lions in the second round, with the 18th overall pick, of the 1987 CFL draft. He officially signed with the team on May 26 for $34,000 plus a $2,0000 that would have doubled if he made the team. He was released on June 20. However, on June 22, it was reported that Shorten had re-signed to the team's practice roster. On June 27, it was reported that he had been released by the Lions.
Shorten was then signed to the practice roster of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in mid July 1987. He was released by the Argonauts on August 21, 1987, so he could return to the University of Toronto for his final season of CIAU football. Initially, the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union was not sure if Shorten still qualified as an amateur due to his stints on the practice rosters of both the Lions and Argoanuts during the 1987 season. Nonetheless, the CIAU ended up letting him play the 1987 season. He returned to the Argonauts in 1988 but released in July 1988 before the start of the 1988 CFL season. He was signed to the practice roster again shortly thereafter.
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. He was promoted to the active roster several days later, replacing American wide receiver Ken Winey. 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. He was released by the Blue Bombers on October 29 but signed back to the team's practice roster in early November. The Blue Bombers finished the year with a 9–9 record, second place in the CFL Eastern Division. Shorten replaced offensive guard Brad Tierney on the active roster for the team's Eastern Semi-Final game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Shorten then played in the Eastern Final victory over the Toronto Argonauts. 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. Shorten was placed on the injured list on July 1, 1989, with a finger injury. On August 7, 1989, it was reported that he had been released by the Blue Bombers.
Shorten then played semi-pro football for the Ottawa Bootleggers in 1989. He also later played for the Gateshead Senators in Britain and was inducted into the team's hall of fame in 2003.