The Road Back

Usually I spend Christmas at home with my family in Montreal, but this year was different. I must admit it was quite hard not seeing my parents and sister this year, but I was welcomed into a new family. Christmas on the West Coast was completely different than on the East. Surrounded by nature and its beautiful mountains it was quite a scenic view out in the country. Nights out in the countryside are very different than those in the city.  Calm and quiet, it really gave me a chance to sit down and think. This past year did not go as planned and I've been searching to find answers and reasons why it did not. I've realized that it doesn't matter anymore, what matters is what I am going to do to change the situation.

The year was not all lost I did meet the girl of my dreams and she has not disappointed. One thing I love about her is that she keeps it real 100% of the time. We had a sit down and she told me the way I was training has been very mediocre and simply was not enough to get back to where I wanted to be. Also, Kora-lea told me that she doesn't see the same fire and energy that I had when she first met me. "You really have to stop living in the past and do something about it." Her words hit home, she was right.  There was nothing I could say. I had to get to work. I want to thank her for not sugar coating anything and keeping it real with me. Love you!

Although I was doing training on my own, it hasn't been at the high level that I'm normally acustomed to. Working out and training for  professional sports are two very different monsters.  What I have been doing is working out. I didn't realize how hard it is to train hard alone. I've always been part of a training group or had a training partner back home in Montreal, but here there was no one to train with. Or so I thought...until I was contacted by an Eskimo who infomed me that him and a few of the guys from the team were doing sport specific training if I wanted to join in.  I jumped at the opportunity and have never been more motivated than I am today. Training in a group is much easier, simply for the fact that you have someone to challenge you to work harder.

Athletes Nation.  After only 1 day of training, I knew this is where I needed to be to get back to playing football. The great thing about training in a group atmosphere is the motivation we experience from pushing each other.  I am so thankful that I was invited to train with some former teammates. It truly has given me confidence that I can play at a high level.

I would like to thank my family, friends,fans  and my girlfriend who have supported me through this rough patch of my life. I am very fortunate to have had you all to lean on in my darkest hour. What happend last year has defitnately made me much stronger as a person going foward. One fan I would like to mention is Deno, he is the only person with an Okpro jersey. He had bought my jersey before the 09' season because he truly believed that I could play. This is not a cheap purchase and I want  to thank him  because despite me not being on the team his still wore my jersey with pride.  What I've learned from being cut is that great players get cut all the time. It's part of the game, part of the business, you have to accept the good with the bad.

The Road Back

Despite not wanting these two years off my body, I enjoyed them. Taking time to reflect, I've always played! Not for one minute did I ever ride the bench,  playing year round.  During my Vanier days I was also a member of Team Canada for 2 years. Right after the season we had about 2 weeks of rest and then it was back to tryouts. After making the team we spent January in the U.S playing for the World Junior Championship. Following Team Canada it was right back into training for the next year, followed by spring camp in March. With less than a month off during off-season, it gives your body little time to recoup from past nagging injuries. I was so bad at one point that the walking with a limp felt normal to me. What price do you pay to be able to play every single year you ever played football? I never had a price on it because it was so natural for me to play. It was a shock when I wasn't named a starter as I expected in my rookie season, but to not play special teams and not even dress? I was not ready for that! But, now ask me the same question you cannot put a price on something that is so special. I learned a lot about myself these past two years watching from the bench and the couch. My father always asked me "How I was going to handle not seeing the field?" I always replied ,don't worry about me I'll be fine. After a low period I know the answer and even though I didn't want these past 2 years off, they were much needed for my body to recover.

After finally getting up off the couch of laziness I'm back on schedule. I must admit the first week was tough my body was sore all week. After a period of low activity its not natural to feel this way. The period of feeling sorry for myself is done. Tears will not get me back to where I want to be. One thing I must focus on is motivation! Someimes I want to work out all day and others I don't want to at all. It's really important to find motivation in yourself everyday. Not get to high and not get too low, but a constant stream of motivation goes a long way to keep yourself off the couch. As my body continues to stomach the work load I am not as tired during the days I once was when I first started. Still a long way to go to where I want to be, the effort is there and that's what counts the most right now. Though I am the only one seeing the work put in, I hold myself accountable.

After watching to 09 Grey cup game I can certainly feel what Saskatchewan players are going through.
The worst part of a championship is being on the losing end. This feeling is all too familiar to me being 0-6 in the big game throughout my career. I don't care what anybody says you will always remember theses games. The agonizing pain that comes with this lost can leave in the dump for weeks ... Getting blown out in a big games doesn't hurt all that bad. It's the one like these in the last minutes that kill you. To make matters worse a self inflicted penalty by Saskatchewan to give Montreal a second change. I could only imagine how they are feeling right now. From player to player my heart goes out the them they fought hard.

The Road Back

"Once I decide to do something, I can't have people telling me I can't. If there's a roadblock, you jump over it, walk around it, crawl under it." - Kitty Kelly

Today is a new day no more talking about what happened! So the goal is getting back in the league... There are a couple of questions I need to answer who,what,when,why & how?

WHO - The saying is Once an Eskimo Always an Eskimo thought I still care for the team, city & fans. This part is out of my control. I am looking for an opportunity to resume career.


WHAT - FOOTBALL


WHEN - To be in training camp June 1st, 2009

WHERE - TBD


HOW- By training sport specific and setting daily goals for myself.

Daily Goals : 200 push ups, 200 sit ups and daily stretch  

So now that the questions are answered they were just a script to follow. Now comes Discipline, Dedication and the Determination to get it done.

Keep you Posted

 

The Road Back

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did."  ~Newt Gingrich

  

The worst is over after watching another CFL season.  Without gracing the field, I can say I've faced my worst fear. Throughout all my years playing football, I've been lucky enough to start every single year. Last year I was not so fortunate as I watched from the sideline. I thought that was the worst position to be in, but this year it was much worse as I watched from the couch. I always knew I would never like this feeling, which is why I made sure to never be on this side of the coin. The road to the top never gets easier and for the first time I've faced some adversity in terms of playing. Face to face with my worst nightmare, everyday I would wake up and wish this wasn't happening to me. Sure enough, it was. Upset with myself that I had failed, a feeling that was so uncommon to me. I admit I had trouble coping with it. But I learned, and here I am today training for another shot. It's never been about money for me, I do it for the love of the game.  I'm going to keep loving it until it loves me back.

per⋅se⋅ver⋅ance


1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement

The Road Back

"The road to easy street is usually through the dump!" - John Madden

Come Back Story 

Casey Printers was thought to be finished by most after his time in Hamilton. Many wrote off his ability as a Quarterback,  just saying he didn't have it anymore. As the face of that franchise, he was forced to carry it on his back and with little success, he failed,  and was sent packing. For nearly half the season he sat at home on the couch,  watching and waiting for his chance. When ghe finally got it, he didn't disappoint, going 19 for 31 for 339 yards 2TD and 1int. The 1 interception proved to be costly as it was in overtime. It was a great effort none the less, which makes him a great come back story because not many people expected it from him. In a game with playoff implications he had to be in mid season form. I believe he showed more that enough to earn the starting right as Quarterback in this league. It's amazing how different a player looks within different settings.

What have I learned from Casey's story? That despite all the turmoil, all the negativity, and all of those who doubted him, he has overcome so much. From once being the Most Outstanding Player in the League to not having a job, to resurrecting his career. Players who wear #1 wear it for a reason, because they truly believe they are the BEST at what they do. I am honored to have met him during my rookie season. His story has inspired me to keep pushing in hopes of resuming my career. Thank you Casey!

"Never Give Up!"

The Road Back

"Pain is the price for anything that's worth something"

So where to next? Is a question I often receive when I tell people I was la late cut from the Eskimos. As it doesn't appear I will be playing this season, the next step would be to jump into off-season training. Picking up from where I left off last year, I will be running outdoors, weight training, yoga classes, and indoor soccer for some competitive action. I don't like to lose at anything, so even if its indoor recreational soccer, I don't plan on losing. Despite not knowing if all my training will be put to good work, I will do it again. Investing in myself the time in hopes of resuming my football career. Looking for a real chance to show what I can do, I will keep the faith and stay ready!

The Road Back

"You don't appreciate what you have until it's gone or it's taken from you"

Personally evaluating myself, I had a great off season dropping 8 pounds and decreasing my body fat from 14.2% to 8.8%. Following that up with a great training camp and pre-season, notching 7 tackles and a Forced Fumble. Highlighted by a goaling stop on Martell Mallet, one of the leagues best running backs. Taking the good with the bad there are 2 plays I would like to redo.  Reliving the plays through my head, I believe I could have easily made them with a little more depth at safety. Game speed and practice speed are two different things... A lesson learned! Every DB gets beats once. I'm still having a hard time believing the excuse of why I was released. " We like what we have in terms of Canadian talent."

My status as All-Canadian 3 out of 4 years in university is more than the number 1 draft pick Dylan Barker. Probably the only canadian who had more accolades was Andy Fantuz, with 3 time All-Canadian, one All-Canadian second team, and the Hec Creighton. Not to say I am better than these two by any means, i just find it hard to believe the reason i was released, given the success I've had in university. I am actually huge fans of them. This is just a comparison of the level of play I was at prior to entering the CFL.

 

A FRESH START

Dwelling in the past has gotten me nowhere! It has left me with an empty feeling, no motivation, zero belief. I will not let others tell me I cannot make it for it is only I who can make that decision. What I pray for is another chance, A REAL CHANCE to let me showcase my talents as I have in the past. The opportunity to achieve my ultimate objective, the GREY CUP. Despite my individual successes, I have never tasted the joy of winning a championship, that is what I truly want.

For Better or For Worse

It got worse before it got better.  After my last post in week 9 I talked to my agent expecting good news, it was the complete opposite. All the news he had given me was terrible, after I had managed to build up some motivation to continue training, he left me with no inspiration. A feeling that I wasn't good enough to play this game. A game I have been playing since I was a kid and excelling at. He told me that there just wasn't a need for players right now. Then again every week I check http://cfl.ca/ there is a new player being signed to a team. After some weeks of soul searching and deciding what was best for me, I found it was time to move on. Though he was a great person this is a business decision for my future as a player.

2nd time around (week 9)

"We fail all the time,but there's no shame in falling--only in not getting up and keeping on! - HMAN

Week 9 was by far the lowest week with the season half over, and my fustrations building. It was a poor effort by me all around.  Filled with negative thoughts, my motivation was at an all time low. I'd rather not go into detail as it would just perpetuate those same feelings. Long story short, I was close to hanging up the cleats and quiting training. Some days its tough to keep the motivation when times look the worst. I put my heart into this and this is how it pays off? The easy route would be to pack it in and do other things... But I'm not ready to do other things, reminding myself again of what I did and went through to get here. D D D.  Discipline. Dedication. Determination! Without question I've maintained Discipline to get to the pro ranks. Doing it from a young age Dedication is already there. In a time like this, I need the last D which is DETERMINATION! I must regain that hunger that I once had, I lost it somewhere down the line last year.

2nd time around will be put on pause because there hasn't been a 2nd time around yet.

2nd time around (week 8)

Working out at the gym I had met someone a few weeks ago. At the time he asked me what I was training for. I explained to him that I had been on the Eskimos last year, and just attended training camp with them this year. Unfortunetly I did not make the squad this year. He was very supportive and urged me the best of luck.

I had seen him again this week and he asked if there was any progre. sDissapointed I told him no. He then asked if I was available to talk to his football team that he coached. Unsure whether I wanted to do it or not, I pondered it for a few seconds. Eventually I said yes. I was not too enthusiastic about it, but I felt it would be good for me to be around a football atmoshpere. As I got there I was very nervous. Usually I was speaking on behalf of the Eskimos, but this time I was speaking on behalf of myself. Unsure how the kids would respond because I wasn`t on a team. With no speach prepared, I just said what was on my heart. As I spoke indivudually to the 6 teams I remember why I love this game so much. As I told them to believe in themselves I realized in the times that I'm facing now I have to believe in myself. It was like I was speaking to them but also speaking to myself. I have regained my love for the game through them. I am very thankful that I said yes to speaking to the kids. That day marked the first time I've been on a football field since I was released. I plan to go back and help out when I can to give back to the game that has given so much to me.

A MUST SEE!!!!