Matt Cauz
CFL.ca
Have you ever been fired? I’ve been “terminated” once for a job I was woefully qualified for and despite only being there for less than 80 days it still left me a bit cold inside.
I’m betting for people who have been at the same place of employment for years the emotions must range from bewilderment to flat out rage. But I can’t imagine the feelings that have been going on in CFL locker rooms for the past 72 hours.
Cut Down Day is the coldest day in sports.
You see most of us have other options, we have a fall back plan. You get let go from your Accounts Receivable job from Home Depot and you can still find work at Office Depot or any number of other “Depot” related businesses.
But what happens when you have sacrificed your entire life to play football? When you’re most marketable skill is beating a guard with a swim move in order to pressure a quarterback?
Yes the cynical part of me says many of these players got a free ride through school and they have their university degrees to fall back on. But professional athletes are different. They grow up on different schedule.
When the rest of us were allowed to sleep in, eat what we want, skip work-outs and be with our families on holidays, football players were getting up at 6am for morning workouts, having their diets monitored, dealing with dehydration during two-a-days and prepping for an NCAA Bowl Game on New Year’s Day.
Yes it was their choice; but it was still a high risk decision. Change your entire lifestyle for a slim chance to pick up a pay-cheque for hitting other grown men and in the process increasing the chances of having a shorter life span than the average North American.
That’s why this is one of the few times of the year I actually feel bad for that rare breed known as the Professional Athlete, especially the ones that play football.
All your dreams, hard work and sacrifice suddenly come to an end at a stunning and unapologetic speed.
Now of course, some of the players that are released will be back. Today’s practice squad player will be tomorrow’s starter but for now all we have are eight separate lists of guys who are not good enough to make a CFL team.
Each cut is based on hundreds of different factors but none of which can be properly conveyed. So in the end we are left with lists: those that are injured, those who survived to the practice squad and those that have been cut.
No explanations, just names. And that, in no uncertain terms, is pretty cold.
Sorry to get all dramatic, but hey is there anything more emotional than being told you are not good enough? Looking at the various lists there are a bunch of names and storylines that stick out.
Let’s start with Chris Leak. I have never been afraid to reveal my biases so let me say I am a Florida Gators fan. I have been one since the mid-1990s. So with that in mind, I have kept a closer eye on the struggles of Mr. Leak. He was never spectacular in college, but he was a winner.
He won a ton of games and put up solid numbers in the toughest conference in the NCAA. He is one guy that I am shocked has not been able to find his groove at the professional level.
Now, I need to reiterate that I am not one of those ignorant football fans who believes that if you have had success in the NCAA and/or spent some time in the NFL you are a shoe-in starter in the CFL.
That is an ignorant view that not only insults this game but also reveals a complete lack of understanding of the entire game of football. In Leak’s case, I believed he had what it took to have a career in Canada. He always had the request athleticism but he also had the mental toughness.
This is a guy that had to endure a coaching change in Florida that forced him to adapt to the crazy spread offence that Urban Meyer brought to the Gators in 2004. Remember that Leak went through three offensive coordinators during his four years in Florida. Many quarterbacks would have cracked under all that turmoil or transferred, but not Leak.
He stuck it out and his reward was an MVP award as the Gators defeated Ohio State 41-14 to win the National Championship in his final collegiate game.
So I’ll admit I was surprised he was cut by Saskatchewan. Hey I’m not ripping or even questioning the team. When you go to back-to-back Grey Cups you obviously know what you’re doing.
I was rooting hard when Leak hit Ernie Wheelwright on a deep ball on 2nd & long in the Roughriders pre-season loss to the Lions. On the flip side, I was bummed out on his next possession that ended with an incompletion and a sack.
In the end I hope Leak can find a home in this league. Yes, I’m probably blinded by his past but I think he has a future in the CFL.
Speaking of quarterbacks I am assuming we are all rooting for Brad Sinopoli?
With the release of Danny Brannagan, Sinopoli has the feel of a reality-star contestant … “Brad Sinopoli is the last Canadian Quarterback Standing!” (cue the ominous music playing). I’m half expecting Jeff Probst to come out and personally inform Sinopoli that he is the back-up in Calgary.
I hate to say it, but I bet many fans of all things Canadian football were at least a little bit happy by Drew Tate’s injury that helped solidify Sinopoli a roster spot. And no, I am not implying that we’re happy about Tate’s shoulder injury, far from it. Tate is fun to watch, but deep down many of us are waiting for the day that a Canadian is starting at the most important position in the Canadian Football League.
Some other thoughts from cut down day:
With the release of both P.K. Sam and Reggie McNeal I think we can officially call the May 19 trade between the Stampeders and the Argonauts the most irrelevant trade in CFL history.
What a roller coaster ride Lenny Walls has been on! He was released by Edmonton on May 27, was brought back on June 11 with a new contract, only to be again released by the team. Let this be a lesson to the young people reading this column. If you break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend, don’t get back together with them six weeks later, it won’t work out, trust me … it never does.
Anyone else wondering what has gone wrong for (former) Calgary defensive end Khari Long? In 2009 he was a key cog for Hamilton’s defensive line with 10 sacks and 34 tackles. Now he’s unemployed, just weird.
How long before I have to officially give up on Prechae Rodriguez? The receiver will start the season on the injured list and I get the feeling he’ll never live up to his 1,099 yards and seven touchdowns debut season with Hamilton in 2008. Such a shame. At times he looks so dominant with his combination of size and speed and then he’ll disappear for two-to-three quarters.
Sticking with Montreal, I wonder what sort of impact DeAndra’ Cobb will have in 2011. Brandon Whitaker looks like the player Montreal envisioned he could be when they let Avon Cobourne go and Emmanuel Marc is more than capable as his back-up. Early in the second quarter of their pre-season loss to the Tiger-Cats, Marc put a nice little head fake move on Jamall Johnson to gain a first down. Yeah, I know it’s just one play but it was impressive and Marc looked good.
Don’t worry about losing your job Eric Wilbur I’m sure there will be a job waiting for you in Saskatchewan.
Speaking of job security in Regina, Terrence Nunn and Ernie Wheelwright are lucky to have survived the cuts. Both guys dropped multiple passes and if Andy Fantuz was on the team and Rob Bagg was healthy I doubt both would still be in a Green and White uniform.
Yes, it should com
e as no surprise that I am bummed out by the release of Brannagan.
But not as bummed out as I am about John Surla not making the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. I loved the mini-documentary the good people at CFL.ca produced about Surla’s journey, so yeah I was rooting for him. Although, I understand he’ll be added to the team’s practice roster.
In the end I’m just glad the pre-season is done, the final cuts are over and we can focus on the regular season.
