CFL.ca
In the end, it was all one big misunderstanding.
However since it unfolded on national television under the glare of the lights of the country’s largest stadium, it became a huge misconception.
Let’s rewind.
Friday night the Saskatchewan Roughriders visited the B.C. Lions in what CKRM analyst Gary Etcheverry called “a Grey Cup game in the regular season for both teams”. The outcome had massive implications for both teams and because the Riders won 31-17, they wrestled second-place away from the Lions in the CFL West (albeit temporarily).
The side story was the first return of Rider slotback Geroy Simon to Vancouver, a place where he had starred for 12 Hall of Fame seasons with the Lions before being traded to Saskatchewan this winter. The 38-year old 15-year veteran was honoured with a pregame ceremony, video tribute and was treated to a standing ovation from the 37,312 in attendance, B.C.’s largest crowd of the year.
However he had barely any impact on the game statistically, catching only one pass, in garbage time on the team’s final drive with the game in hand. The catch extended his streak to 184 consecutive games with at least one catch but TV viewers noted that Simon seemed very angry at the time.
He then reportedly stormed off the field and refused all media requests in the locker room post-game.
“I feel like I’ve been productive in this league for a long time,” Simon reasoned on Tuesday, four days after the game. “And if there’s a streak and all that stuff, I was okay with the streak being over. But it was important for the other guys to keep the streak going so that’s why we did what we did at the end.
That’s interesting, but at the same time odd. Hall of Famer Don Narcisse holds the pro football record for consecutive games with a catch at 216 and never minded being thrown a token pass each game at the end of his illustrious career. Trust me, I was calling those games in 1999.
But, as we’re learning, Geroy’s a different animal.
“It was an emotional game for me so my emotions were all over the place,” Simon continued. “It wasn’t just about that. It wasn’t just about not catching a pass throughout the game. There was a million things going on. But the main thing is we won and I was happy about that. There was a lot going on, a lot going on for me personally, and I’m just happy we won.”
Simon was asked how much it means to him that his teammates wanted to get him the ball in order to keep the streak alive.
“Honestly man I appreciate these guys so much because that shows that they care about me,” Simon revealed. “And they care about my legacy and all that stuff because for me it’s like ‘whatever, we won the game, let’s move on’. And that’s how I’ve been for a long time. Whatever we gotta do to win, let’s do it but it was important for them to extend the streak and that shows they care about me.”
Overall Simon admitted to being frustrated over the fact his numbers aren’t where they usually are at this time of year, but he’s since seen it from a different perspective.
“I’ve been productive in this league and I want the ball all the time,” Simon said. “Not getting the ball, sometimes it gets frustrating but at the same time, we won. When you sit back and take a look at the bigger picture, winning is the only thing that’s important. Whatever my role is, I’m okay with that.”
That’s more like it. And that’s the Geroy Simon we’ve come to known from afar over the years, and even moreso as a member of the Riders in 2013.
I was critical of Simon for what happened in Vancouver but if you read the column on Monday, I was quick to note that I didn’t know all that was going on. This was just how it looked from the outside. And the scene didn’t look very good for a team who had just won a massive game.
It’s not the Riders’ responsibility to resurrect Simon’s career or prove Lions GM Wally Buono wrong for trading him away. However it is the Riders’ responsibility to win a Grey Cup in this monumental 2013 season.
If Geroy Simon’s along for the ride, that’s awesome. The Riders are glad to have him, but as Rider coach Corey Chamblin said this week, “Everyone should be thankful for the opportunities they’re given.”
After a day or two to sleep on it, it’s clear Geroy is very thankful.
