Esks.com
My broadcast partner Morley Scott has counted the number of steps from field level to the concourse of Commonwealth Stadium.
Its 96 steps.
That is the number of steps the assembled media have to take to exit the stadium. Some of the media are…..well……shall we say……not in optimum physical shape (I have my hand sticking straight up).
That treacherous climb is also used by players who are rehabbing injuries.
They run those stairs by the way (show offs!!)
Lately, the player the media have seen attack those stairs is quarterback Matt Nichols.
Nichols tore the ACL in his right knee in the first quarter of the first pre-season game of 2013 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
| What’s next for Nichols? |
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“I love it here (in Edmonton), I’ve been here for four years now. I would love to see this thing turned around. I would love to be back in Edmonton and that’s my goal. It’s not something I can really totally control so whatever happens this off-season will happen but I would love to back here next year.” – Eskimos quarterback Matt Nichols |
He threw an interception which was returned for a touchdown. Nichols acted on instinct and tried to make a tackle. His leg planted on the turf as a Rider player threw a block on the goal line and Nichols crumpled in pain. A few days later, the Eskimos announced that Nichols would be lost for the season.
Unbelievable.
Nichols suffered serious injuries in back-to-back games. He dislocated his ankle in the Eastern Semi-Final in Toronto last season.
He is now three months past knee surgery and says his recovery is on track.
“I’m able to now starting running, I’m running up stairs everyday and starting to put more weight with squats and leg lifts,” Nichols explained. “It’s a long process, you kind of inch along. Now that I’m able to do basically everything except for side-to-side agility stuff, I’m able to be out throwing and running on the field during practice.”
Sitting out is not something Nichols is used to. He’s played quarterback since the third grade. He started 50 straight games at Eastern Washington and he never missed a practice. For someone who has never experienced a serious injury up until a year ago, Nichols has handled his circumstance like a true professional.
When he hurt his knee in the pre-season, Nichols started the process of rehab about an hour after he left the field by icing the knee and using a stim machine. Small steps to help himself get back on the field as quickly as possible.
Nichols does have the benefit of a full off-season to get himself ready for training camp in 2014. A luxury he didn’t have last off-season where he wasn’t fully recovered until six week before the start of camp. In fact, Nichols suffered a setback when his big toe became inflamed as result of over-compensating from the ankle injury. Nichols should be in the best shape of his life when June rolls around.
The question is now with Nichols. Where will he play in 2014? There is the expansion draft to get through first in December. It is very safe to say the Eskimos will protect Mike Reilly leaving Nichols exposed for the Ottawa REDBLACKS. If he is not selected, Nichols is due to become a free agent on February 15th. 
We don’t know yet what the Eskimos feel about Nichols and if they will want him back in the colours of the green and gold. He will be behind Mike Reilly on the depth chart and will have to compete to knock off Reilly for the starter’s role.
Nichols thoughts on the subject are clear and simple. He wants to be a part of the Eskimos future.
“I love it here, I’ve been here for four years now,” Nichols said. “I would love to see this thing turned around. I would love to be back in Edmonton and that’s my goal. It’s not something I can really totally control so whatever happens this off-season will happen but I would love to back here next year.”
Nichols has been a good teammate throughout hi s rehab. He attends as many meetings as he can. He’s been a good resource for Mike Reilly.
Nichols wants to play and show what he can do for a football team which will be his greatest motivation this off-season.
In the meantime, I should really go walk up those stairs. Oh wait! Hey!!! Hold the elevator please!!!!
NOTES: Slotback Fred Stamps will not play on Friday in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions because of a lower-body injury. Import Carlton Mitchell will make his CFL debut in the receiving corps. Defensive back Chris Thompson will sit out because of an injury. Eric Sameuls will start in Thompson’s place at the wide-side half-back position. Defensive tackle Almondo Sewell will return to the lineup after missing last week’s game with a neck injury. Mike Reilly will start at quarterback and will play the majority of the game.
