Edmonton Journal

Als’ receiver eyes reception record

Trash-talking Nik Lewis needs just 53 more catches to overtake Geroy Simon

- VICKI HALL vhall@postmedia.com Twitter.com/vickihallc­h

REGINA Nik Lewis is the most bruising, fearsome receiver in the Canadian Football League.

Gang tackling is the only way to stop the Montreal Alouettes pass catcher who is listed at 5-foot-10, 240 pounds and looks more defensive end than slotback.

But these days, the three-down king of trash talk is mainly changing diapers and watching Storks, Mickey Mouse, and Frozen with his two-year-old daughter Ari.

The hard-hitting CFL legend is embracing the softer side of life.

“Ari is just so funny,” Lewis said at Mark’s CFL Week held in his adopted hometown of Regina. “She has such a great personalit­y. I just miss her so much when I’m not around her. She’s awesome.

“She already dresses herself from head to toe — boots, socks, pants, shirts, everything. She won’t let you help her. She’s Miss Independen­t. She’s been jumping since she was 13 months old.”

None of that is shocking given her Daddy’s magical motor skills. At 34, most of his peers have long since retired, but Lewis is somehow coming off the 10th 1,000-yard season of his career.

In fact, Lewis needs just 53 catches to eclipse Geroy Simon (1,029) for most receptions in a CFL career.

With Darian Durant as his new quarterbac­k, Lewis is confident he can snatch the record from Simon this season.

Provided, of course, that he stays healthy — which is hardly a given in the twilight of his career.

“You never look at records when you first start, “the Southern Arkansas product said. “Records are like platforms and standards that people set. I’m setting the standard for my daughter to live by. The record is a standard for players to attain.

“To know what I’ve been through and to get back to still try to achieve that means a lot to me.”

For the first time in his career, Lewis suffered a major injury in the summer of 2013, breaking his left fibula and tearing ligaments in his left ankle. No one knew at the time whether Lewis would ever play again – never mind reach the 1,000-yard plateau for the 10th time in his career.

(Terry Vaughn holds the CFL record for most career 1,000-yard seasons with 11.)

But Lewis threw a proverbial procedure flag on anyone with the gall to prematurel­y prepare a eulogy for his storied football career. Turns out he was right. “I worked every day from moving one toe, to moving two toes, to five toes, to my foot,” he said. “Every success was a goal. And every time I reached one of those goals, it was extra gratifying.”

In 2014, Lewis returned to the lineup with the Calgary Stampeders but only caught 37 passes for 377 yards and no touchdowns.

The following winter, he left Calgary against his wishes and signed on with the Alouettes.

“The 2014 season was frustratin­g, because I was in a lot of pain,” he said. “The 2015 season was better. And last year, I felt great.

“Once I started feeling better, I knew it was possible.”

Lewis caught 102 passes for 1,136 yards and three touchdowns last season with an ever-changing cast at quarterbac­k. The possibilit­ies, to Lewis, are limitless in 2017 with Durant at the controls of the Montreal offence.

Duran is a proven veteran with a cannon arm and the ability to read whatever defences give him

“It’s going to be awesome,” Lewis said.

“The list of quarterbac­ks that I’ll be able to say I caught passes from over my career — from Akili Smith to Dave Dickenson to Hank Burris to Kevin Glenn to Danny McManus… I know I’m probably missing some right now.

“But to add Darian to that list is going to be awesome.”

Even when healthy, Lewis is not what anyone would call a fleetfoote­d receiver. Power, intimidati­on and brute force define his game.

While Lewis can deliver trash talk, he also hears it.

So he definitely knows people joke about how such a big man can play receiver.

“You find a way to get it done, and that’s part of the greatness,” he said. “My brother is 6-foot-4, 285 pounds. My dad is 6-foot-2, 260 pounds. So the fact we’re all built alike shows it’s just evolution. It’s genetics.

“Trust me, there aren’t too many guys in the league who can go to spin class six days out of eight and go to hot yoga on the same days. My weight is my weight. It doesn’t say I’m in shape or not in shape. I still run the same amount as Chris Williams.”

Williams, of the B.C. Lions, is 5-foot-9, 155 pounds.

“I’m in great shape,” Lewis said. “My shape is just different than other people’s, and that doesn’t bother me.”

Chalk that up as another life lesson he wants to pass down to little Ari.

 ?? THE CANADIAN PRESS/FILES ?? The Alouettes’ Nik Lewis, left, is 53 catches away from becoming the most prolific receiver in CFL history.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/FILES The Alouettes’ Nik Lewis, left, is 53 catches away from becoming the most prolific receiver in CFL history.

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