SUNSET NEARS FOR BOWMAN AFTER STAR STINT WITH ALS
Hall of Fame awaits durable defensive end, who is 98 per cent sure that he’ll be retiring
Thirteen seasons, 213 regularseason games — all played with the Alouettes — 126 sacks, 31 forced fumbles and one touchdown later, the truth can finally be told about John Bowman.
His career was a fluke. A mistake. Had former Montreal general manager Jim Popp not been seeking a veteran quarterback in 2005, Bowman might never have been discovered.
Popp got film of Marcus Brady, who was playing for the Rome Renegades of the National Indoor Football League. While Brady would be signed, it was Bowman who kept jumping out at Popp.
“You saw this guy on film, who was John. He was such a dominant player,” said Popp, now general manager of the Toronto Argonauts. “He was one of those guys that’s naturally strong and had great willpower. His motor ran all the time. When you identify someone who dominates, you take them to the next level.”
But the Als were good back then, a team filled with veterans. Bowman was too light to play defensive tackle and too heavy to play end. Besides, the Als had Anwar Stewart and Marc Megna, among others, on their line.
Bowman wasn’t going to make the team, but did enough at training camp to garner another look. So the Als put him at tackle for their final exhibition game in 2006, he dominated and a career was born.
You know the rest. Bowman, who played only one year of high school football and figured his career was over when he graduated from Division 2 Wingate University — he left with a business administration degree that focused on marketing — might well be playing the final game of his career Saturday night at Hamilton. That’s fitting because the first game of this distinguished run was against the Tiger-Cats.
In Bowman’s heart, he would play forever. But he’s 36 and just isn’t certain he wants to put his body through the rigours of winter training and another season. Of course, he said the same thing last November before signing a one-year contract. Although co-owner Robert Wetenhall has given Bowman the freedom to continue playing, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native has told the coaches he’s 98 per cent certain he’ll retire.
Which means there’s a two per cent chance he won’t.
“I didn’t want to be the guy being dragged and kicked off the field,” he said. “I want to leave with some pride. I thought I played pretty good this year, not looking at the numbers, because they’re down. I’m still rushing the quarterback, I’m still competing, I’m still playing 60 plays a game. I still feel good and I’m competing.
“But I don’t want them to force me out. I want to leave on my own accord.”
The six-foot-three, 255-pounder with the infectious, reverberating and omnipresent laugh has won two Grey Cups, been an East Division all-star seven times and a CFL all-star twice. While individual awards have largely escaped his grasp, he has been one of the most dominant players at his position.
Bowman has more career sacks (126) than any other Alouette and is tied with Stewart Hill for seventh all-time in the CFL. Last Sunday, after recovering two fumbles against the Argos, one for a touchdown, he was named one of the top performers of the week.
“In my head, I’m just a guy,” he said with his usual selfdeprecating wit. “I’m not a franchise-changing (player) ... I’m not a quarterback. I’m not a top-two, all-time receiver. I’m just a defensive end. In my mind frame, that’s how I look at it and go about my career.”
But Bowman always played hard and rose to the occasion. He tore a bicep in August and was expected to miss up to six weeks. He returned two games later. Last season, he played with a club on his hand. In eight of his 13 seasons, he didn’t miss a game. Bowman’s work ethic makes him difficult to block.
That attitude and willpower was likely instilled by his late aunt Robin Scott, who rescued Bowman and his twin brother — two of eight children — from their one-bedroom apartment and a life surrounded by violence and family members dealing with drug addictions. They lived with her in North Carolina and found salvation.
“Had she not come,” Bowman said, “I know high school and college wouldn’t have existed. I would have been in the streets, running with gangs. Everybody I grew up with in New York, probably only two or three of them are still alive. She saved my life.”
Whether he returns or not, Bowman almost surely will make it into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He claimed he’s far from the best rush end in the league and, with five sacks this season, will probably finish with his lowest total since 2012.
But he has lasted this long, according to Popp, by being highly intelligent, lucky with injuries, taking care of his body and, of course, having the necessary skill.
“He’s been one of the rare ones who has been able to continue to do it,” Popp said. “He’s better than most in the league at his position. As we speak, he’s still at the top of his game.”
“I didn’t want tobetheguy being dragged and kicked off the field. I want to leave with some pride.” JOHN BOWMAN