Canadian rookie Muamba bides his time on Colts sidelines
After signing as free agent, GTA-raised player awaits chance to make NFL debut
Indianapolis Colts’ rookie middle linebacker Henoc Muamba will have to wait a little longer to play in a regular-season game in the National Football League, but the faith he has developed in a life journey that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo has taught him patience.
Muamba, whom the Colts signed as a free agent in the off-season following three years in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, had hoped to make his NFL regular-season debut in his team’s game in Denver last Sunday night. He was informed he would not be playing shortly before the start of the when the team declared its active roster, although Muamba collected a game-day cheque.
Just to be on the sidelines meant a lot.
“To be able to stand on such a great stage, the highest of them all in terms of football, it was definitely humbling,” Muamba said. “It was exciting. There was a lot of drama (the game against Denver), especially being in a hostile environment away from home. Being there with a crowd of 76,000 and in prime time was a great experience. It was great to be there.”
He had an ear piece to hear all of the calls communicated from the defensive co-ordinator to the middle linebacker.
“It was actually neat to see it from my perspective, even though I was not really in the game,” he said. “I was really taking it as a mental rep, so even though I’m not on the playing field I’m still practising in my mind. It was good to see things and learn how to react, so I know what to expect in terms of when my number will be called, whether it’s next week (at home Monday night against Philadelphia) or the week after.
“I’m the type of guy that likes to look at every situation in a positive manner. Looking at this kind of preps me for when I will play. I don’t even see (not playing in the game) as negative or difficult to overcome. Having a strong faith is always great to have, but all the experiences I have gone through have prepped me for situations like this, and I know for a fact that there will be more that I will need to overcome in my lifetime. And it’s not only football, but life in general. Having built up my faith the way it has, God has really prepared me for a lot of things to come.” Muamba’s journey began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he was born. Five years later, his family moved to Canada to avoid the political upheaval in Congo and settled in Quebec because they spoke French. Five years after that, the family moved to the suburbs west of Toronto. He began playing football at age 16 at Mississauga’s Father Michael Goetz Secondary School, following his older brother Cauchy, but didn’t like it at first because he feared being injured. The two later went to St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, a path that would take both of them to the CFL. The B.C. Lions selected Cauchy 34th overall in the 2010 Draft. A year later, following a standout season in which Henoc was selected the top defensive player in Canadian university football, the Blue Bombers chose him first overall in the 2011 Draft. The Bombers presented him with a jersey with the No. 1 on the day he signed and expectations were huge. He suffered a knee injury in preseason in his first year, which pushed back his debut, but he developed into a player good enough to attract interest from the NFL. St. Francis Xavier head coach Gary Waterman, who was co-coach and defensive co-ordinator at Father Goetz when Henoc began, had a chance to watch him develop in high school and then university. “I’m not surprised that he’s achieved a high, high level,” Waterman said. “At the time when he started, you’re not sure how far they can take it. The more I’ve been around him I’m not surprised because I’ve seen what he’s capable of doing.” Muamba signed a three-year deal worth $1.53 million with Indianapolis, and while only $107,000 is guaranteed, it was a positive indication of the Colts’ intent for the 6-foot, 242- pound prospect. Indy’s general manager Ryan Grigson, a former CFL player and scout, said as soon he saw the list of 2014 CFL free agents, Muamba was one of the first players he considered signing. Sitting on an airplane watching tape of a game in which Muamba played, Grigson turned to the Colts’ coach and showed him the footage.
“(Muamba) was screaming and exploding up ball carriers,” Grigson said. “It was exciting to watch and what I’ve kind of learned over the course of my career is the guys that get you excited when you watch videotape are usually the guys you want to go get.”
Few Canadian-based players coming directly into the NFL from a Canadian university or through the CFL have listed all the way to the start of the regular season. Many sign for no guaranteed money and essentially become “training camp bodies” with no real chance to make it past the final cuts heading into the regular season. Muamba was limited in the Colts’ off-season organized team workouts because of a knee scope he had two weeks after signing.
“I was just another free-agent guy trying to make the team,” he said. “Coming from Mississauga, going through (the Canadian university system) and obviously the CFL, for someone like me to be in this situation it’s a blessing and a humbling experience. From where I came from (starting out in Mississauga), it’s such a far-fetched idea (to be in the NFL). I don’t take this opportunity for granted at all. I feel extremely blessed to be here.”
Grigson is convinced Muamba will play at some point this season.
“Definitely,” he said. “With a 16game season, I think it will happen sooner than later. A guy that has that ability and can be on the field for four downs, they usually end up playing.”