Gaydosh is ready for some football

Argos’ burly DT eager to prove his worth after rollercoaster 2017 season

It’s bold, it’s gaudy and it’s flashy — everything Linden Gaydosh is not.

And that’s why the Toronto Argonauts burly defensive tackle plans to give his 2017 Grey Cup ring to his father, Dave, who played junior football for the Calgary Colts.

Gaydosh and his teammates received their championship hardware last week for their 2724 upset win over the Calgary Stampeders last November.

“Oh, it’s gorgeous,” Gaydosh said Wednesday following Toronto’s training camp session at York University.

“Pictures don’t go it justice, you really have to see it. But it’s a little too flashy for my style. I’m a country boy, I don’t have jewelry on me. I think it’s something my dad values more than I do. He’s wanted this for 38 years. I’m going to get home and give it to him.”

Toronto’s Grey Cup rings are indeed spectacular. On the inside of each, the final score, date and team slogan, “Today Is The Day” are featured.

A huge Argos logo appears on the front surrounded by 17 blue gems for each of the franchise’s Grey Cup titles. On one side are the words, “Grey Cup Champions” above the Toronto skyline with the Grey Cup. Snowflakes also appear, fitting as snow fell during the championship contest.

That victory helped remove the sting from Gaydosh’s first Grey Cup appearance in 2014 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Calgary held on to win 20-16 after Brandon Banks’ punt return TD with 32 seconds remaining was nullified by a penalty.

The championship victory was a nice end to a roller-coaster 2017 season for the six-footfour, 298-pound Gaydosh.

The native of Peace River, Alta., joined the Argos as a free agent last August after being released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Gaydosh, 27, started two of 11 games with Toronto, registering nine tackles, three sacks and one pass knockdown. He saw action in the Argos’ 25-21 East final win over Saskatchewan and had a tackle in the Grey Cup game.

Gaydosh begins this season with the benefit of training camp under new defensive coordinator Mike Archer, who served as Toronto’s linebacker coach last year under departed co-ordinator Corey Chamblin.

“We’re still the same core guys,” Gaydosh said. “The de- fence is very similar to what we had last year and we’re going to do our best to be on top again.”

Toronto’s first exhibition game is June 1 in Hamilton, and Gaydosh is already looking forward to it.

“I can’t wait for a game already,” he said.

“I want to be playing against someone else other than a teammate at this point.”

Toronto head coach Marc Trestman said Gaydosh is off to a great start in camp.

“He’s come in ready to go,” Trestman said. “He looks really good in the first couple of days. He was a great contributor to our football team as a teammate and player on the field.”