Wins come before stats, Simpson says
Numbers are just that for Juwan Simpson.
“I’m a team oriented person, believe it or not,” the Calgary Stampeders’ middle linebacker noted. “If you’d asked me five, six years ago when I first started, it was all about self in the sense of stats. As long as our team is doing well, our defence is doing well, I’m happy. It’s a plus when you’re playing good, making stats. Sometimes plays come my way, sometimes they don’t. I guess plays have come my way this season. It’s too early, nothing to get too crazy about.”
Simpson has begun season No. 7 with the Stamps in pretty grand style, anchoring a defence that’s been taut in averaging a league low 30 points in three games. He’s just turned 30, but the fires burn as brightly as ever within him, as witnessed by his dominant eight-tackle performance last weekend against Hamilton.
“All-star is cool, it’s great, but I’ve been in that situation before and not won,” he said. “2010 we had one of the better seasons. I was West defensive player of the year and we were home early so it’s kind of bittersweet. I just want to be part of the team to win a ring. In ’08, I was a part of that team, but I wasn’t a mainstay. Now I feel like a mainstay and I wold love to win one as a leader-captain.
“I know it’s a crazy way to say it, but I hate to be irrelevant,” he continued. “I’ve been that irrelevant player where you could be easily replaced and still can be replaced, let’s not take that out of context. But I love it. I love that my teammates look to me to have the energy to make that play when it’s needed. I’ll take the blame when it’s my fault. I would rather be in the spotlight than not.”
Simpson was in the spotlight once again in the last game when he hurt his arm and suffered a hip pointer. Asked how he felt on Tuesday after practising for Thursday’s outing in Edmonton, Simpson replied: “Like a million bucks. I’ve never had a million bucks, but I imagine this is what it would feel like. It’s made a lot of improvement the last couple of days. I was a little worried at first, but now I’m excited. This is a big game and I would have hated it if I’d missed it.”
Bo protects the football
Bo Levi Mitchell continues his run early in this CFL season and his head coach gave a balanced assessment of his quarterback’s play.
“He’s had his share of mistakes; he just hasn’t turned the ball over,” John Hufnagel submitted. “He’s doing good things, he’s going through the learning process. I don’t care how long you’ve played the game, you’re going to make mistakes. The biggest thing is forget about it and make the next play.
“This is his third year in the league, he’s been on the field previous to this year and he’s been productive every time he’s been on the field. That’s what you want from any of your players. He’s giving himself every opportunity to be successful and he’s playing with a pretty good football team.”
McDonald ready to take the field
It won’t have taken Brandon McDonald long to get into the lineup if he does indeed slot into the depth chart for Thursday’s encounter in Edmonton. The 28-year-old defensive back joined the team one week ago — he attended the B.C. Lions’ training camp — but his time in the NFL, 80 games worth, will no doubt serve him well.
“He’s a young man who has pro experience,” Hufnagel pointed out. “When he found out that he had a great chance to play this week, it didn’t overwhelm him. He’s been here a short amount of time, but he understands the system. He’s got good ball skills and good coverage ability. I’m just glad he’s here.”
Extra points ... The Stampeders are expected to put running back Jon Cornish on the six-game injured list Thursday unless he experiences a sudden recovery from concussion symptoms.