Canadian honing his skills deep in the heart of Texas
Free agent receiver opts to play for free in attempt to impress pro football scouts
The Spring League might be a springboard for Rashaun Simonise.
Or it might just offer the 25-year-old three or four more games of football than most other Canadians will play in 2020.
Either way, the Vancouver-born wide receiver won't be stressing about it, because he's been afforded a rare opportunity. Simonise and Malcolm Lee are the only Canadians among the 240 Spring League players currently practising and playing in San Antonio, Texas.
“Right now, outside the NFL, this is the best football we can get,” said Simonise, a former members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and B.C. Lions.
“I feel everyone here has the potential to play at the next level in the NFL or CFL. That's the reason they're here. Of course, I do feel lucky, but I also feel I deserve to be here. You know what I mean? I put in a lot of hours to get here.”
As its name would suggest, The Spring League usually stages a short season in April, but the COVID-19 pandemic played havoc with that plan. League CEO Brian Woods has instead organized a six-team, 12-game fall schedule played entirely inside The Alamodome in San Antonio. It's not exactly a bubble environment, given that player movement isn't restricted. However, no fans are allowed in the Alamodome for games.
“We're not really on lockdown right now. We're able to leave the hotel,” said Simonise, who was tested for COVID-19 upon arrival. He wears a mask in public, uses hand sanitizer and follows safety protocols, and said he feels secure
He arrived in San Antonio two weeks ago, went through a few practices with his Jousters teammates, then tweaked a groin muscle. That resulted in him missed Tuesday's opener, a disappointing 28-0 loss to the Aviators, whose roster includes fellow CFL alumni McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Romar Morris and DaShaun Amos.
Simonise said he'll be ready to go when the Jousters meet the Alphas on Tuesday. They also play the Conquerors on Nov. 17, in a game that will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1. The network is doing seven of the league's 12 regular season games, as well as the championship final.
The TV revenue, which is new this year, will help put the league on a more solid financial foundation. Currently, the league provides meals and hotel rooms but players aren't otherwise paid for their services. In fact, some pay a fee to play, hoping the game film and exposure to pro scouts is worth the expense.
“I'm trying not to come into this with too many expectations,” said Simonise, who didn't have to pay the fee. “I just want to get as much coaching as I can, soak up from the coaches that we've got, and elevate my game to be the most competitive player that I can be. If I get better as an athlete and a player, everything else will take care of itself.”
Simonise enjoyed three good seasons for the University of Calgary Dinosaurs but was declared academically ineligible for 2016, instead earning an invitation to the Cincinnati Bengals camp. While there, he tested positive for a performance enhancing substance and received a four-game suspension from the NFL.
When the Bengals waived him that September, he opted for two seasons of junior football with the Okanagan Sun in B.C.
The positive test also resulted in his CFL draft year being deferred to 2018.
Winnipeg took him with the 12th overall pick but he played just one season for the Bombers and caught only four passes.
With B.C. in 2019, he added another five catches, but he's a free agent again, looking for a chance to utilize his 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and considerable speed.
“I feel I just need to be used for what I'm good at. I'm a deepthreat wide receiver and I haven't really received a lot of deep balls in the last couple of years. Any time I have been thrown deep balls, I came down with the football.
“I just really feel I need to be put in a system where I'm used for my strengths. I'm even cool with doing the little things being asked of me, but for me to really excel, I feel I need someone who is willing to use me for what I'm good at.
“I'm not too sure where B.C. stands, if they're interested in me still or not. All I know right now is that I'm a free agent and I'm trying to get better as a player, to use this opportunity to polish up my technique and my skills. I just want to play football. That's really it.”