Edmnton Sun Articles : June 4, 2007
New beginning
Esk QB Jason Johnson is retiring from one career and embracing another
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, SUN MEDIA
Jason Johnson isn't going to lie.
Retiring from the Edmonton Eskimos before the start of yesterday's opening of main training camp wasn't easy.
But the personable backup quarterback knows there is much more to life than football.
"My dream," said Johnson, "is to produce movies and television shows."
So, the personable 27-year-old has understandably taken a job to produce and direct a 12-part series called Gametime for TSN that will air late this summer.
OTHER FACTORS
There are other contributing factors for leaving the game - being stuck behind Ricky Ray on the Eskimos depth chart and being the marketing director for Booster Juice - but Johnson knows the TSN opportunity is very important.
"In coming to this decision I had a couple of long talks, especially with Ricky Ray and Jason Maas," said Johnson.
"We all kind of had a little powwow.
"And I realized that I have so many big aspirations that right now is a time I couldn't really turn these things down."
Anybody closely following the Eskimos knew that Johnson was in for a dogfight to be on the Eskimos' roster this season.
LONG SHOT TO MAKE IT
With younger and promising quarterbacks Steven Jyles and Stefan LeFors under contract, Johnson was a long shot to make it.
But the three-year member of the Green and Gold wasn't afraid of the competition.
And head coach Danny Maciocia denies Johnson was simply a training camp body to alleviate stress on the other quarterback arms.
"I don't believe in camp bodies," stated Maciocia.
"Every single player who took the field here today has a legitimate shot of winning a job.
"But he was in for a battle, there is no question about it."
After a great college career at Arizona - where he graduated with the single-season record for passing yards - Johnson never really got a chance to show his worth in regular-season games.
He only had 22 passing attempts in three years in Edmonton.
But Ray will miss him.
The pair was so tight - along with Jason Maas in 2005 - that Johnson's production company made a documentary on their lives.
"He has been a good friend of mine the last few years," said Ray. "Not to have him out here and have him in the locker-room is a little bit different."
Ron (Goldie) McClendon knows Johnson still has the talent to play in the CFL.
"The guy had a lot of football left in him," said McClendon.
"I didn't want to see (the retirement) happen. When he is on his game, he is as good as anybody."
Now he is going to be profiling the lives of other CFL players in the Gametime series.
"What the show does is take 12 different players in the league and tells their life story," said Johnson.
"I think one of the neatest things about this league is that every guy in Canada has a crazy, unique story."
Jason Tucker - a top receiver in the summer and a Texas rancher in the winter - will likely be the Eskimo player in the series.
FINISH LINES: By retiring before the season starts, Johnson can come back and play for the Eskimos this year. If the club were suddenly down to two quarterbacks, Johnson would be a logical emergency call-up.
---
DAY 1 CAMP FILE
WHO'S HOT
Patrick Johnson, WR 80
Flashed major speed from the first ball thrown his way yesterday morning.
Ricky Ray, QB 15
Didn't miss a bear on Day 1, throwing the ball precisely where it needed to be.
WHO'S NOT
Ryan Kelly, WR 70
Clobbered by J.R. LaRose, Kelly injured his left hamstring on the play and didn't return.
Kamau Peterson, WR 8
Dropped two seemingly catchable balls.
NOTES
RB Ron (Goldie) McClendon has switched from No. 24 to No. 5 this season. It's his old high school and college number. "It's a whole new outlook for me - and I will start with the number," said McClendon, who has a chance to be the top running back ... LB Mike Botterill has switched to No. 55 ... As expected, McClendon is first on the depth chart at running back, ahead of Josh Ranek. For what it's worth - as CFL depth charts always seem to be questionable in some area - other intriguing listings for Day 1 of camp: Ricky Bell is first strong-side linebacker ahead of Ray Perryman, Jabari Issa is first defensive tackle beside Rob Brown, Shannon Garrett is first at one cornerback position ahead of Jonte Buhl.
INJURIES
QB Jason Johnson has retired.
Dinged up on Day 1
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON
The body language said it all.
Literally sitting on the sidelines on the Clarke Park field turf yesterday, Stanford Samuels wasn't happy with how Day 1 of Edmonton Eskimo camp ended.
A highly touted free-agent acquisition, Samuels has injured his left leg - in the groin/hip flexor area.
"You never want to come into camp and be hurt the first day," said Samuels, who is wearing Malcolm Franks's old No. 10.
Before hurting his leg, the defensive halfback looked very strong on opening day of camp.
"The first practice (yesterday morning) it started bothering me a little bit and progressively got a little bit worse," said Samuels. "So they stopped me before anything pulled."
It's unclear if Samuels will miss today's two practices.
CAMP CHATTER: Nobody came to camp in better shape compared to last year than Ron (Goldie) McClendon, according to Eskimos head coach Danny Maciocia.
"The guy is in phenomenal shape. His body fat was cut by more than half," Maciocia said.
CULTURE CHANGE: Not happy with the culture in the locker-room last year, Maciocia is trying to pound home certain messages this year.
"All these guys understand why they are here, what their jersey represents, the tradition and history," said Maciocia.
"And they understand there are certain expectations that come with it."
The definitive verdict on the culture of the room will come later in the season, likely when adversity hits.
ESK-CETERA: Defensive end Adam Braidwood has dropped 20 pounds from last year, but there doesn't seem to be much concern. "Braidwood is a man and I wouldn't want to mess around with that," remarked Maciocia. "When the lights go on, he is going to be a warrior out there."
FINISH LINES: Former Eskimo linebacker Singor Mobley and his young daughter were curious fans from the sidelines during Day 1.
Ray of hope
Perryman makes his case
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, SUN MEDIA
Ray Perryman is four-for-four at Edmonton Eskimo training camp.
Through three rookie camp sessions and the first full day of main camp yesterday, the dynamic import has managed to make an impression on head coach Danny Maciocia every single day.
Trying to make the club as a strong-side linebacker, Perryman couldn't have asked for a better start.
"Hopefully he keeps it up," said Maciocia. "I like him an awful lot.
"He is a no nonsense kind of guy.
"He brings attitude to the field of play and understands his assignment.
THREE YEARS IN NFL
"At the end of the day, those are the guys you want to surround yourself with."
A three-year NFL veteran - 10 games between Jacksonville and Baltimore - Perryman is trying to become the long-awaited answer to the Esks' search to replace former stud Steven Marsh.
Gerald Dixon wasn't the answer, which explains why Maciocia gave him the boot.
Competing against CFL vet Ricky Bell and rookie Siddeeq Shabazz this year, Perryman is standing out for two reasons: his mouth rarely shuts and he can seemingly cover the entire field.
The 28-year-old made two eye-catching plays on either side of the field in yesterday's second practice.
First, he knocked heads with running back Josh Ranek in a drill that isn't designed for heavy contact.
Second, he abruptly dragged down 11-year CFL veteran receiver Mookie Mitchell on a pass route.
Combine that with his constantly flapping mouth and it's easy to understand why Perryman is the odds-on favourite in press box row to get in a fight on the field with the offence sometime this week.
"I hope I won't get on their nerves," said Perryman.
"I hope it is just more motivation - we can just both work at a high tempo.
"From talking (smack) to the offence to talking (smack) to somebody next to me, (it's) just to get everybody going, everybody get at the same tempo."
Perryman isn't about to give anyone off the field an example of his smack talk.
"I can't say that," he said with a chuckle.
"That's parental advisory right there.
"It's grown men on the field."
But it's the style of play he has had for a very long time.
It actually stems from growing up in Arizona without his biological father and not meeting his stepdad until he was seven years of age.
POLITE OFF THE FIELD
"It started from how I have been brought up from my brothers to my (step)dad from where I grew up from," said Perryman, who is actually a very polite, respectful player off the field with the media.
Of course, if he gets under the skin of the offence in the two-a-day practice schedule for the next few days, it won't be the first time.
"I got a couple personal fouls in my day," he said. "I haven't got kicked out of a game - yet."
Controlling his emotions in the pre-season games will be a key test.
Maciocia and his coaching crew will not take kindly to unnecessary and undisciplined penalties.
That would be the wrong impression to make.
Esk QB Jason Johnson is retiring from one career and embracing another
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, SUN MEDIA
Jason Johnson isn't going to lie.
Retiring from the Edmonton Eskimos before the start of yesterday's opening of main training camp wasn't easy.
But the personable backup quarterback knows there is much more to life than football.
"My dream," said Johnson, "is to produce movies and television shows."
So, the personable 27-year-old has understandably taken a job to produce and direct a 12-part series called Gametime for TSN that will air late this summer.
OTHER FACTORS
There are other contributing factors for leaving the game - being stuck behind Ricky Ray on the Eskimos depth chart and being the marketing director for Booster Juice - but Johnson knows the TSN opportunity is very important.
"In coming to this decision I had a couple of long talks, especially with Ricky Ray and Jason Maas," said Johnson.
"We all kind of had a little powwow.
"And I realized that I have so many big aspirations that right now is a time I couldn't really turn these things down."
Anybody closely following the Eskimos knew that Johnson was in for a dogfight to be on the Eskimos' roster this season.
LONG SHOT TO MAKE IT
With younger and promising quarterbacks Steven Jyles and Stefan LeFors under contract, Johnson was a long shot to make it.
But the three-year member of the Green and Gold wasn't afraid of the competition.
And head coach Danny Maciocia denies Johnson was simply a training camp body to alleviate stress on the other quarterback arms.
"I don't believe in camp bodies," stated Maciocia.
"Every single player who took the field here today has a legitimate shot of winning a job.
"But he was in for a battle, there is no question about it."
After a great college career at Arizona - where he graduated with the single-season record for passing yards - Johnson never really got a chance to show his worth in regular-season games.
He only had 22 passing attempts in three years in Edmonton.
But Ray will miss him.
The pair was so tight - along with Jason Maas in 2005 - that Johnson's production company made a documentary on their lives.
"He has been a good friend of mine the last few years," said Ray. "Not to have him out here and have him in the locker-room is a little bit different."
Ron (Goldie) McClendon knows Johnson still has the talent to play in the CFL.
"The guy had a lot of football left in him," said McClendon.
"I didn't want to see (the retirement) happen. When he is on his game, he is as good as anybody."
Now he is going to be profiling the lives of other CFL players in the Gametime series.
"What the show does is take 12 different players in the league and tells their life story," said Johnson.
"I think one of the neatest things about this league is that every guy in Canada has a crazy, unique story."
Jason Tucker - a top receiver in the summer and a Texas rancher in the winter - will likely be the Eskimo player in the series.
FINISH LINES: By retiring before the season starts, Johnson can come back and play for the Eskimos this year. If the club were suddenly down to two quarterbacks, Johnson would be a logical emergency call-up.
---
DAY 1 CAMP FILE
WHO'S HOT
Patrick Johnson, WR 80
Flashed major speed from the first ball thrown his way yesterday morning.
Ricky Ray, QB 15
Didn't miss a bear on Day 1, throwing the ball precisely where it needed to be.
WHO'S NOT
Ryan Kelly, WR 70
Clobbered by J.R. LaRose, Kelly injured his left hamstring on the play and didn't return.
Kamau Peterson, WR 8
Dropped two seemingly catchable balls.
NOTES
RB Ron (Goldie) McClendon has switched from No. 24 to No. 5 this season. It's his old high school and college number. "It's a whole new outlook for me - and I will start with the number," said McClendon, who has a chance to be the top running back ... LB Mike Botterill has switched to No. 55 ... As expected, McClendon is first on the depth chart at running back, ahead of Josh Ranek. For what it's worth - as CFL depth charts always seem to be questionable in some area - other intriguing listings for Day 1 of camp: Ricky Bell is first strong-side linebacker ahead of Ray Perryman, Jabari Issa is first defensive tackle beside Rob Brown, Shannon Garrett is first at one cornerback position ahead of Jonte Buhl.
INJURIES
QB Jason Johnson has retired.
Dinged up on Day 1
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON
The body language said it all.
Literally sitting on the sidelines on the Clarke Park field turf yesterday, Stanford Samuels wasn't happy with how Day 1 of Edmonton Eskimo camp ended.
A highly touted free-agent acquisition, Samuels has injured his left leg - in the groin/hip flexor area.
"You never want to come into camp and be hurt the first day," said Samuels, who is wearing Malcolm Franks's old No. 10.
Before hurting his leg, the defensive halfback looked very strong on opening day of camp.
"The first practice (yesterday morning) it started bothering me a little bit and progressively got a little bit worse," said Samuels. "So they stopped me before anything pulled."
It's unclear if Samuels will miss today's two practices.
CAMP CHATTER: Nobody came to camp in better shape compared to last year than Ron (Goldie) McClendon, according to Eskimos head coach Danny Maciocia.
"The guy is in phenomenal shape. His body fat was cut by more than half," Maciocia said.
CULTURE CHANGE: Not happy with the culture in the locker-room last year, Maciocia is trying to pound home certain messages this year.
"All these guys understand why they are here, what their jersey represents, the tradition and history," said Maciocia.
"And they understand there are certain expectations that come with it."
The definitive verdict on the culture of the room will come later in the season, likely when adversity hits.
ESK-CETERA: Defensive end Adam Braidwood has dropped 20 pounds from last year, but there doesn't seem to be much concern. "Braidwood is a man and I wouldn't want to mess around with that," remarked Maciocia. "When the lights go on, he is going to be a warrior out there."
FINISH LINES: Former Eskimo linebacker Singor Mobley and his young daughter were curious fans from the sidelines during Day 1.
Ray of hope
Perryman makes his case
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, SUN MEDIA
Ray Perryman is four-for-four at Edmonton Eskimo training camp.
Through three rookie camp sessions and the first full day of main camp yesterday, the dynamic import has managed to make an impression on head coach Danny Maciocia every single day.
Trying to make the club as a strong-side linebacker, Perryman couldn't have asked for a better start.
"Hopefully he keeps it up," said Maciocia. "I like him an awful lot.
"He is a no nonsense kind of guy.
"He brings attitude to the field of play and understands his assignment.
THREE YEARS IN NFL
"At the end of the day, those are the guys you want to surround yourself with."
A three-year NFL veteran - 10 games between Jacksonville and Baltimore - Perryman is trying to become the long-awaited answer to the Esks' search to replace former stud Steven Marsh.
Gerald Dixon wasn't the answer, which explains why Maciocia gave him the boot.
Competing against CFL vet Ricky Bell and rookie Siddeeq Shabazz this year, Perryman is standing out for two reasons: his mouth rarely shuts and he can seemingly cover the entire field.
The 28-year-old made two eye-catching plays on either side of the field in yesterday's second practice.
First, he knocked heads with running back Josh Ranek in a drill that isn't designed for heavy contact.
Second, he abruptly dragged down 11-year CFL veteran receiver Mookie Mitchell on a pass route.
Combine that with his constantly flapping mouth and it's easy to understand why Perryman is the odds-on favourite in press box row to get in a fight on the field with the offence sometime this week.
"I hope I won't get on their nerves," said Perryman.
"I hope it is just more motivation - we can just both work at a high tempo.
"From talking (smack) to the offence to talking (smack) to somebody next to me, (it's) just to get everybody going, everybody get at the same tempo."
Perryman isn't about to give anyone off the field an example of his smack talk.
"I can't say that," he said with a chuckle.
"That's parental advisory right there.
"It's grown men on the field."
But it's the style of play he has had for a very long time.
It actually stems from growing up in Arizona without his biological father and not meeting his stepdad until he was seven years of age.
POLITE OFF THE FIELD
"It started from how I have been brought up from my brothers to my (step)dad from where I grew up from," said Perryman, who is actually a very polite, respectful player off the field with the media.
Of course, if he gets under the skin of the offence in the two-a-day practice schedule for the next few days, it won't be the first time.
"I got a couple personal fouls in my day," he said. "I haven't got kicked out of a game - yet."
Controlling his emotions in the pre-season games will be a key test.
Maciocia and his coaching crew will not take kindly to unnecessary and undisciplined penalties.
That would be the wrong impression to make.
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