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June 3, 2016

What a Rush

June 3, 2016

John Rush had ample reasons to walk away from the game that meant everything to him. And do so with a toxic mix of seething anger and crushing disappointment.

Rewind to 2013 and a devastating knee injury at a University of Guelph practice that not only ended the gifted linebacker’s season, but carried over to the 2014 season – his draft year.

He was passed over by all nine CFL teams in the draft and, as Rush tells it, then had a choice to make: knuckle under and walk away from the game or use the whole thing to fuel his competitive juices.

“It was pretty devastating when that happened and I didn’t know if I was going to play football again,” began Rush after day 6 of main training camp. “A lot of guys don’t return from an injury like that. But I said, ‘Let’s do this. I can’t live without football.’ I worked my butt off that all summer and it kind of paid off.”

Yeah, you could say that.

Jon Rush

Rush was named the winner of the CIS Presidents’ Trophy last year, awarded to the nation’s top stand-up defensive player (the first Guelph player to do so since Mike O’Shea in 1992).

He then parlayed that into a look-see from the Bombers.

“We saw in university that he was a guy who had a real nose for the football,” said O’Shea. “He just finds the football. Two years he struggled with an injury and it hampered him. But, boy, when you look at the film from last year he was all over the place and he made a ton of plays.”

Jon Rush“I heard through the grapevine last fall that I was on the Bombers’ negotiation list… I didn’t even know what that was,” added Rush with a laugh. “And then they called me up one day and said, ‘Would you like to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers?’ I’m like, ‘Hell, yeah!’”

It’s a great story and a heart-warming tale. But it’s here where things also get complicated for the likable Niagara Falls, Ont. product. The Bombers are overflowing at linebacker, even more so with the number of Canadians on the depth chart fighting for spots in veterans Sam Hurl, Jesse Briggs, Garrett Waggoner and Teague Sherman, and 2016 draft picks Shayne Gauthier and Frank Renaud.

And so, even though Rush is the youngest guy in camp and is coming off a career year in the CIS, he’s got some work to do to pop off the page.

Then again, that’s all anyone wants at this level; an opportunity.

 


TRAINING CAMP CENTRAL

ALL THE LATEST ON THE BOMBERS’ 2016 TRAINING CAMP.


 

“There are a lot of great linebackers here. Coach O’Shea played linebacker so he loves having good linebackers around.

“I’m going up against guys who are 26-27 years-old that have been in the league for a couple of years. It’s intense. It’s a battle every play. These guys have seniority so they are obviously taking more reps. So if I get only one or two reps in a drill I really have to capitalize on them and if I don’t it just looks bad on film. And if I do capitalize, maybe I can get more reps.

“It’s an intense process, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love it. This is my life now. There’s no school, no girls… it’s just straight football. This is what I’ve dreamed for my whole life, to be in a camp flying around with some amazing football players. It’s a true honour.”

 

BOMBER CAMP REPORT – DAY 6

OUCH REPORT:

Missing practice Friday were CB Johnny Adams, LB Kyle Knox, LB Duron Singleton, DE Justin Cole, DE Derrell Johnson, DE Sam Scott, LB Shayne Gauthier, WR Alex Vitt.

SB/WR Jace Davis also pulled up lame during Friday’s session, but returned later to finish as a spectator.

Meanwhile, RT Patrick Neufeld was back at his post, as was RB Tim Flanders.

 

COMINGS/GOINGS:

The Bombers added DB CJ Roberts (6-0, 180, Colorado State-Pueblo) while releasing OL Lawrence Martin.

Roberts joined the Bombers late last season and spent the last month on the team’s practice roster. He played in 51 games at Colorado State-Pueblo and was a three-time all-conference selection. He had a stint with the Arizona Cardinals last year, but was one of their last cuts.

 

SHORT AND SWEET:

Mike O’Shea was asked to weigh in on a couple CFL vets during his media session on Friday.Mike O'Shea

First, here he is when asked about what he might expect from DE Jamaal Westerman, who finished second in the CFL last year with 17 sacks:

“I can’t say enough about his preparation. He’s a fantastic pro, he’s a leader in that regard and a fiery competitor. We see that. I look to him to get better.”

And on K Justin Medlock:

“He kicks well. What do you want me to say? He’s a 88-percent kicker,” said O’Shea with a shrug and a chuckle. “He’s really good. He’s still really good. Justin Medlock is the premier kicker in the CFL and we’re lucky to have him.

 

REMEMBERING BLUTO:

O’Shea broke into the CFL in 1993, near the end of Chris Walby’s hall of fame career. Asked if he had any recollections of the first player named to the Bombers’ new Ring of Honour, O’Shea offered up a dandy little tale.

“Yeah, he jumped on my back once… more than once, probably. I remember standing next to a pile and just getting blasted from behind and splashed by Bluto (Walby). And then he helps me up and it’s ‘Sorry, a guy pushed me.’ I watched the film and he just ran up and knocked me down and jumped up and laid on me.

“But… I love the guy. He’s fun to be around. As a young player competing against him I got a chance to socialize with him a few times as a real young player and he was so accommodating and so welcoming into the CFL fraternity. Just awesome memories with Chris Walby.”