Herb Zurkowsky
The Gazette

There comes a point in time in the career of every professional athlete when he must face the inevitable and admit he’s not getting any younger.

It has arrived for rush-end Anwar Stewart, who turned 35 last February.

Stewart raised some eyebrows last Sunday, when Alouettes training camp commenced, following his proclamation that his role on defence would be reduced this season. Surprisingly, he’s at peace with the decision, reached during the offseason by his position coach, Mike Sinclair.

Stewart wouldn’t have acquiesced to this extent two years ago, one of many times over his 10-year career it was suggested that he might be an endangered species around this team. Heck, even when Don Matthews was coaching the Als it appeared Stewart’s future was in jeopardy.

“Sinclair was up front with me. He felt like I lost a step last year and that it’s time to make a change,” Stewart said on Wednesday. “If I wasn’t fine with it, I would have retired. I’m working as if I’m starting. You never know. There can be injuries.”

Stewart signed an extension during the winter and will now be entering the option year of his contract in 2012. The Canadian Football League’s outstanding defensive player in 2004 and the East Division’s nominee again in ’09, Stewart certainly didn’t play like a guy on his last legs. In 17 games last season he had six quarterback sacks, 26 tackles, two fumble recoveries, knocked down five passes and had four tackles for a loss.

He has aged like fine wine.

That’s likely why Als management last weekend quashed Stewart’s suggestion that he’s about to take on a supporting role. While it’s clear the plan remains to have John Bowman and Jermaine McElveen start, the Als have always rotated their linemen. Stewart should be part of that mix and, to get more playing time, might be used inside, at tackle.

“How much his role’s reduced, we’ll find out. It may never be reduced,” general manager Jim Popp told a media scrum last Sunday. “One thing we know about Anwar as long as he’s been here, he’s never missed a down. At the end of the day he’ll probably play as much or more than any of them. But, as he ages, we want him to be fresh when we put him on the field.”

Stewart acknowledges he has no more than a year or two left in the tank, at most. Well respected by his teammates for his indefatigable work ethic and football knowledge, he seems content to live with the way things play out - but isn’t ready to be put out to pasture.

“I’m an old man. At the same time, I get the job done,” he said. “I’m accountable and my teammates like me. A lot of players are dropping like flies. But the old man pushes himself and gets respect because of his hard work.

“So what if I’m 35? Who are you to tell me I can’t?”

Stewart will continue playing on special teams, if things proceed as expected. The rest is up to him. “It’s up to me to fight for another position or rotate,” he said.

Courtesy: www.MontrealGazette.com