‘He gives you everything he’s got,’ Clemons says
By Sean Fitz-Gerald,
National Post
MISSISSAUGA – In the quiet moments before the snap, when the linemen were still and the breeze rustled through the trees, it almost seemed possible to hear the joints in Mike O’Shea’s body crinkle like a breakfast cereal as he bent into position.
Some might have sounded more like a cement mixer, because all of them have been abused over the course of a professional football career that began more than a decade ago. O’Shea has played with a separated shoulder, a dislocated elbow and a blown anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. He has played while fans hurled insults, pennies, quarters and in one case, milk.
But he always played. And he continued to lead the Toronto Argonauts defence at practice yesterday, as a 35-year-old middle linebacker who also happens to lead all Canadian Football League defenders in defensive tackles this season.
O’Shea has recorded 24 tackles through four games, which gives him 962 over his 13-year career and leaves him behind only Alondra Johnson (1,084) and Willie Pless (1,241) for most in league history.
What might be more impressive is that when he lines up, despite his age and the wear and tear on his body, O’Shea remains at both the geographical and spiritual centre of Toronto’s defence.
“I would also say anatomically — the heart of the defence — as well,” Argos coach Michael Clemons said. “His desire, the way he plays through pain, through injury, and the way that he persists. It doesn’t matter what the score is, nothing matters with this guy. Every play, play in and play out, he gives you everything he’s got.”
O’Shea missed his first regular-season game in nine years last year after he separated his shoulder. But he only missed one game, and played with the injury through the entire second half of the schedule, including the playoffs.
He was grumpy for most of the fall and refused to talk about it, but not because he was afraid of someone trying to attack his shoulder. It’s just that injuries are something football players have to deal with.
“If I’m well enough to play, and well enough to do my job,” O’Shea said, “then there’s no excuse for missing tackles or blowing assignments.”
That kind of ethic has come to define Toronto’s defence. Signs affixed to both doors of the defensive meeting room are emblazoned with the acronym FIFO, which stands for “Fit in, or f— off.”
And it seems to work. Since 2003, no CFL team has surrendered fewer offensive touchdowns than the Argos. Toronto’s defence has been beaten 116 times.
Edmonton (130) has allowed the second-fewest, followed by Saskatchewan (132), Montreal and the B.C. Lions (133). Hamilton has allowed the most (168).
O’Shea spent the first three years of his CFL career with the Tiger-Cats, but has spent the better part of 10 seasons with the Argos, which makes Hamilton fans among his most vocal critics.
It was in Hamilton where O’Shea had milk poured on him by a young fan.
The first thing the Argos tell rookies preparing to play at Ivor Wynne Stadium is not to stand too close to the back wall near the bleachers, and don’t stand too close to O’Shea.
“It takes a lot for him not to be on that field,” said long-time friend Mike Morreale, who happens to play with Hamilton. “It’s not for anything selfish, it’s because he wants to help the team. He’s probably one of the most unselfish players you’ll ever be around.”
O’Shea dismissed talk of his statistical achievements after practice yesterday, saying “there’s nothing meaningful about stats.”
“Tackling’s part of the game,” he said. “You have to learn how to do it properly and you have to be proficient at it at this level, and I’ve missed my share, that’s for sure. But what’s more important is recognizing who makes the play.
“Let’s just look at the first couple games: We’ve got a rookie, Jeff Kelly, come in there and run into the backfield, drop a guard to his knees, smack the running back and I come in and lay on him and I probably get a tackle. So, I mean, who makes the play? Jeff Kelly makes the play.
“The stats of tackles? Who really cares? I think what’s more important is making plays and being accountable to your teammates for your responsibilities.”
