Despite only playing four games this year, Edmonton Eskimos offensive lineman Simeon Rottier is optimistic that he will reach his goal of playing 10 years in the Canadian Football League.
The six-foot-six, 295-pound right guard missed most of his ninth season because of complications from a knee injury dating back to 2014.
“I missed some games a couple of years ago because of that,” he said. “We were trying to rehabilitate it without surgery, so I went on the six-game injured list. But they were worried about it getting re-injured.”
At first Rottier was hopeful he would be able to get back on the field by the end of the season, but as fall dragged on, it became clear it wasn’t going to happen. Aside from health concerns, salary cap issues prevented the Eskimos from dressing him when he was finally ready to go.
He admitted that being re-assigned to the six-game injured list repeatedly was a bit disheartening, but he accepted the fact that he needed time to heal.
“It was a tough pill to swallow, especially going back on the six-game for the second and third time,” he said. “The good thing is that I could have played, but I’m still trying to get back to 100 per cent. I just kept saying that I would be ready when they needed me, but at the end of the day it’s about the team. You want what’s best for the team.”
While he expects to be back in the fall, the 33 year old has his eyes wide open.
“I had a good conversation with the GM,” he said. “At this point they said they would like to have me back and I made it clear that I want to come back. In the next couple of months we’ll know for sure.
“I know the end is coming at some point, but my goal is to play 10 years and then re-evaluate.”
Rottier has many reasons for wanting to get back on the turf, but at the top of the list is the fact Edmonton is hosting the 2018 Grey Cup.
“It’s easier said than done, but the opportunity is there and you don’t get that chance too often in life,” he said.
“If I could go out reaching my goal, that would be pretty amazing.”
Over the winter Rottier will stay busy and said he has a Plan B.
“My wife and I bought some land from my parents,” he said. “We’re trying to see if we can make farming into something we can do for a living. It’s been good to have some downtime with the family, though I’ve been doing a lot of work planning what we’re going to seed next year.”
And if he’s taken to the field for the last time Rottier said he’s happy with his football career and has no regrets.
“My heart and my head are telling me that I need to do what I can to get back in,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, if my body or if someone else says no, that’s how it goes in this business. I feel like I had a good career. But we can talk about that when the time comes.”
