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The two favourite hobbies once listed by Joe McGrath on an old background form are eating and sleeping. One of the books he read in college was The Automatic Millionaire.

Former teammates used to call him "Peter Griffin," thanks to an apparent likeness to the mythical character on Family Guy.

He received a college scholarship to play on the offensive line at the University of Miami, which would be a big deal even for an American teenager, but seemed more improbable given McGrath grew up in Moose Jaw, Sask. At one point, he had it all.

McGrath worked hard and lived life harder, and was typical of many non-imports who play his position, convinced he would have a CFL job for as long as he wanted because he was big and could block. Ten days ago, all of it went away.

Not only was he out of work, released by the Edmonton Eskimos, but coach Richie Hall said he was too soft when he sent McGrath packing.
It was one thing to be released; something entirely different to have a reputation formed because of what a former employer thought of your performance, and the only job prospect was a practice roster offer.

It's not hard to be humble now.

There's a better than reasonable chance, given the deplorable state of the offensive line of the B.C. Lions, that a tentative first step of practice roster work will become more concrete and the 29-year-old guard/ tackle will eventually be worked into the rotation.

If it happens, it will complete McGrath's tour of all four Western Division teams and allow him to continue a seven-year CFL career.

What it will also do is enable McGrath to change the things not only Hall said needed to be fixed but reinforced by Lions coach/GM Wally Buono. And it will also enable McGrath to prove there's more to him than being a Canadian lineman who only has a job because of his passport. "I have a reputation and I think I have to repair it, but I also know my skills," McGrath said Saturday.

"Sometimes you need a kick in the butt because you take things for granted and Wally has given me a kick in the butt. Yes, I need to hustle more, but I want to live up to my full potential and not what others think of my potential."

It had been some time since McGrath had been forced to confront reality.

At Miami, McGrath was at a school which won an NCAA championship in 2001. It meant a party hearty lifestyle, an instant NFL opportunity for many of his teammates and almost a guaranteed CFL job.

"Whether you are a Division One football player and have a lot of opportunity or you're at high school, you think the world is easy," said Sherko Haji-Rasouli, a Miami linemate of McGrath and another player who understood his physical gifts and the role they would play in eventually landing him work with the Lions.

"The fact you're at Miami and have great business opportunities, you definitely had the feeling things are fine and dandy. It's just coincidence Joe is a goofy, play-hard type of guy. I love making fun of him."

McGrath was savvy enough to understand the leverage gained by being a Canadian lineman when he left the Eskimos prior to last season after five years and signed as a free agent with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

But he demanded a trade five days later, costing the Eskimos a first-round draft pick this year to get him back from the Riders. And any remaining equity expired with the Eskimos' 1-6 start.

A player who had his football career seemingly well in order was suddenly surrounded by his father, Joe Sr., who cut short a Las Vegas vacation and flew home to Edmonton to help his son try to figure out what to do next.

The Lions may not represent a last chance but they are the first team willing to give him a platform to present a different side of himself.
"People are going to put you down, and I know I got a bad rep. But 90 per cent of it is false and I know I've got a lot of years left," McGrath said. "I'm always going to have my confidence."

It may not be easy to take Miami out of a Moose Jaw boy but if humility is the goal it helps if you are down to perhaps your last chance.



(theprovince.com)