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24 Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell 905-844-4444 R E A L T YC O R P. B R O K E R A G E I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D Broker of Record SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2010 Long-snapper no longer MacDonald focused on developing as defensive end By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Pat MacDonald's football life is no longer upside down. After bouncing around with three National Football League squads and two Canadian Football League teams over the past three years, the 28-year-old Loyola grad is settling into life as a member of the Montreal Alouettes this season. And MacDonald's view of the field these days isn't upside down anymore, either. Having tried out for the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks as a long-snap- "I felt like I per, MacDonald's primary couldn't hang focus now is trying to out with the develop into one of the punter all day CFL's premier defensive and then go in ends. "I've worked too hard for one play and at this defensive-line snap the ball thing," the 6-foot-2, 265- between my pound MacDonald said legs, no matter Monday, a day after the Alouettes defeated the how much the Edmonton Eskimos 33-23 money was." to even their season record at 1-1. "I feel like n Pat MacDonald I'm really close... I'm not there yet, but I'm close to being able to be out there and be the type of player I want to be. I would hate to just chase another pipe dream." That's how MacDonald describes his past attempts to crack NFL rosters. He began long-snapping in 2007 as a freshman at the University of Alberta, where he sent out video of his snapping abilities to NFL squads. The Saints signed him shortly afterwards, but released him six weeks later. MacDonald then returned to Canada to play for the Calgary Stampeders, who had selected him in that year's CFL Draft. Subsequent tryouts for the Panthers and Seahawks also didn't work out, and MacDonald says he knows why. Too intense for long-snapping "The problem was, being a defensive lineman is a completely different mindset from being a long-snapper. A long-snapper is calm and does the same thing every day, and a defensive lineman is intensity. I couldn't flick the switch from being a D-lineman to being a long-snapper," he said. "I was trying to play D-line out there when all they wanted me to do was be a role player. "I just couldn't do that. I was too much of a football player. I felt like I couldn't hang out with the punter all day and then go in for one play and snap the ball between my legs, no matter how much the money was," MacDonald added. "They give me shoulder pads and a helmet so I can hit people. Not to bend down, look between my legs, snap the ball and run down the field trying not to get hit." NFL tryouts hurt CFL career MacDonald feels trying out for NFL squads also hurt his chances of earning consistent playing time in the CFL. By the time he would be released by the American teams, CFL tryouts were well underway and clubs' depth charts had already been determined. He lasted two years with Calgary (where he won a Grey Cup, although MacDonald didn't suit up for the championship game), then played last season for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. MacDonald signed this season as a free agent with the Alouettes, where he feels he has the best opportunity to both develop as a player and contribute to a championship team. He's worked himself into the defensive rotation, though MacDonald still ranks below Anwar Stewart and John Bowman on the team's depth chart. Stewart, 34, is the franchise's all-time sacks leader, while the 28-yearold Bowman had 12 sacks last season. Learning by watching "Those guys I watch every day," MacDonald said, "and we've got the best D-line coach I think, in either league, in coach (Mike) Sinclair. He went to three Pro Bowls and played in the NFL for 12 years. I've learned more from him in four weeks here than I had in my whole career." MacDonald saw a fair bit of action in the Alouettes' season-opening loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but didn't see the field as much in the victory over Edmonton. "It just depends on the game plan, the length of drives, the heat, the conditions," MacDonald said. "I prepare every game like I'm going to play. You always have to be ready. That's the way of a rotational guy or a backup." And, if necessary, MacDonald will still be ready to go in if Alouettes' long-snapper Martin Bedard goes down to injury. "That's a skill that's always deep in my back pocket," MacDonald said. "The more you can do... I try to maintain that skill, because you never know." ON THE LINE: Loyola grad Pat MacDonald is playing defensive end for the Montreal Alouettes this season. PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTREAL ALOUETTES