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The popular image of a football middle linebacker goes something like this: He's the hairy-knuckled hellion who grunts instead of speaks, who cheers when a ball carrier breaks a bone (especially if it's sticking out), who drools at the sight of an unsuspecting quarterback and who can produce more violence and coarse language than any Quentin Tarantino movie.

Think Dick Butkus or Dan Kepley and you get the idea.

But then there's Saleem Rasheed, the Calgary Stampeders' middle backer, who takes a slightly different approach to things. While Rasheed is driven by the same need to stop ball carriers cold in their tracks, he doesn't posture or try to break limbs. He doesn't go all Ray Lewis and hip-hop himself into the spotlight when he does what he's supposed to do.

Instead, he plays football the way he lives his life, with a stated fervour and need to be good without being garish.

"I try to put 100 per cent into playing football," said Rasheed, whose mustache-free beard makes him look the part of a prophet. "I love the game. I want to win a championship. … But I know there are other things I want and one of them is to become a better person."

Meet the Alabama-born, Koran-reading Muslim middle linebacker whose first year in the CFL has been spiked with pain, suffering, rehabilitation, happiness and perhaps a welcomed championship.

For Rasheed, making it to the Grey Cup finale against the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday has been an adventure the likes of which he never anticipated. It certainly wasn't in his plans when he was playing for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers with former Stampeders quarterback Jeff Garcia. It wasn't even a consideration during his year away from football, a year he spent trying to transform his marketing degree from the University of Alabama into a new career.

When that didn't happen, he was contacted by the Stampeders and signed to a free-agent contract. He made the team in June and was named the starting middle linebacker, only to separate a shoulder in the Stampeders' season opener against the B.C. Lions.

It was the beginning of his nine weeks of pain, suffering and rehabilitation.

"I did everything I could to rehabilitate my shoulder," said Rasheed, who would often hold the yard markers for his teammates during practice. "You have to be a patient man — really, really patient. I've tried to adopt that."

When Rasheed came off the Stampeders' injured list, it was September, the month of Ramadan and a time of cleansing. Rasheed, who was born into the Muslim faith when his parents converted as young adults, could neither eat nor drink from sunrise to sunset. He'd practise, but couldn't sip water. He'd get up at 5:30 a.m. and have a large breakfast just so he could stay energized through the day.

He blogged about his experience on the Stampeders' website, noting, "When you go home after practice and you abstain from [food and water], it gives a genuine appreciation for the little things we take for granted."

Rasheed takes little for granted. In his car or on his iPod, the 27-year-old father of three listens to motivational CDs or ones that detail the teachings of the Koran, which he studies daily. He is only too pleased when someone asks him to explain his beliefs and how they mix with such an aggressive game as football.

"Some people feel I'll bite their head off," Rasheed said. "Some are so scared to ask me about being Muslim. I try to be open because there are so many misconceptions out there. Islam's very simple; it's not complicated.

"People who are deeply religious are very passionate people. I want to apply my religious beliefs into my passion for the game."

Rasheed is deeply committed to helping the Stampeders win the Grey Cup for many reasons, chief among them being he hasn't played in a championship game since 2000, his freshman year at Alabama. He did manage a playoff appearance in his first season with the 49ers and figured there would be more to come, but there weren't any more, which is why Sunday's game has another level of importance for Rasheed.

"I kept thinking I'd be in the playoffs all the time, easy," he said. "It didn't happen that way but we have an opportunity now, a very good opportunity to win.

"I only played the second regular-season game against Montreal [won easily by the Stampeders] because of my injury. They have a very explosive offence … [and] a pretty effective running game, but our front seven, we should be fine. We've been so solid against the run."

Starting at middle linebacker. The one without the drool.