Reggie Slack never imagined being in the position he found himself in last night. He didn't dream of being a winning quarterback on a rejuvenated football team.
But after a steady, unspectacular performance in the Toronto Argonauts' 24-8 victory over the Ottawa Renegades in front of a crowd of 18,734 at the SkyDome, the 34-year-old journeyman was at a loss for words. Making his first Canadian Football League appearance since 1999, Slack felt reborn.
"Over the past two years, football was on my mind every day," he said.
In a second and certainly unexpected stint with the club he started his Canadian Football League career with in 1993, Slack exhibited the steadiness of a veteran with a surprising amount of athleticism left in the tank. He completed 11 of 22 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his first start in well more than two years. He also ran seven times for 59 yards.
But it's leading a struggling team to a much-needed victory over a better-than-expected divisional rival that excited Slack.
"There's no doubt I'm excited about the opportunity to be back in the league," he said. "I'm excited about this win. The true meaning, for me, is something I'll come to terms with later when I get a chance to look back.
"This is one of the biggest moments of my life, one of the biggest moments of my career."
Slack hadn't thrown a meaningful pass in more than two years. Released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in March of 2000 while battling a drug addiction, Slack returned to his alma mater, Auburn University, to complete his business degree. He signed with the Montreal Alouettes last year, but never reported to camp.
He thought his football career was over, until the Argos called early last month. They needed an experienced pivot to groom rookie Michael Bishop, who was thrust into the starting job after Stanley Jackson injured his left knee in the team's home opener. Expecting little, Slack left his small Florida sports marketing firm for one final shot.
In his first start since Oct. 17, 1999, he showed few signs of rust, playing the role of a poised leader that the inexperienced Bishop simply cannot. Unlike fleet-footed Bishop, who still lacks patience, Slack was comfortable in the pocket, while also keeping the Ottawa defence off balance with his scrambling ability at opportune times.
While his Ottawa adversary, Dan Crowley, made woeful decisions throughout the game, completing 13 of 31 passes for 141 yards and four interceptions, Slack always seemed to find the open receiver. That ability to make the right decision has been a rarity in a season in which the Argos have scored the fewest points in the league.
After jumping to an 8-7 lead on a two-yard touchdown run by Mark Nohra on the opening drive of the second quarter, the Renegades failed to score again. In a sloppy, penalty-filled game, Slack's Argos kept producing.
"He didn't show the kind of rust you'd anticipate from a guy who's been out of the game for over two complete years," Argos coach Gary Etcheverry said. "His veteran leadership was really obvious."
The steadiness showed on the Argos' third drive of the game. On a Renegades safety blitz, Slack found Derrell Mitchell wide open over the middle for a 43-yard touchdown pass.
Mitchell, a missing weapon in the Bishop-led offence, caught six passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
Slack was helped by the presence of Robert Drummond. Like Slack, the 35-year-old back was brought in as a replacement after Juan Johnson suffered a knee injury a week ago. Both fill a vital role for the rebuilding Argos -- wily veterans who have tasted success in the league.
Although Drummond saw little second-half action last night, suffering from cramps in his calves, he had 66 yards on 13 carries. Fellow newcomer Dave Minnich helped rejuvenate a stagnant ground attack, running for 29 yards on nine carries in relief of Drummond.
And according to the team's new leader, the rediscovered offensive balance will only get better.
"We'll have a potent offence," Slack said. "We have a lot of weapons out there. I'm excited about what we got here."
David Leeder