It feels good to be back in Calgary again. It’s cool instantly to see all your boys back together again, like extended family. To be back in the locker room for the camaraderie, that’s what I enjoy the most. Then of course the on-field work, that kicks your butt, so you’ve just got to work through it.

The off-season was good for me. I ended up spending a lot of time with family in Virginia, spent a lot of time in Atlanta just working out. Finally, I wasn’t spending an off-season rehabbing my knee, so I was able to do way more this year than I’ve done the last three years.

This season will be exciting, I have another boy on the way. He’ll be here in early September and I’m just excited, man. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the family up here as much as I can and I just love the way the team is with us and our families. They allow our families to come in here and be a part of everything.

For me having my family with me, it helps my focus. Because honestly, that’s probably the worst part is you know you’re coming up here to play football and you have to leave your family and everything behind. The fact that you can get them up here as much as you can – and most of the guys try to – it helps you to feel a little more comfortable. There is no way around it, you do feel the distance of being across the country a lot so having family up here makes things run more smoothly.

I decided to come to camp differently this year. I got my car shipped from Atlanta to Great Falls, Montana, and then I drove up from Great Falls. Once I found out it was only a four-hour-and-a-half drive, I was fine with it. I haven’t really driven through that part of the country before. It’s the most beautiful drive I’ve ever seen, though. The mountains and all the scenery were great!

Now it’s about focus and getting ready for this season to do great things.

Micah Johnson, #93

DL Micah Johnson at 2016 training camp (Photo by Geoff Crane)