The destination is the same: professional football.

But the journey to get there was not nearly the same as most other athletes.

It all began in Grenoble, France, where Anthony Dable grew up.

“Everything started when I was 19 in France,” said Dable. “I was fortunate enough to have a football team [the Grenoble Centaures] in my hometown of Grenoble, in the French Alps. I played there for five years and then I came to Canada with the hopes of playing for Laval, but I couldn’t because the CIS had changed the rules.”

Despite not being allowed to play for the Rouge et Or, Dable continued to train for that entire year.

The talented receiver returned home for the following season and joined the German Football League, the highest level of football in Germany.

“I went back to Europe, I knew that I had gotten better, so I wanted to play at the best level and dominate,” Dable said. “After my second season with the New Yorker Lions, I won two German Bowl Championships with them and the European Championship.”

During those two seasons, he compiled 2,437 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns while adding an extra 656 yards returning kicks.

With aspirations of playing at a higher level, Dable cut and produced his own highlight reel, which he posted on YouTube.

“NFL UK and [New York Giants Pro-Bowl defensive end] Osi Umenyiora saw my highlights and brought me to London for an Interview and a quick combine,” explained Dable. “That was good enough to have them bring me to Florida for a regional combine. That’s where I met my agent and he started to send out my video.

“That led to a couple of workouts and the first one was with the Giants because of Osi. I signed right away with them and went through OTA’s and training camp with them but I was not able to make the team. Fast forward to this year and I was signed by the Atlanta Falcons, but I didn’t make the team and now I’m here.”

With the practice rosters expanding, the Stampeders brass brought in a few players and head coach Dave Dickenson indicated that there were more players to come.

The goal isn’t to have these players make an impact this season, but he’s not going to rule out that possibility.

“It’s an expanded practice roster, so it’s guys that we’ve had on our list for a while that we want to take a look at,” Dickenson said. “It’s hard to break in and make an impact, but in the past we’ve had a few guys to do it, so we’ll let these guys compete, learn our stuff and see what they can do.”

The 6-foot-4, 220 lb. receiver donned number 81 in his first practice with the Stamps and was out there trying to learn as much as he could.

He just wants to get up to speed as fast as possible, so that he can help his team win and do what he loves to do, play football.

“That was fun,” said the 29-year old. “I got the opportunity to go out there and do what I love. Obviously, I’m new to the system, so I have a lot to learn. I’m behind Quay (Marquay McDaniel) and that’s the guy that I’m looking up to and watching what he’s doing so that I can get on the field faster.

“First I’ve got to get that down so the head coach and the receiver coach can have confidence in me when putting me on the field that I’m going to do the right thing and I’m going to hell my team when I’m out there, that’s the first thing.”