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November 23, 2018

All About The Team

EDMONTON – No, Kamar Jorden won’t be spotted soaring in the frosty northern Alberta air like some sort of Nureyev in helmet and cleats, pulling a pass out of the heavens on Sunday late afternoon.

He won’t be there to absorb a ferocious hit and keep a drive alive, or howl at the heavens after a touchdown grab.

Chances are, you’ll notice him without looking too hard, nevertheless.

“That’ll be me, yelling and screaming and carrying on on the sidelines,” said the injured slotback, as his Stampeders’ teammates prepared for the 106th Grey Cup on the field at Commonwealth Stadium in a biting wet and cold Friday mid-afternoon.

“Just because I got hurt doesn’t mean I’m going to back away from these guys.

“Hey, they don’t get off that easy.

“I made a commitment to this team, to these receivers, that I was going to see this thing through.

“I can’t be a hypocrite and be telling somebody on the bottom of the depth chart ‘Just stay with it’ while he’s not playing, then I get hurt and slink off somewhere pouting, not there cheering him on while he gets his chance to shine.

“This is about being a team. Being a family. At the end of the day, these guys are my brothers.”

Jorden and another of the injured receivers, Reggie Begelton, arrived in Edmonton on Friday to lend support for Sunday’s showdown against the Ottawa Redblacks.

This isn’t how they’d envisioned Grey Cup going for them, but no pity parities for these gents.

“You have to put personal feelings aside,’’ said Begelton, ruled out for the season after suffering a broken arm in late September.

“Of course it hurts a little bit that I’m not on the field but I’m here to support my family.

“I’m just happy that I’m a part of a team that can make it to three straight title games. That’s a hard thing to do.

“I always try to turn my negative energy into positive energy. I’m not going to stand here and say: ‘Why me?!’ My focus is on helping these guys win this game, any way I can.”

A part but apart.

That’s the lot.

Kamar Jorden stands on the sidelines with his teammates during practice at Commonwealth Stadium Friday afternoon. (Photo by Candice Ward)

Jorden delivered a memorable pre-game pep talk to the receivers prior to last Sunday’s West Division final versus Winnipeg.

“I went back to the very first speech of the season,” Jorden recalled. “I told the guys we have the best receiving group in the CFL. We have to believe that.

“And I meant it. We do. Top-to-bottom, Canadians, Americans, young guys, vets.

“I told them the other day that nothing’s changed just because a couple guys are hurt. Doesn’t matter who.

“I just wanted them to know that going into the game.”

Jorden, of course, was enjoying an incredible season, latching onto 55 passes for 984 yards before blowing out a knee attempting to execute a block against Edmonton during the Labour Day Classic.

“A guy in his position, having the season he was having, what happened … it’s not fun,’’ said teammate Jamar Wall. “It sucks. But he’s been in high spirits, guys have constantly reached out, like ‘Hey, hey, hey, stay in there. You want to go do this or go do that.’

“That’s what makes our team so good. And I love it. Of course he wants to play in this game but he’s going to be here with us and he’s going to celebrate with us as if he did.

“We always include everyone, no matter what.

“You’re not forgotten.”

In the wake of last November’s late Grey Cup fumble, Jorden bounced back in style.

He handled the situation in exemplary fashion – facing the music and moving ahead.

“I don’t feel cheated for a chance at Grey Cup redemption, or whatever you want to call it,” he said. “It would’ve been a better storyline for (the media) to write, I guess. I’m happy. I am. Despite the injury. We’ve got a chance to win a championship.”

Wideout DaVaris Daniels knows the frustration of being hurt. He healed up just in time from a broken collarbone to join the post-season push.

“I kinda bridged the gap between those guys (Jorden and Begelton) because I am back out here playing,’’ said Daniels. “It’s tough for them to deal with this. But they love being around these guys, around practice, being leaders, being a part of the brotherhood we’ve built around here.

“That’s the driving factor for all of us.

“We hang out with each other, hang out with each other’s families, go to birthday parties. We’re good. I mean, good.

“This kind of closeness on a team is something you rarely see, rarely find. So when you do find it, you don’t take it for granted.”

None of them do.

The healthy. The injured. The guys in the lineup. Those waiting their turn.

Sunday.

Together. One.

“I may not be out on that field,” said Jorden. “But this is bigger than me, man. Bigger than anybody. Big. For all our players, for the organization.

“I’m not a Why-me? guy. Everybody has problems. Initially, you’re hurting. Can’t help but be. Maybe the first five minutes, I was like ‘Ah, mannnnnn …’ But then I was already looking forward.

“I’m here. I’m ready. Whatever I can do, I’m in. No different than if I was playing. I’m a part of this.

“And when we get to sip champagne out of that Grey Cup, it’s gonna taste just the same.”