Brown Can’t Hide Excitement

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

The Argos are about to get a significant boost come Friday night in the return of veteran DE Jonathan Brown.  However, the true measure of Brown’s return may not only be measured by his on-field play but his impact in the locker room.

The unofficial emotional leader of the Argos’ locker room since arriving in Toronto in 2004, Brown has been sidelined since the team’s second pre-season game with a back injury. His activity on the sidelines, big grin and intense focus on the game from the sidelines witnessed by many does not do justice to his excitement to get back into the lineup.

“I am just blessed to be back playing the game that I love and I am ready to go”, said Brown with a smile ear-to-ear.  “I am just champin’ at the bit”.

Brown enters the rotation along the defensive line that has performed very well this season but has dropped off in sacks in the last few games.  Brown, who sits second on the Argos all-time list in quarterback sacks, believes that he can help the team sustain pressure on the quarterback when the Argos face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Friday night at Rogers Centre. He also states that, despite a disappointing first half of the season, this team has what it takes to alter their own course.

“I love this game and all I want is for people to play this game with passion”, he remarked.  “Our coaching staff doesn’t ask too much of us, they don’t ask us to stay here nine hours a day or anything like that.  So when we get here (to practice), we have to bring our lunch pales and come to work.  If we do that, I think we get this thing going in the second half”.

His aforementioned leadership is by no means undervalued by his teammates. “He is a special player but on top of that, he is a great locker room guy”, said veteran CB Jordan Younger, who debuted with the Argos at the same time as Brown. “He brings energy to the team; energy to the defence and he is one of the guys we feed off of.  We need more energy right now, we need a spark and we need somebody to make impact plays and he is that kind of guy”.

Brown replaces  RB Jarrett Payton (released) in the lineup.  Other additions to the roster this week include WR Jason Carter, who will not only make his Argos debut but start at WR in place of Reggie McNeal who is on the 45-man roster but is unlikely to play.

Added to the roster today was RB Amos Allen who will likely see significant time at kick returner. Coming off of the roster will be punter Eddie Johnson who has been placed back on the injured list as he continues to rehab his injured shoulder.  CB Byron Parker is on the roster but whether he plays or not is still up in the air.

“He is really questionable right now so he is a game time decision for us”, said Head Coach Bart Andrus.

Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Rogers Centre.  The Argos will be celebrating the 1960s as they host Retro Night.  The club will also be celebrating one of its greats when DT Jim Stillwagon is added to the All-Time Argos banner in the Rogers Centre rafters during a special halftime celebration with over 40 Argos alumni on-hand.  For tickets, please call 416.872.5000 or click here to purchase online.