DAVID ALTER
Special To Argonauts.ca
David Alter is a reporter and sportscaster for Toronto’s Sports Radio THE FAN 590. David covers the Argos and has covered football at every level dating back to 2003.
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If there is one player on the Argos’ roster who represents how different the 2009 team is to this year’s crew, it has to be CB Byron Parker.
In the off-season of ‘09, Parker used his option to give football down south another try – signing with the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. It has been just under a year since the Eagles released him.
“I had a pretty bad experience in Philly,” says Parker. “Coming back to Toronto after Philadelphia, I came back happy. (Philadelphia) called me to come back and I told them no because I thought I was at a place that I wanted to be at the time, and a place that I thought wanted me as well.”
Upon Parker’s return, he found himself relegated to a backup role, deemed to have fallen behind by not being around during Argos training camp. He would ultimately be dealt, over a month later, to the Eskimos.
Parker played out the rest of the year in Edmonton before going into the off-season to ponder his next move.
“(Edmonton) didn’t call me during the off-season, which was kind of a shock to me. Not that I’m bitter about it, because I’m happy to be a member of the Double Blue,” said Parker.
Parker ultimately chose to come back to Toronto after current defensive backs coach and former teammate Orlondo Steinauer made a big push to management to bring him on board.
“It’s funny because I don’t see Orlondo any differently now as a coach because he was like that as a player, running film,” says Parker. “He does expect more from me though because he’s watched me grow from a player who was new to the game, to a guy who can be a leader on this team.”
It’s clear that Steinauer has seen Parker in a different way, as he has counted on Parker to be a leader to help some of the younger guys like Evan McCullough and Michael Grant adjust.
“There are growing pains when it comes to the secondary, but there has been positive things and it leads for a lot of room for improvement, which is very encouraging,” said Steinauer. “Byron’s been a part of that and the younger guys are learning from him.”
Serious adjustments were made in the secondary, including moving Jordan Younger over from the secondary to a strong side linebacker. Willie Pile moved over within the secondary to be the team’s starting safety and ultimately the captain of the defence.
Parker didn’t adjust in terms of the title of his position but he did adjust his body to grab more speed and be the aggressive corner that head coach Jim Barker wants him to fulfill. Parker used his new found speed in a huge pick-six against the Lions, which helped lead the Boatmen to their third victory of the season.
“I have put on a little weight as I try to adjust to the aggressive type of corner, it’s been fun,” Parker said.
In a media football 101 session that Barker led prior to the start of training camp, the coach constantly talked about the need to have an aggressive corner who is instinctive and can make the big play. Feeling that they had lost that, Barker explained that it was the need for that type of player that a decision was made to bring Parker back.
Despite the tumultuous time in Toronto the year before, Parker is having fun. He’s being utilized to the best of his skillset and both the player and the team are reaping the benefits.