Harris: No hard feelings

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/07/2022 (1214 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — Andrew Harris is not one to hide his emotions. There are few, if any, in the CFL more passionate about the game than the 35-year-old future Hall of Fame running back, and he’s often at his best when that passion is overflowing.

As he gets ready to play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, his hometown team and the one he played a large role in delivering back-to-back Grey Cups, his words have unusual restraint. Now a member of the Toronto Argonauts, who snatched Harris up on Day 1 of free agency and made him the highest-paid running back in the league, he’s opting to keep his emotions in check.

“I’m not really talking about it. Yeah, it’s my old team and, yeah, it’s my hometown and there’s lots of history there. That’s in the past, in the rear-view mirror,” Harris said following the Argonauts walk-through at BMO Field Sunday. “When you get too caught up in the emotions and other things, you’re not focusing on football. I’m just trying to focus on football and as far as our locker room is concerned, there really hasn’t been much talk about it at all. A couple of guys have asked me ‘How’s it gonna be.’ And I say, ‘Ah, just another game.’ There will be a couple more high-fives and stuff before the game, but once that whistle blows, I’m going out there to get a win.”

Monday’s matchup will be the first and only reunion this season since Harris and the Bombers parted ways over the winter. Harris, who played five years in Winnipeg and won the league rushing title three times, hoped to stick around for at least another season, to be part of the club’s bid at a three-peat.

The Bombers had other ideas, opting to move on from the aging star to usher in a new era in the backfield, one that features a younger duo of Brady Oliveira and Johnny Augustine. Harris wasn’t happy with how he was treated, and in the weeks and months that have followed his departure, he’s aired his displeasure publicly.

This week Harris claims to be over the disrespect he felt and is more focused on getting the Argonauts a win after a tough outing last week in a 44-3 beatdown by the B.C. Lions. Toronto can take over sole possession of first place in the East Division with a win over the Bombers.

“I’ve definitely put it behind me. You’ve got to move on in this business and life. Just keep moving forward,” Harris said. “The past is the past and I’m really thankful for my opportunity in Toronto.”

While Harris might be downplaying the significance of facing his former teammates, his current team isn’t buying it. They’ve seen what Harris brings to the field each day, the dedication and leadership he displays and the mountain-sized chip he has on his shoulder.

They’re just glad he’s on their side.

“Those are his boys over there. Come on, he wants to win more than anybody,” Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson said. “And if our offence has half a heart, we’re gonna go out there and scratch and claw every single inch for Andrew to get that win. It’s a big game for him, and we’re gonna do our best for him.”

“He hasn’t made it about himself. He hasn’t talked about it much,” added head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “But I know in the back of his mind, it’s a big deal.”

Bethel-Thompson only knew Harris as an opponent prior to him signing in Toronto, even if he had heard great things from people across the CFL. But to see firsthand how he puts in the work, and the leadership he brings, he has a whole new appreciation for Harris as a teammate.

And his praise couldn’t be higher.

“You hear about how much guys respect him and like him across the league, but you never know how guys operate in the building. It’s the highest level of respect as a football player, as a man, as a leader, as a teammate,” Bethel-Thompson said. “He’s energy every day. I can’t say enough good things. He’s just an awesome person, an awesome football player, and a special, special individual.”

Harris said he’s enjoying his time in Toronto, calling it a new chapter for his football career and also his life.

“The biggest thing for me was getting to know my teammates, hanging out with them, seeing how they vibe, how they practice, how they attack the day to day. The playbook was one hurdle and just understanding the things they do and how they can utilize my assets and skill sets, and getting to know the coaches as well,” Harris said.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton