Many vexing, un-vaxxed months for O-lineman Eli

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This article was published 14/05/2023 (853 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Instead of preparing for the 2021 Grey Cup with the rest of his teammates, Asotui Eli was suspended and sent home.

The Canadian offensive lineman couldn’t board the flight to Hamilton with the rest of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the big game as federal regulations prevented unvaccinated players from air travel.

He was the only player on the Bombers who refused to get the vaccine.

Eli, a devout Christian, said he didn’t get the shot for personal, religious, and cultural reasons.

“It was a nightmare,” Eli told the Free Press after Day 1 of training camp on Sunday at IG Field.

“But you know, I still supported the team all the way. Coach (Mike) O’Shea, he really supported me through it all and he had my back. He told me to follow my heart at the end of the day. The team came out and pulled through with the Grey Cup that year, so it ended up not so bitter, but a little sweet as well to see the boys pull it out.”

It’s been over 500 days and Eli, who also sat out last season, hasn’t played a game since.

He signed a three-year contract with the Bombers this past offseason. The club chose Eli out of the University of Hawaii in the fourth round of the 2019 CFL Draft.

O’Shea checked in with Eli on Sunday to see how he was managing after such a long layoff.

“He’s snapping at the beginning of practice, and I just looked at him and say, ‘How’s that feel, Tui?’ And he says ‘I’m living the dream.’ Now, you pass people in the hallway on a weekly basis and they say ‘I’m living the dream’ and they say it in a way where you just know they’re not,” said O’Shea.

“But when Tui says it, you know he absolutely is. The look on his face, the way he says it, the way he communicates with you, you absolutely 100 per cent know that he’s living the dream right then and there. And I appreciate that.”

There’s no manual on how to handle a unique situation like that, but O’Shea didn’t feel it was right to criticize Eli’s decision.

“He’s such a good human being. There would be no other choice. If you made another choice to not support him, you would be going against humanity. I don’t know how to say it, but if you get to know him a little bit, you get to know how good a person he is. He deserves our support,” said O’Shea.

With no football to be played, Eli, who was born in Richmond, B.C., coached the offensive line at a high school in Montana. He also got engaged, raised a litter of seven French Bulldog Pugs with his fiance and mother-in-law, got licensed as a chaplain, and did some renovation work at his in-laws.

He stayed busy, but it was no football.

“It was tough. I kind of watched games from afar, but I was always grinding my teeth wishing I could be back out here. But I also knew where I was where I was supposed to be for the time being so that brought me peace at the end of the day,” said Eli.

Now with Michael Couture signing with his hometown B.C. Lions, Eli is in a battle with fellow Canadian Chris Kolankowski for the starting centre job. Kolankowski has the early edge as he made 15 starts a season ago for an injured Couture.

The 6-4, 326-pound Eli made four starts in 2021 and dressed for all 14 regular season contests.

“I feel really good,” said Eli. “I’ve been working out this offseason and I feel in shape. I’m ready to play wherever the team might need me.”

Bombers cut 12, including O’Shea Jr.

No one ever said professional football was a family business.

The Blue Bombers released 12 players from their roster on Sunday, most notably rookie receiver Michael O’Shea — the son of head coach Mike O’Shea.

“It’s pro football … it happens,” said O’Shea Sr. after Sunday’s training session.

“I got cut too.”

It’s never fun having to cut anyone, but O’Shea admitted it’s even harder when it’s your own son.

“Of course,” he said.

Michael, who played junior football for the Okanagan Sun before going undrafted, was with the Bombers for their three-day rookie camp.

CFL teams must trim their rosters down to 85 players at the conclusion of rookie camp.

The other names released were Americans TaZhawn Henry (running back), Cooper Callis (quarterback), Marc Orozco (kicker), Jordan Brown (defensive back), Tyrique McGhee (defensive back), Karon Delince (defensive back), and Jaivon Heiligh (receiver). National players Tyler Grisolia (offensive line), Chris MacLean (punter), Cedrick Lavigne (defensive back), and Noah Hallett (safety).

Americans Will Allen Jr. (defensive back) and O’Bryan Goodson (defensive tackle) were moved to the suspended list.

Hallett, the younger brother of Bombers backup safety Nick Hallett, is another notable name to be let go, but not a surprise as he’s still recovering from an injury and not able to pass a physical.

The other big news of the day was the Bombers placing linebacker Kyrie Wilson and defensive end Thiadric Hansen, who both tore their Achilles last season, on the six-game injured list.

O’Shea assured reporters that both defenders will play this year at some point.

The Bombers also added Australian punter Jamieson Sheahan (who they chosed eighth overall in the 2023 CFL Global Draft), American wide receiver Braxton Westfield, defensive tackle Julius Turner and Canadian offensive lineman Jakub Scott.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31