Dream a little longer…

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/01/2011 (5363 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

To truly understand Brendon LaBatte — the likable Prairie kid who anchors the Winnipeg Blue Bomber offensive line — it’s best to rewind to draft day 2008 when the Bomb Squad made him the sixth overall pick.

CFL draft choices hardly get rich on their first contracts, if at all, but LaBatte was ecstatic because the extra cash in his pocket meant he could get new tires for his truck and perhaps quit his part-time gig working at Crazy Charley’s Building Supply in Regina.

So when the topic of making it big in the NFL came up during a chat this week — he’s had workouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts in the last month — it was only natural to ask if he had visions of owning his own villa and a fleet of the finest automobiles dancing in his head.

“Oh no, no,” said LaBatte with a chuckle. “I just need my bare essentials paid for so I can do what I want. I don’t need none of the flashy, extravagant stuff.”

That said, LaBatte — like Bomber defensive end Phillip Hunt, who worked out for five NFL teams over the last month — could hardly be blamed for dreaming big about the NFL and all the financial trappings that come with landing a roster spot down south, what with the minimum salary in 2011 set at $325,000.

That kind of dough would mean a whole pile of tires for LaBatte and would represent the culmination of a dream for someone like Hunt.

But while any CFL star who leaves an established situation for an NFL tryout does so with some risk — will a team draft or sign free agent stars at his position? Will he just be a training-camp body? — the uncertain labour situation down south has made any possible move that much more uncertain. The NFL’s current collective bargaining agreement expires on March 4 and there are rumblings about a drawn-out battle that would mean any money LaBatte and Hunt might receive up front could evaporate quickly if they’re not getting regular pay come next fall.

“It’s just so tough to get a read on things right now,” said LaBatte. “We were being told if there is a lockout it might only affect offseason workouts and that something would be resolved before the season. But my whole thing is, I’m not big on taking a pay cut as I’m closing in on my prime. If I’m going to take less money up front then I have to be pretty confident I can go in there and compete and hopefully get on the active roster where you can make the money.

“It’s not worth going down there just to be a camp body when I know I’ve got a good thing in Winnipeg. One thing I’ve come to appreciate is (in the NFL) you’d come in as low man on the totem pole and wouldn’t know anybody around the offices — you’re just a free agent trying to make the team. In Winnipeg I know everybody and everybody treats you good. That makes it awfully appealing. You can’t put a financial value on that.”

If LaBatte doesn’t like the lay of the NFL land in the next few weeks he’s indicated he may play out the option year of his current deal with the Bombers and take another shot next year. After all, he still is only 24.

Hunt, meanwhile, turned 25 this week and as the CFL’s QB sack king, has had workouts with Minnesota, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New England and Houston. Again, however, he must weigh chasing the NFL dream against a blossoming CFL career.

“I want a signing bonus worth enough that me and my family could live off it for the season just in case the NFL goes into a lockout or if things don’t pan out and I come back to the CFL during the season,” he said. “I want to have enough so that my family has some stability. The Bombers are a great safety net for me right now but I can’t see myself putting that in jeopardy for an NFL tryout without a signing bonus.

“Me and (Bomber GM) Joe Mack have a good relationship and I know they’ll take care of me in Winnipeg. I don’t want to put that stress on myself where I have to go to the NFL just to make a practice roster when I’ve got the situation I have in Winnipeg.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca