Hefney gets his swagger back in Montreal

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This article was published 20/09/2015 (4008 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL — One minute Jonathan Hefney was one of Swaggerville’s top dogs — the next he was watching football on TV and wondering if he would ever play again.

The former Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back had to have a friend call Montreal Alouettes coach Jim Popp and convince him he was worth a look at a mini-camp, after missing all of the 2014 season. Now he’s starting with the Als and enjoying a career resurrection.

“I’m having fun. I have fun whenever I hit the field.Especially now that I’m 30 years old and you realize a lot of people don’t get to do what they want to do,” said Hefney, who leads the Alouettes with four interceptions.

“I had to call around pretty much all last year. I didn’t get an opportunity in 2014. I ran into coach Popp, and some guys called him, and they really wanted me to get a look. Coach Popp gave me the opportunity and I’m just trying to make the best of it.”

Hefney broke in with the Blue Bombers in 2009 and was named East Division Rookie of the Year. He became a ringleader on a defence that led the club to the 2011 Grey Cup game.

But disagreements with the club on a number of issues, including discipline and how we was utilized on the field, resulted in his release during training camp in 2013.

He was picked up by the Calgary Stampeders, but that didn’t pan out.

“I was still thinking about getting released from Winnipeg and leaving my friends, Jovon (Johnson) and all those boys,” said Hefney.

“In Calgary — they’re stacked. They got a pretty nice team. I thought I was pretty good, but the opportunities just didn’t come.”

Popp said Hefney earned his way on to the roster, but is surprised he’s been able to maintain such a high level of play.

“The question was, how long could it maintain after he sat out a year? How good a shape was he in? What was just as fascinating is what level he was at in our league. It just dropped off — or was perceived to drop off — and the next thing you know he was out of the league,” said Popp.

“Either their career’s over with or they get a chance to resurface, and then it’s like: Why didn’t he still play, or why didn’t he perform that way somewhere else? It might have just been the system or what you’re asking him to do.

“We’re asking him to do something different than he was doing in Winnipeg, and it’s worked. He fits into our scheme. He’s like a little kid here with as much energy as anybody in our room.”

Hype for Henoc

Formers Blue Bombers linebacker Henoc Muamba has visited with several clubs over the least week, including a Friday night dinner with Popp and members of the Alouettes staff.

Muamba is looking to make a decision on what CFL team he’ll join if he can’t hook up with an NFL club following his release from the Indianapolis Colts

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“Henoc is a guy that’s just trying to figure out what he wants next. I don’t think most guys want, or are willing, to go around and visit teams. He’s travelled a lot of miles. A lot of guys that are coming back that have been in our league already know where they want to go,” said Popp. “He obviously is not in a hurry. He’s also still probably got some NFL interest. I’m sure he’s going to wait through this weekend to see what happens.”

Popp says Muamba is worth the wait and the hype.

“He can be a ratio-changer for teams. With the rules of our league that’s a huge situation, not just coming in today, but for the future of a team building its team,” said Popp.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless