NFL cast-off brings potential to Calgary’s CFL crew
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It’s probably the most important signing of Dave Dickenson’s brief time within the GM’s chair with the Calgary Stampeders.
On the very least, it’s attention-grabbing as heck.
The Stampeders have added former NFL quarterback P.J. Walker to their apply roster — a transfer made Tuesday that raises a number of eyebrows and positively questions concerning the future on the pivot place.
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“We all know he’s a great participant,” mentioned Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, being cautious to stay cautiously optimistic within the early days after Walker was acquired quietly in a commerce of negotiation-list belongings with the Toronto Argonauts a number of weeks again.
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“He can transfer — he can throw,” continued Dickenson. “He’s assured. He’s had success.”
Walker is, certainly, a bona fide QB.
One who might effectively match the CFL mould.
The 30-year-old native of Elizabeth, NJ, performed in 21 NFL video games from 2020-23, making 9 begins alongside the best way. Seven got here with the ho-hum Carolina Panthers, earlier than two extra — of marked significance — got here for the Cleveland Browns throughout their resurgence final yr.
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He was an integral a part of the Browns’ Weeks 5-7 of the NFL schedule, serving to them to wins over the visiting San Francisco 49ers — 19-17 — and the host Indianapolis Colts — 39-38 — earlier than a 24-20 loss to the host Seattle Seahawks. In these respective video games, Walker went: 19-of-34 for 192 passing yards and two interceptions; 15-of-32 for 178 passing yards and one INT; and 15-of-31 for 248 passing yards with two touchdowns and one INT.
However most necessary is he has a big-league resumé.
“We’ve seen him play in different leagues,” Dickenson mentioned. “We made the commerce hoping we might entice him right here, and we have been ready to do this.
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“He needs to see what the CFL is all about. We’ll get him in control.”
Walker appears recreation to do exactly that.
With simply three tilts left on the Stampeders schedule, he’s introduced his younger household — spouse Ashlei and seven-month-old daughter Aubrei — with him to take a look at Calgary.
That’s not only a drop-in-and-see-what’s-what transfer from a soccer participant who didn’t know something concerning the CFL a short while in the past.
“For us to come back down as a household, we’ll see what’s attainable for the following couple years — or no matter it’s — and no matter comes with it,” Walker mentioned. “So for us, it’s simply to come back out and see it and get the expertise.
“I do know loads of guys which were taking part in right here across the league,” continued Walker. “So for me, it’s simply attempting to speak with these guys and choose their mind as a lot as I can.
“You want that management function right here, for certain, however you additionally want to have the ability to throw the ball across the subject and be capable of unfold as a result of it’s a much bigger subject. So for me, it’s about attempting to be correct and be on time and simply go out there and create performs each time we’d like it — it’s simply attempt to go on the market, play my recreation and attempt to be good and simply be decisive and assist the staff.”
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Walker arrives at McMahon Stadium after the Browns opted to not re-sign him — “a part of the enterprise,” he says — and following his latest launch from the Seattle Seahawks.
Since then, he’s been coaching and ready for the suitable likelihood to leap again into the soccer fray.
“I’ve been up at residence, being a dad for essentially the most half and lacking soccer rather a lot, and I simply wished to get again on it,” Walker mentioned. “As lengthy the alternatives offered itself within the NFL, I used to be at all times gonna take these alternatives. And I’m not saying they nonetheless can’t current themselves, however I actually do need to play. I actually do need to go on the market and attempt to assist the staff win and contribute as a lot as I can.”
When that occurs with the Stamps has but to be decided — or a minimum of introduced.
“Unsure … doubt it,” mentioned Walker, when requested if he may take the CFL subject earlier than the top of this season.
Dickenson, nonetheless, appeared to maintain that door open.
“Yeah … I feel there’s a chance,” Dickenson mentioned. “However I simply need for all of us to get to know one another and see what he’s about.”
In his NFL profession, the 5-foot-11, 221-lb. Walker accomplished 185-of-339 passes for two,135 yards and 6 touchdowns whereas dashing 31 instances for 80 yards.
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The QB additionally led the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks to a 5-0 report in 2020 and was main the league with 1,338 passing yards and 15 touchdowns when the season was cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic.
In faculty, Walker performed 49 video games and made 47 begins over 4 years for the NCAA’s Temple Owls and completed his collegiate profession as this system’s all-time chief in completions (830), passing yards (10,668) and TD passes (74). He was essentially the most excellent participant within the 2016 American Athletic Convention championship recreation in a 34-10 win over the Navy Midshipmen and was the primary Temple quarterback to steer the college to a number of bowl-game appearances. For his college profession, Walker accomplished 830-of-1,456 passes for 74 majors and had 342 carries for 763 yards and 9 TDs.
“Like loads of guys, he’s searching for a house,” Dickenson mentioned. “If you’ve performed the sport for seven years professionally, you simply form of need to discover a spot you possibly can slot in at.
“He’s a man that — for me — I wanted to take a look at,” added Dickenson, who reportedly despatched two neg-list gamers to the Argos to get Walker’s rights from their neg checklist. “I’m a minimum of glad he’s giving us that chance. And we’ll see it goes from there.”
Brief yardage
The Stampeders (4-10-1) host the rival Edmonton Elks (5-11) on Saturday at McMahon Stadium (1 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary) for the staff’s ultimate regular-season residence recreation of the marketing campaign … WR Cam Echols (head) didn’t practise for a second straight day Wednesday. Neither did WR Ishmael Hyman (calf) … Each WR Jalen Philpot (sickness), and DB Demerio Houston (sickness), who missed Tuesday’s session, practised totally Wednesday.
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