I signed a contract to stay with the Stampeders because it’s a great organization with great fans. And I think that at this point in my career, it’s more about the familiarity of the people and the organization and the understanding that the standard we have set is pretty high in Calgary and I look forward to being part of a team that will try to live up to those expectations.
I’ve probably got a few years left in my career and it’s nice to stay in a play where I’m wanted instead of going out there and trying to find somebody who wants you. We came to an agreement and this is where I want to finish my career. Hopefully, we can ride out on top. I think we’ve got a good group of core guys we’ve been able to keep together and while there’s always some changes every off-season but if you’ve got that good core nucleus, things tend to work out better.
It’s been an active off-season for me. I’ve opened up a new restaurant called the Wing Shack in my hometown of Martinsville, Virginia, so I’ve been working on that. This is 100 per cent my idea. The other restaurants that I’ve owned were already up and running and I just bought into them. But this one is my concept, my idea, my decor . . . I’m 100 per cent into everything. This is my first real test, so it’s going to be interesting.
I’m also going to Orlando in the next week or two to work out with my trainer and get things going to full speed.
The Super Bowl was interesting for me because I started my rookie season with Green Bay, I had friends on both teams and one of my mentors was Mike Tomlin, who I played for in Tampa Bay, so it was a tough Super Bowl to watch from a personal standpoint. But from a strategic standpoint, Green Bay played a good game and you can’t come out and turn the ball over three times like Pittsburgh did and expect to win any game. Whoever wins the turnover battle wins the game 85 per cent of the time and that’s what happened on Sunday.
That’s the way it goes. You know that there’s only going to be one happy team at the end of the season no matter what league you’re talking about.
It’s funny because I was on the FAN 960 radio the other day and they were asking me questions about my Super Bowl experience with Tampa Bay. It brought back a lot of old memories. I’m fortunate and blessed to be one of the few guys who has a Super Bowl ring. You’re able to take that experience and take it forward as a positive factor into any other league you play in. I’m looking forward to using that experience and sharing it with the guys.
The countdown is on to the start of training camp, although anyone who has been through a camp will know what I mean when I say that I hope that it’s a slow count.
But I want to thank the organization and the fans for supporting me and being there for me. I’m hoping we can put a good product on the field in 2011.
DeVone Claybrooks, #95
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