By Rita Mingo
Calgary Herald

Just when you thought you were more apt to see Maurice Price wandering around the practice field once again, watching his understudies taking all the reps, there was the man himself on Thursday, surprising just about everyone as he took part in offensive drills.

“I feel good,” said the Calgary Stampeders’ receiver, who hadn’t practised all week, hampered by a hip pointer. “I was out there today, running around, being fast, close to my normal self. There still a couple more days to the game so I’ll definitely be ready.

“Today I wanted to give it a shot and it felt good. I’m expecting it to respond well tomorrow and then I’ll be ready for game day.”

While the Stamps have been auditioning others to take his place the past couple of weeks, Price is hoping to once again bounce back from an injury and contribute strongly, just as he did on Labour Day against Edmonton.

“Last time I was in this situation I came in and scored three touchdowns,” he said with a smile in recollection. “So I guess it puts (head coach/GM John Hufnagel) in an unwanted bind, but he knows I’ll be ready, he knows I’m a professional . . . so when I am ready to go physically, it’ll be just like clockwork.”

“He surprised me,” admitted Hufnagel. “He ran well today so there’s a good chance he’ll be in the lineup.”

FULLER ANXIOUS

One of those individuals who has been working hard all week at the receiving position is Jeff Fuller, who joined the squad as a free agent on Sept. 14 and is eager to make a contribution.

“I can’t wait, I really can’t wait,” he sighed. “I haven’t played since my senior year in college. I spent last year with Miami, didn’t play at all, so this is a big game. I’m pretty comfortable. I’m still getting used to the motions. I know most of the offence, certainly the install for this week. Overall, I’m ready to go.”

The 23-year-old Fuller is aware of what is expected.

“Anything you do in life is competitive; in a regular job place, if you don’t do a great job, they’re going to find someone else to do it better,” he pointed out. “With this game, it’s one of the No. 1 sports played, you always have to continue to get better and work on your craft or someone will come in.”

WEST WATCHING

Joe West, meanwhile, will watch one more game from the sidelines as his sojourn on the nine-game injury list draws to a close this weekend. He’s been practising for a while as his shoulder injury has improved.

“The earlier the better, start getting back on the same page with the other guys,” he said of his practice time. “The coaches want to see me out there running; they want to see the progress so I’m going to show them. I’m taking it more serious than they are.”

It was on July 20 when he last stepped on the field and caught a pass in a real game.

“Boy, I’m a happy man,” he smiled. “You can focus on the difficult part or on the positive part. If I take it to a negative position, I could sit there and say ‘man I can’t play. It’s the end. It’s over’. Or I can look at it from another view and learn from another angle. Pay attention to the guys running the routes and see what I can help them with. We want to be a successful team and the only way we’re going to do it is work together and treat them like brothers. That’s what it’s all about.”