Geroy Is Heading Back To BC

If it was the right thing or the B.C. Lions to honour Geroy Simon at a game last season, what they are doing for him on Thursday is even more beyond the bounds of political correctness.

Simon is returning to the football home where he belongs.

The Province has learned the CFL team is about to announce that the league’s all-time receiving yardage leader will leave his post as an ambassador with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for an expanded role with the Lions.

The 39-year-old is not about to play or coach in the league but will be involved in an assortment of business, community and personnel-related functions with the Lions.

Simon had several scouting assignments last year with the Riders, and it is expected he will be asked to do the same with the team where he had his 12 most productive seasons. B.C. has one administrative vacancy since the club did not renew the contract of Canadian draft co-ordinator Kelly Bates after last season,

The Lions took substantial heat when they couldn’t agree on a playing role for Simon in 2013 and traded him for draft picks to Saskatchewan, where he was in spot duty on the field up until he helped the Riders win the Grey Cup in Regina and became a favoured son in the football-mad province.

However, Simon never cut all ties to the Lower Mainland, where he maintains a home and is currently working in a quarterbacks and receivers camp with former teammate Paris Jackson.
He never dissed the Lions either, saying when he was honoured by the club and the City of Vancouver last year that there would be no question he would represent B.C. upon eventually entering the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

That will be underscored when he is introduced in his new role with the Lions. It’s precisely the kind of shot of adrenalin a franchise coming off a disappointing 9-9 season can use.


(Vancouver Province)