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Scarborough's Dawson has awesome day for Colts

Scarborough's Dawson has awesome day for Colts

By Rob Longley

If Clifton Dawson was going to be in awe of his situation, it would have happened early in the biggest week of his young professional career.

The Scarborough native had learned he was going to be activated by the Indianapolis Colts for last Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay when he had more than just a brush with greatness.

The reality check came from the reigning Super Bowl MVP, the man who was going to hand him the football for the first time in his career as a real professional.

“We were at practice early in the week and Peyton pulled me aside and went over some things,” said Dawson, a Harvard grad and now NFL running back. “He just wanted to make sure we were on that same page.”

Yes that would be Peyton, as in Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

Any nerves Dawson might have had would have shown up at that point.

Yes he was a high school star in suburban Toronto and yes her was the all-time leading rusher in the Ivy League but this was as big as it gets in football.

But rather than freeze in the moment, Dawson seized it. The result was a good week of practice followed eight carries for 24 yards against the Tampa Bay Bucs in his debut as an NFL running back. Included in the day he won’t soon forget was some praise from Manning.

“He is the leader of this team and I didn’t want to let him down,” Dawson said. “Throughout the game he gave me little hints and little reminders. And when I made a good play, he was the first one to come over and say ‘hey, good job.’”

Dawson’s performance was essentially lost in the news surrounding the effort of Kenton Keith in his first NFL start. Keith, the former Saskatchewan Roughrider, was replacing the injured Joseph Addai and responded with 121 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The fact that the Colts felt confident enough to give Dawson a chance is a significant development for grassroots football in Canada. While Dawson did go to the U.S. for college ball, he first excelled in the game at his Toronto high school.

“It was a great opportunity to play football at its highest level,” said Dawson.

Dawson, who was a sixth-round selection of the Toronto Argonauts in 2006, doesn’t know what his immediate future will be, especially since Addai is scheduled to return after the bye week. But after getting a shot, even a brief shot, he is anxious for more.

“This was my first offensive action and you can’t replace experience as an NFL running back,” said Dawson, who was undrafted in the 2007 draft despite being the all-time Ivy League rushing leader with 4,841 yards.

“Hopefully this is a start to a long career. I’m sure it opened some eyes here and at home.”

HEARTBREAKCITY:

Just when you think you’ve seen it all with the Buffalo Bills and they reach a new level of heartbreak.

Monday’s collapse against the Dallas Cowboys was the only downer on what was a brilliant night for the Bills and the city of Buffalo.

A prime time audience on Monday Night Football and a full house at Ralph Wilson Stadium saw an outstanding performance from the banged-up Bills and almost the biggest upset of the season. The loss overshadowed another decent performance from rookie quarterback Trent Edwards who will become the focus of bye-week doings in Buffalo.

Edwards, who replaced injured J.P. Losman two weeks ago, has completed 76 per cent of his passes, looked sharp until the ill-time fourth-quarter interception that triggered the Cowboys comeback.

Now coach Dick Jauron has a decision to make before the Bills return to action against Baltimore next week.

“He doesn’t rattle, he stands in there and takes a hit and he delivers the ball,” Jauron said of Edwards. “I thought he handled it really well. For players who are going to be nervous anyway, playing on Monday Night, it was something.”

VANDYASAINT?: Oakville native and former CFL star Mike Vanderjagt had a tryout this week with New Orleans. Vanderjagt, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys midway through the 2006 season, was one of six kickers auditioning after Olindo Mare missed one field goal and had another blocked last week.

PURPLEPOWEROUTAGE: The Vikings spent much of their bye week learning about the foreign ground known as the opposition’s end zone. The Vikes have the fewest touchdowns in the league thus far and now must find a way to snap out of that funk against the touch Chicago Bears defence. “It hasn’t been anything that the defence has done to us,” Vikes offensive coordinator Darrell Vevell said. “It’s been what we’ve done to ourselves whether it’s a missed assignment or a penalty.”