THE CANADIAN PRESS
WINNIPEG — Chris Cvetkovic is glad to be a football player again instead of Mr. Mom.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers veteran long-snapper missed all of last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during his team’s second CFL exhibition game.
"I like Mr. Mom, but I’m not going to lie about it, I’m excited to be back on the field," Cvetkovic said after Monday’s practice. "That second pre-season game I only played seven plays so to me I’ve pretty much been off a year and a half."
While waiting to return for his 10th season and ninth with the Bombers, Cvetkovic split time rehabilitating his injury and looking after his four-year old daughter, Payton, and son Hudson, who turns three next week.
"It was kind of a double-edged sword," he said. "In one way I’m missing out on football and you’re watching someone else do your job for a full year.
"But at the same time … I got to hang out with and play with my awesome kids."
Cvetkovic, 33, was injured when he got caught up with a Hamilton player. Known as one of his team’s pranksters, he didn’t believe the diagnosis.
"Two days after my injury, I was running, jumping, I was doing everything fine and I had no swelling so I thought they were messing with me," he said. "I thought it was a joke because I play a lot of jokes.
"I was kind of shocked about it."
The Bombers brought in Taylor Inglis to replace him, but Inglis was traded to Edmonton in March for two draft picks in this year’s CFL Canadian draft.
"I’m fortunate that (second-year Bomber head coach Paul LaPolice) and them had faith in me because, honestly, it’s an all new staff and I’ve never really played for them," Cvetkovic said. "I’m like a rookie this year.
"Older, more distinguished rookie, but a rookie nonetheless because I’m auditioning again and I’m basically trying to earn my place and prove my worth to them."
The only other serious injury he’s had was in 2007 when he fractured and dislocated an elbow. He was off for nine weeks.
He was cleared to work out in December, but took a break the following month for a very worthwhile cause.
Cvetkovic was part of a group of seven CFL players who took part in the CFL Players’ Association Huddle for Haiti.
The players visited Haiti for eight days during the first anniversary of the earthquake that devastated the country. They helped hand out care packages, dug latrines and worked at a hospital for people who suffered spinal cord injuries during the earthquake.
"I came away with a lot of appreciation for what I have, a lot of appreciation for what my children have, just my standards of living, my way of life," Cvetkovic said. "It’s weird because you’re so grateful for everything that you have, but at the same time you almost feel guilty for a lot of what you have and a lot of what you take for granted."
LaPolice appreciates having Cvetkovic back snapping balls for kicker Justin Palardy and punter Mike Renaud.
"He’s a good pro," LaPolice said. "Somebody I respect."
The Bombers’ second day of training camp included a few veterans on the sidelines.
Defensive lineman Doug Brown was nursing a leg that took a hit from a teammate’s helmet, receiver Aaron Hargreaves limped off after getting tangled up with another player while defensive back Jonathan Hefney rolled his ankle.
Also on Monday, veteran slotback Terrence Edwards, who lives in Atlanta in the off-season, was asked about the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg.
"It’s good because people down south don’t take to (hockey) so give it to a city who’s going to appreciate it," said Edwards, who never went to a Thrashers game.
But he says he’ll probably take in a game of the as-yet unnamed Manitoba hockey club.
"I’m going to go," he said. "Everybody keeps telling me I need to go and how fun it is."
. NOTES: The Bombers announced Monday the signing of import Alex Watson. The five-foot-five, 185-pound receiver finished his career at Northern Arizona University with 194 receptions for 2,250 yards and 22 touchdowns.
