THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON — A week ago, fleet-footed receiver Marko Mitchell was catching passes from Brett Favre, preparing for the Minnesota Vikings’ season opener against the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
On Wednesday, Mitchell stepped onto the soggy turf at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium in the drizzling rain, part of the latest airlift of tossed-aside talent for a team enduring one of the most nightmarish seasons in its history.
"They told me to come in, make plays, and use the vertical speed that I got, so that’s what I plan on doing," said the six-foot-three 218-pounder from Alabama.
The first CFL game he ever saw was Edmonton’s Labour Day 52-5 humiliation on Monday at the hands of the Calgary Stampeders.
But Mitchell, 25, figures he’ll be ready for the three-down game when the 8-1 Stamps come up to the Alberta capital to face the 2-7 Eskimos for a rematch Friday.
"There are things that I can use to my advantage with a wider field," he said.
Mitchell is a man in need of a break. A year ago he was on top of the world. A seventh-round draft pick by the Washington Redskins, he signed a four-year deal worth US$1.8 million and was set to compete for a starting job.
It didn’t happen. He played in 10 games but caught only four passes for 32 yards. Before camp this summer, he was waived.
He caught on with the Detroit Lions, but was let go weeks later and finished the pre-season with the Vikings, catching a 71-yard pass for a TD before being put on waivers Aug. 31.
Reports said Vikings head coach Brad Childress didn’t see him at the wideout spot and didn’t want to train him as a flanker. Don’t ask Mitchell.
"I wish I knew and I just wish I was told what the reason was," he said. "I don’t even know to this day why things went the way they did in Minnesota."
But it was fun while it lasted, he said, especially when legendary quarterback Favre showed up for one more season.
"It was one of them crazy things, when he came back and I caught my first ball from him," said Mitchell, laughing. "I was like, ‘I caught a ball from Brett Favre. I’d like to keep the ball and get him to sign it and hang it up and say, ‘That’s my first ball from Brett Favre."’
Mitchell was among many changes this week for the Eskimos, who are not only being criticized for losing but for how they’re losing. Three of the seven losses have been blowouts, including the last two games against Calgary.
General manager Danny Maciocia has already been let go and the team’s board of directors is now fast-tracking a search for a replacement. Former Saskatchewan boss Eric Tillman is rumoured to be in the mix.
The offensive line has taken much of the heat, and on Wednesday the Eskimos continued to overhaul the front five by cutting veteran tackle Calvin Armstrong.
Armstrong, a 28-year-old import from Washington State, was told Tuesday that he was out, just an hour before his wife Eva gave birth to their first child.
Head coach Richie Hall said Wednesday that the timing of Armstrong’s dismissal was unfortunate, but excusable.
"Any time you have to deliver bad news to anyone, there’s never an appropriate time," said Hall. "It’s a great game and it’s a crappy business, and that’s just the reality of it."
The six-foot-seven 320-pound Armstrong had started in almost every game since he was signed as a free agent by the Eskimos prior to the 2008 season.
In 2009 he was named West Division all-star.
Centre Aaron Fiacconi said it was tough to see Armstrong go, given they had been roommates in training camp and that he had gotten to know Armstrong and his wife.
"They’re my best friends," he said. "It’s emotional. But I know he’s a good football player and he’ll land on his feet.
"(But) we’re under the gun here.
"The offence is only as good as the offensive line goes. Everyone who follows football knows that, and we haven’t been good enough this year."
The offensive line shakeup began when veteran tackle Joe McGrath was released on Aug. 11 and Jeremy Parquet was put into the starting lineup. A week later, offensive line coach Jeff Bleamer was fired and replaced by Tim Prinsen. On Tuesday, the Eskimos traded a 2014 draft pick to Saskatchewan for guard Kelly Bates.
