I haven’t paid much attention to the Canadian Football League this year, perhaps because other things happening on our football planet — the AFL, the NFL, the Premier League, etc. — have been dominating my time, and also because the Toronto Argonauts are 2-5 but would make the playoffs if the season ended today.
Still, this made me smile just a little.
Montreal running back Jarrett Payton is the CFL’s offensive player of the week after leading the Alouettes to a 30-18 win over the Calgary Stampeders in just his third game in the league.
Payton rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries last week. His performance included a 35-yard run in the second quarter that was capped by an eight-yard score.
It’s impossible to root against Jarrett Payton, whose father was truly one of the all-time greats and was taken from us far too soon because of liver problems. Walter’s son showed flashes of his father while he was at the University of Miami, and many sports fans were hoping that Jarrett would find a spot on an NFL roster one day, but he was cut by the Tennessee Titans in 2006 after being way down on the depth chart for them in 2005.
So far, Jarrett’s biggest football accomplishment was leading the Amsterdam Admirals to a World Bowl title in the now defunct NFL Europe. A small part of me hopes he can lead Montreal to a Grey Cup, and that he scores the touchdown in that game that his dad never got to score in Super Bowl XX.
Good on ya, Jarrett. I know you’re trying to live up to an impossible legacy, but we’re rooting for you just the same.
(Spotted on FanHouse.)
5 responses so far ↓
1 Mark // Aug 18, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I couldn’t agree more. I can’t imagine there is a football fan out there who was alive during the late 70′s or the 1980′s that isn’t rooting for Jarrett Payton to do well.
2 kyle // Aug 21, 2007 at 1:44 pm
his dad is the reason i worked so hard to get into shape his example lives in me today in my children…Walter lives in all that work hard and carry themselves with dignity and passion
3 Dennis // Aug 22, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Jarrett Payton CFL’s offense Player of the week
In the beginning of the season, Jarrett Payton was the forth ball carrier of the Montreal Alouettes. He had his chances because of injuries. He is a NFL style running back so far he played against teams that conceived running yardage. CFL is a passing league a ball carrier needs an average of 5 yards to be effective in this open game league. My opinion he his too slow for the CFL as primer ball carrier. But who know’s? Very exciting football games up north!
4 Darrell Potts // Oct 7, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Great job Jarrett! I’m following your career as closely as any Arkansan can follow the CFL. Your dad was my hero in more than just sports. I named my first son Payton, and on his 5th birthday started showing him what it means to work hard and never give up (showing him some Walter Payton videos). You don’t have to live his legacy, you just have to make your own. I know he’d be extremely proud.
5 Jon Parker // May 26, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Guess where I got the Name for my youngest son Walter…you guessed it. What I like about Jarrett is that he is down to earth and a real person, just like his father. It doesn’t get any better.