Ticats’ colourful linebacker Lawrence backs up talk with solid play

TORONTO – Simoni Lawrence wonders if the Toronto Argonauts might’ve been better served starting the 2016 season against a different opponent.

Toronto hosts its arch rival, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, to kick off the regular season June 23 at a refurbished BMO Field, the CFL franchise’s new home.

“You know how like in college teams do their senior night and stuff and you play a real crappy team, their homecoming team,” Lawrence, the Ticats’ colourful linebacker, said with a broad smile this week during a CFL promotional event here. “They should’ve tried to do something like that.

“I don’t think we’re the ones to open up in a stadium like that.”

There will be no shortage of hype leading up to the contest. It not only involves two long-standing rivals but also features many former Argos and Ticats facing their old teams.

There’s also the matter of Hamilton sweeping all three regular-season meetings last year before ending Toronto’s 2015 campaign with a 25-22 East Division semifinal win at Tim Hortons Field. And then there’s the gregarious, fun-loving Lawrence further fanning the flames with his words.

But to know Lawrence is to understand him. The six-foot-one, 235-pound former Minnesota Gophers’ star loves to talk and often saves his best material for the field.

“Simoni is a good dude,” said Toronto running back Brandon Whitaker. “He can talk trash but he just tries to get inside peoples’ head, that’s his thing.

“It definitely messes with some people . . . he’s good at what he does. He can talk a good game but he’s a good linebacker, I can’t take anything away from him.”

Lawrence said those players who get to know him understand what’s said on the field stays on the field.

“I might talk about their mother during the game but after the game it’s all good,” Lawrence said. “But teams in the West might be on eggshells around me like, ‘Is this guy really that crazy?’ “

Still, that didn’t stop Lawrence from messing with Ottawa Redblacks’ receiver Chris Williams’ mind at the CFL promo event.

“So I’m looking over at him and I don’t say nothing,” Lawrence said with a sly grin. “I just look at him.”

But Lawrence backs his words with action. Twice he’s been named an East Division all-star and was a league all-star last year while being named a finalist for the CFL’s top defensive player award.

However Lawrence understands it’s head coach/VP of football operations Kent Austin’s job to annually find players to challenge Lawrence.

“That’s how it should be,” Lawrence said. “That’s the only way to get better.

“That’s why I love camp so much. Everybody who plays football should love competition.”

One player who’ll compete for playing time with Hamilton is veteran slotback Chad Owens. The 2012 CFL MVP joined the Ticats as a free agent after six seasons with Toronto.

“He’s with a bunch of rottweilers and pit bulls now,” Lawrence said of Owens. “He’s with people that all they love doing is playing football and dominating.

“Chad is a great player . . . he’s going to bring leadership, he’s going to bring experience, he’s going to bring a work ethic.”

But while Lawrence possesses a quick wit, he’s also savvy enough to know when to hold his tongue. Like when he was asked if the Ticats are rottweilers and pit bulls, what then are the Argos?

“I don’t know,” he said with a chuckle. “You almost got me.

“They (Argos) didn’t appreciate getting swept last year and those guys aren’t going to just roll over (June 23). They’ve got a Hall of Fame quarterback (Ricky Ray) and they have a great coaching staff so it’s definitely going to be a dogfight.”

Lawrence began his CFL career with Edmonton in 2012, making one start before being dealt to Hamilton in February 2013. He’s blossomed into a star with the Ticats, registering 210 tackles, nine sacks, seven interceptions and three fumble recoveries the past three years.

Lawrence credits Austin for his success in Hamilton.

“When I got here . . . he just said, ‘Be yourself, have fun, be productive and the rest will take care of itself,’” Lawrence said. “A lot of people just see coach Austin on the sidelines (but) coach Austin is a cool dude.

“If you ask him about his basketball days, he’ll take you back . . . and don’t ask him about back when he played. I know coach Austin loves me a whole lot but I know every year he’s trying to find someone to replace me . . . and if you take that personally I feel like you’re not a true competitor.”