“MARK: Nick Arbuckle Gets Ready to Take on Backyard Football with Redblacks”
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File Photo/ Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Nick Arbuckle during practice at TD Place in Ottawa, July 28, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /POSTMEDIA
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Nick Arbuckle was looking for something different, something that could help him take another step forward as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League.
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His solution: Join the major division of the National Capital Flag Football League, which has a few CFL players and many former elite college players in its Division A rosters.
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His explanation: “I’ve watched (Zach) Collaros and some of the best quarterbacks in (the CFL) and they have a really good ability to play backyard football at times. They create things, they scramble, and they make unscheduled throws. I know I have the ability to do it. But I’ve never really focused on being a part of my game in the CFL. I found this to be a great opportunity to work on playing against a live pass rush and live defense. It’s not an opportunity that many CFL players have in an offseason. I get someone charging at me as soon as the ball is caught. I have to walk around. It takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you see things differently. It also felt like an easy way to get into a dome and throw a soccer ball.”
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The background: Arbuckle, who earlier this week signed a one-year contract extension with the Ottawa Redblacks to replace Jeremiah Masoli, emailed Rainy Jodoin, co-founder of the Flag Football League, saying he wanted to join. “I think he thought it was a prank,” Arbuckle said, laughing. “He didn’t think it was me.” Jodoin recruited Arbuckle to his team — the Hurricanes, who have a 5-3 record and sit third in the six-team premier league. In seven games, Arbuckle has 29 touchdown passes, including seven in one game.
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Arbuckle sees it as another opportunity to catch up as he prepares to settle into a season as No. 2 in Ottawa. Arbuckle knows he may not take many game snaps. But it’s all good.
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“It’s the role I had in Calgary for two years (behind Bo Levi Mitchell in 2018-19),” Arbuckle said. “No one wants to be the backup, everyone wants to be the starter and leader of the team. But there’s a lot of value you can bring to the team in this role if you do it well. It’s not just in the game, it’s daily practice to be in the briefing rooms, watch movies and be on the sidelines during games. There’s so much you can do as a backup to help the team win, things that people on the outside can’t see. I will seize the opportunity.”
Arbuckle will be 30 in October. But he thinks he has enough miles left in that arm and legs.
“I firmly believe that (being a beginning QB) will be in my future,” he said. “I hope it’s in Ottawa. I wish nothing bad on Masoli. I hope he can live his career and go out on his own terms. But however many years it may be, I see myself as a starter and as one of the top quarterbacks in this league. I don’t know how long my career will last, but I know I can still play five, six, seven years. I’m 29 but I don’t feel like it. i still feel young My body doesn’t hurt. I’ve only started 18 games in the CFL. Other than that, I’ve only done short yardage. So really, if you add up all the games in the seven years since I left college, I’ve only played one full CFL season. I had some really good moments, I played good football. And I had some things to learn from. We’ll see how things develop. I’ll just keep doing my best and take each day as it comes.”
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Arbuckle lives in Stittsville with his wife Zakiyyah and daughter Aaliyah. They’ve made many friends, and Arbuckle’s agent Rob Fry and his family live nearby. With CFL Free Agency starting February 14, Arbuckle could have waited; maybe there would be a better opportunity elsewhere, maybe a little more money. But he bet on the Redblacks and Ottawa.
“Ottawa was where I wanted to be,” he said. “We love the community very much. I wanted to stay with this organization, I believe in Coach (Bob) Dyce and I had a chance to talk to (new offensive coordinator) Khari (Jones) who I’ve only heard great things about. Being in the quarterback room with Masoli is going to be awesome. I think the Red Blacks have an opportunity to do something very special. i know we can We have the ability to turn this thing around and build something that RNation can be really proud of.”
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It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Arbuckle since he was cut by both the Stampeders and BC Lions. He was invited back to Calgary and won the backup QB job in 2018. With Mitchell injured, Arbuckle got plenty of time as a starter for the Stampeders in 2019. He completed 174 passes for 2,103 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Stampeders referred him to the Redblacks, who signed him as their quarterback in 2020. The Redblacks decided to take a different direction in early 2021 and signed Matt Nichols. Arbuckle signed in Toronto and was traded to Edmonton in late October. He won the starting job from Elks’ training camp but was replaced by Canadian Tre Ford in week 4. With Ford injured, Taylor Cornelius stepped in as a starter. With Masoli injured, the Red Blacks played for Arbuckle last July.
“Parts of it were challenging,” Arbuckle said. “Many adversities have come and gone, but it’s really something that shapes you into who you are.”
THE END AT: The Red Blacks have signed American Praise Martin-Oguike to a one-year contract extension. The 29-year-old defender has played two seasons for Ottawa. Last season he was limited to nine games through injury, had 12 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble.
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Source: ottawasun.com
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