Parker Didn’t Hesitate When Eskimos Called Again

Anthony Parker was shocked when the Calgary Stampeders released him during training camp last year.

He was supposed to be a free agent that off-season, but the Stamps offered him a new contract and he was practising with the first-team offensive unit.

“Then I guess they decided to go a different direction,” said the 29-year-old national receiver. “I really hadn’t considered that I was going to be in that position (without a team). I took some time. I had to re-evaluate a few things, but it all worked out in the end.”

After selling a few houses while trying to build a new house for his family, he signed with the BC Lions and played nine games at the end of last season.

Parker also had a chance to play with the Eskimos last year. He drove up to Edmonton at one point and spent 36 hours checking out the facilities and talking to the coaches and Eskimos General Manager and Vice-President of Football Operations Brock Sunderland.

“Long story short, it just didn’t work out for a couple of reasons,” he said. “But despite the fact that it didn’t work, I had such a positive experience in my short time – the staff was great, the facility is great and just how they conduct business here – that was a big draw for me.

“When it came around to free agency again, and the phone rang, and I had the opportunity to come here, I didn’t think twice.”

Parker was one of 12 players the Eskimos signed within the first two days of free agency in February. While he may not be quite as fast as he once was, the veteran can make up for it with his eight seasons and 117 games of CFL experience. Plus, he’s always prided himself on his ability to learn the entire offence, so he’s an option to replace any injured receiver.

“I’m going to be assignment-sound, playing hard, trying to make the plays that come my way,” he said. “If they would love to have me, I’d love to be here and play another five years.”

Parker was born in Vancouver and grew up mostly in the Calgary area. His father, Anthony Parker Sr., was a running back with the Memphis Showboats in the USFL before he came up to the CFL and played with the BC Lions from 1986-89 and the Stampeders in 1990. His uncle, Andy Jonassen, also played in Calgary from 1976-80.

Parker’s father didn’t encourage or push Anthony Jr. into football.

“Truthfully, he never said anything about it,” Parker said. “For some reason, I had this natural interest to play.

“Now, it’s one of those things, shoot, and we talk every day about it. But he always was positive and encouraged me in that sense, but he was never like, ‘Hey, you should try to play.’ It just kind of happened organically.”

Parker learned a long time ago how to overcome adversity. He had three dropped passes and a fumble in the 2010 Vanier Cup championship game but didn’t let it ruin his pro football career.

While he said “that game really stuck with me for a period of time” and he faced a lot of questions about his ability, 12 months earlier he had nine catches for 187 yards and a touchdown in the 2009 Vanier Cup. But once Calgary drafted him third overall in the first round in 2011, “I was able to put that to rest.”

Asked what advice he might give a national receiver just starting his CFL career, Parker said: “Don’t put too much stock in one game or one play. Look at your body of work and try to draw an accurate evaluation of yourself. But be honest, also.

“So it’s looking at things objectively for what they are. Everybody’s going to have a bad game, and maybe you’re going to get hurt, and you’re going to wonder if I can still do this? Just know truthfully, be honest with yourself and know what you’re capable of and evaluate yourself that way.”

For example, if someone drops a pass, they just need to “flush it” or forget about it and “and then go out there and perform the drills and just do what you know how to do. You’ve trained for how long to do a certain thing, and there’s a reason you’re in that position. You’ve just got to go out there and be comfortable and play the game.”

Parker has 185 catches for 2,344 yards and 15 touchdowns during his CFL career. His best season was 51 catches for 654 yards and four TDs over 18 regular-season games in 2016.