TORONTO (CP) _ The Toronto Argonauts are giving running back Andre Durie a second chance.
Durie began the 2005 CIS season with the York Lions as a can't-miss CFL prospect. The year before, he set school records for rushing yards in a season (1,367), scoring (96 points) and rushing TDs (15). In 2003, he ran for an OUA-record 349 yards in a game versus Ottawa.
But Durie's pro aspirations _ he had also garnered NFL interest _ were dealt a severe blow when he suffered a horrific knee injury that had doctors believing the 25-year-old Mississauga, Ont., would walk with a limp the rest of his life.
However, just nine months after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his injured left knee, the five-foot-11, 195-pound Durie will attempt a football comeback. He will report to the Toronto Argonauts' training camp next month after signing as a free agent with the CFL club Thursday.
The Argos also signed York teammate Sean Simms, a defensive tackle who was the club's fifth-round pick in last week's CFL Canadian college draft.
``It's a dream come true,'' said Durie. ``Just playing at an elite level again and having the opportunity to show what I can do and be part of an organization I've dreamed of being a part of my whole life is something I never imagined.''
All eyes were on Durie at last month's CFL evaluation camp when he lined up, wearing a brace on his injured knee, to run the 40-yard dash. Durie's time was a less-than-spectacular 4.74 seconds, prompting whispers that the amiable father of two young children no longer had the physical ability to compete at a pro level.
Shortly afterwards, though, Durie worked out for the Argos and posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.53 seconds.
``Andre has worked really hard to get back,'' said Greg Mohns, Toronto's assistant GM and player-personnel director. ``The question remains, is he completely back?
``We don't know and won't until he gets into a pre-season game with live bullets flying. But we're going to take our time and evaluate where he's at come the end of training came and make some decisions.''
Durie has spent hours rehabilitating his knee, not only lifting weights to strengthen it but also running on it trying to recapture the slashing style and ability to make deft cuts that prompted comparisons to former NFL star Barry Sanders.
Durie readily admits following the injury, he never thought he'd ever play again, let alone be capable of competing for a spot on a pro team.
``I didn't but my supporting cast and everybody that has helped me did and I guess I just fed off of their dreams and motivations for me so I think that now it's coming true,'' he said. ``I believe now I can be a stronger back just because of the things I've been through.
``My mental aspect now is a lot stronger. I think I can be a more stable and healthy back.''
And it was convincing himself that he could come back that Durie says was the biggest hurdle he has faced.
``The rehabilitation, really, has been the easy part,'' he said. ``Mentally, however, I had my doubts.''
And with good reason.
During a game versus Queen's on Sept. 12, 2005, Durie planted his left leg to make a cut when he felt something pop in his knee. Tests revealed he not only tore three ligaments, but also muscles around the joint knee and crushed a nerve that left Durie with no feeling in his lower leg.
Durie had surgery to repair the muscles, then began to rehabilitate them. Doctors didn't want to tackle repairing the ligament damage until Durie regained the feeling in his leg.
That didn't happen until last September, yet Durie was jogging less than four months later, and began sprinting in February.
While Durie's thrilled at the prospect of donning the pads again, he's realistic about his chances of cracking Toronto's roster as an undrafted free agent. If he's released, Durie could return to York this fall, although, predictably, that's not foremost on his mind.
``All I wanted was an opportunity (in CFL),'' he said. ``I want to show everyone that I've worked hard to get back to where I was.''
