We expect the great ones to have an armour of teflon where the outside noise from critics and naysayers never ever sticks.
And we expect the greats to also have a sturdy level of confidence that rarely dips and remains as consistent as a metronome.
Most days, Kenny Lawler is all that, and then some. Yet, there are also moments when the veteran Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver has his doubts and his low moments.
It’s how he responds to all that — as he did in last week’s blowout win over the Edmonton Elks with eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns — which says everything about his both his mental and physical capacities.
“That last game, it just felt like a game where we were all clicking,” began Lawler in a chat with bluebombers.com this week. “It’s hard to have games like that to be able to be out there and firing on all phases is very special.
“It’s one of those games we’ll remember for a long time.”
And the game before that? Not so much.
“I had two drops,” said Lawler of the victory in Edmonton back on September 21st. “And when I drop the ball it gets on me, it gets in my mind a little bit.
“I prayed about that a lot, and I leaned on my faith. Those drops bothered me right afterward because I know I have great hands and can catch the ball with the best of them. When I have a drop, I go back over the film over and over and try to figure out the why and then work on it and fix it.
“Now, I wasn’t in my head on that before this last game, but I knew I wanted to have a big game. Sure enough, it happened.”
What happened was what many would call a ‘Kenny Lawler Game.’ Among his eight catches, two stand out — his one-handed grab right near the Elks bench that even had Edmonton QB and former teammate Dakota Prukop applauding in the moment; and his toe-tapping TD grab for a TD on a picturesque throw by Zach Collaros.
“There’s a difference between the idea of him playing angry and being angry at himself,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “He’s a pro. He didn’t like the way he played two games ago and was determined to fix it and be better. And he went out and did some things that people will probably remember for the rest of their lives.
“He’s done that to a lot of people in this league in a lot of different stadiums. He’s just got that ability to make what seems like an impossible catch, possible.”
That’s what Bomber Nation has come to expect from the 30-year-old receiver but has seen only snippets of this season — a year in which he suffered an injury in the opener and then had defences giving him extra attention upon his return.
“My journey this season has been about starting out and getting hurt, coming back after eight-nine games and then getting thrown back into the mix,” he said. “Then there’s certain games where the ball might not be coming your way or you’re not catching the ball to the best of your ability
“So, a game like that is a confidence booster. It’s a reminder that I can continue to do this no matter what the times or circumstances are, no matter how much adversity I’ve been through in a season or in a week I am capable. It’s that little reminder to yourself that you are a great player, and you can make great plays.
“That’s definitely the type of player I want to play every play. It’s just a reminder I can make these kind of plays for my team.”
NON-EVENT: The CFL’s trade deadline came and went Wednesday afternoon with just one deal being made across the league as the Montreal Alouettes sent Canadian RB Jeshrun Antwin to the B.C. Lions in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft.
The Blue Bombers did not make a move. Prior to the deadline O’Shea was asked why he thinks the trade deadline doesn’t have the same blockbusters and headline-grabbing deals of the NHL or NBA.
“Everybody’s still in it,” he said. “Nobody wants to give anything up when they’ve still got a chance. I mean, Calgary was 8-10 and won it all one year. Nobody’s out.
“What’s the typical thing in the NHL… are you buyers or sellers? Well, that doesn’t get talked about because everybody’s in.”
OUCH REPORT: Today’s final full practice injury report before the depth chart for Friday’s game in Hamilton comes out tomorrow morning:
Injury Report: October 2, 2024#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/NREdVc3njS
— x – Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) October 2, 2024