Published: September 24, 2006 12:18 am      

Mike Mastovich | Simon has 8,000 reasons to smile

What milestone is next for Greater Johnstown graduate Geroy Simon?

The British Columbia Lions slotback enters this afternoon’s game at Saskatchewan as the Canadian Football League’s leading receiver with 1,357 yards this season.

Last week, Simon caught touchdown bombs of 40 and 80 yards from Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson in a 36-20 win over the Montreal Alouettes.

Such performances have become common for Simon, a University of Maryland product who somehow never quite received a fair shot at sticking on a NFL roster during tries with Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

Simon didn’t dwell on such matters when the subject surfaced during interviews over the years. Things have turned out quite nicely up North.

For proof just look at the number 8,000.

Simon surpassed 8,000 career receiving yards in the CFL as he hauled in six passes for 175 yards during the win over Montreal, which just happened to be first-place British Columbia’s seventh straight.

“It feels great,” Simon told The Canadian Press after the game. “I never imagined being able to accomplish that. It feels good and I’m truly blessed.”

Last season, Simon led the Lions in receiving for the third straight season. British Columbia advanced to the Western Final, one game away from the Grey Cup, which is the CFL’s equivalent to the Super Bowl.

Simon turned 31 on Sept. 11. The athletic 6-foot, 198-pound receiver is in his sixth season with British Columbia and eighth in the CFL.

What makes Simon’s career across the border so much more impressive is that no one would have blamed him if he’d have stopped playing after the NFL shunned him.

He already had set records at Maryland, where he caught 185 passes for 2,059 yards and 10 touchdowns. Simon was a star at Johnstown High, catching 127 balls for 2,086 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also was a state track medalist as a sprinter in Class AAA and a basketball standout.

Those accomplishments would have been enough to make most athletes happy.

But Simon was convinced he had more to offer. Now, the rest of the CFL knows he was right.

Simon found a home in Vancouver, Canada. The Lions have a big-play receiver. Simon signed a contract extension through the 2009 season this summer.

After the paperwork was completed on the deal, Lions GM-coach Wally Buono emphasized the impact that this Johnstown native has made thousands of miles away from home.

“This is a great day for our organization and fans of the BC Lions,” Buono said then. “Geroy has been a significant contributor on the field throughout his career and perhaps more important is the work he does in our community.”

Simon has given the Lions more than 8,000 reasons to make such a deal.