Did you know McGill University faced Harvard in 1974 as part of the first two international football games? The first battle, fought following the Boston rules, was dominated by Harvard while the second, looking more like a Canadian football/rugby match, ended in a tie.
Well, DeVier Posey knew. Moreover, he taught me the interesting fact. The star receiver we acquired this past winter as a free agent is a different breed. Curious, a little introverted, yet sociable and talkative at the same time, a bit of an intellectual and very spiritual, DeVier signed with Montreal with the true intention of embracing the local culture.
“The soul that Montreal has. I feel like it aligns with who I am as a person,” he told me when we first spoke in February. “I play the game with soul, I love hard, I’m passionate and I think Montreal people are that way too. There is also an underlying sense of connectivity. The city and the organization are inclusive, it has a great family atmosphere. It might be due to the team’s history and pedigree of winning. It has been misconstrued in the past few years, but people have won here. If you wanted to win the East, you had to go through Montreal. I want to bring that back.”
As a matter of fact, he quickly became pals with the best tour guide/translator he could have found in the locker room: MTL born and raised Félix Faubert-Lussier. The two will be rooming together all season on the road and can often be seen strolling side by side after practice.
“We’re quite similar in our everyday lives, said Félix. He’s spiritual, very introspective and he has a good head on his shoulders. He’s very interested in our culture, so he was drawn to the fact that I’m from here and speak French.”
Felix isn’t the only guy DeVier was looking forward to sharing the field with. During our initial conversation, he also mentioned how excited he was to work with Antonio Pipkin and BJ Cunningham. He even spoke to our young QB and devoted veteran receiver before inking his deal with Kavis Reed.
“Pip was still sleeping when I called him, but he took the time to speak with me for about 40 minutes, DeVier said enthusiastically. I also spoke with BJ who right away told me I couldn’t steal his number 85. I didn’t want it anyways, it looks too good on him. BJ and I played against each other in college, we were part of the same draft class, attended the same NFL combine, we’re both from Ohio… I’m excited to play with him. His consistency is remarkable.”
But, on the phone this winter, DeVier mostly asked a lot of questions. At times, I was under the impression that roles had been reversed; he was the interviewer, I was the interviewee. He’s a curious cat, I tell you. Interested and invested, also. He’s one of these guys that you want on your team, because he’s a beast athletically, of course, but mostly for the impact he can have on the mindset of a team.
“DeVier reflects the cultural values that we are working hard to employ and maintain. His football skills speak for themselves, but his maturity, leadership IQ and passion for excellence are truly what made him a must-have player,” GM Kavis Reed explained.
I mean, I was still able to ask a few questions like what entices an athlete like him, 3rd round pick of the Houston Texans and MOP of the 2017 Grey Cup, to choose to bear the colours of the last team in the league. And it’s not because no other offers came through…
“When Kavis called me, I sensed that he was being transparent, honest and open. He told me what he wanted to do with the depth chart. Having the opportunity to discuss with him directly played a huge part in my decision process. I knew that the pressure wouldn’t all be on my shoulders because I’d be playing with other great receivers. I also knew the potential Montreal has on defence with Tommie Campbell, Taylor Loffler, Henoc Muamba and John Bowman. I kind of felt like I was in the TV show Ballers when Ricky is a free agent and getting calls from different teams across the league. At the end of the day, the Alouettes guys showed the most love. I felt like we shared the same vision and the same mindset.”
In Montreal, DeVier is closer to his family. He would have made it work, even if he had gone back out West, but he admits that the (very) long-distance gig was trying at times. His son and wife, who’s expecting their second child, live in Detroit. It helps to be on the same coast. In Montreal, DeVier has his place. He knows he can be himself; the guy who stays a little longer after practice to get more catches in, the guy who takes his veteran role to heart, the guy who leads by his actions. Although our number 5 is far from being the loudest of the squad, he doesn’t hesitate to offer advice. Along with other receivers and the QBs, DeVier travelled to Montreal last spring for an improvised mini-camp. He was quickly spotted helping out the younger guys, including his Canadian teammate Malcolm Carter. Clearly, he’s a natural-born teacher.
« I wanted the opportunity to be a leader. It was important for me to be part of an organization that values the things I do off the field, in the gym, after practice with the quarterbacks and in the meeting room with the receivers. Sometimes, you’re all in and it goes unnoticed, I felt like here, it wouldn’t. »
Khari Jones’ creativity also fits perfectly with DeVier’s style. You see, he’s not the type of player would want to constrain within a system. He needs a little bit of freedom to be at his best, both personally and professionally.
« The one thing that Khari said that got me is he wanted to attack personnel. I’ve gotten frustrated with teams and coordinators who are stuck in systems. I feel best in straight up backyard football, in a my-guy-can-beat-your-guy kind of approach. »
When they bounce from team to team, players can sometimes lose their bearings. They start questioning themselves and why they keep grinding so hard, taking hit after hit after hit, far from their loved ones, far from home. According to DeVier, staying true to who you are in the process is crucial. The quality of his chakras is a real thing for him and he takes the necessary measures to keep them aligned. Visualization, meditation and self-empowerment are all part of his daily routine. If in the most difficult periods, the little voice in his head remains encouraging. And it’s that positive vibe that he wants to spread, here, in Montreal.
“I look at the game of football from a very pure standpoint. To me, it’s about who puts in the most time. That’s how my career has gone and when I see guys not doing the necessary work, I’m the type to voice my opinion. It might sometimes rub people the wrong way, but if I’m going to sacrifice time away from my family, I’m going to care about getting positive results, regardless of where I am. Chasing greatness is uncomfortable. Playing pro football and living out of a bag is uncomfortable. Moving to another country and making it home is uncomfortable. But life happens in those moments. »
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