Adam Eckert played from 2006 to 2007 with the Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Eckert caught 11 passes for 128 yards and 0 receiving touchdowns in his career.

Adam Eckert
Born: May 31, 1978
Winnipeg, MB
High School: Sisler (Winnipeg, MB)
Position(s): QB,WR
Height: 5'11" Weight: 178
College: Dickinson State
Career: 2006-2007

Adam Eckert was inches away from realizing his dream - twice.

This summer, the former Dickinson State All-American receiver began his second season on the Montreal Alouettes' developmental and practice squad. He'd waited a whole season just for the opportunity to put on a uniform and be a part of the team in a regular-season Canadian Football League game.

Eckert dressed for the first two games of the season, replacing an injured player. But, he didn't get on the field.

The Alouettes, despite winning both games, failed to put big numbers between themselves and their opponents. As a result, Eckert was one of a handful of players relegated to the sideline for the entirety of both games.

His golden opportunity had slipped away.

He's been on the sideline since, but not in uniform. After the second week, the player he replaced recovered and Eckert was promptly relegated from the active roster to the practice squad.

The two-week tease left both a sweet and sour aftertaste. Although Eckert is still toiling away with the Alouettes, wanting to get a chance on the field, the 28-year-old Winnipeg native now only hopes he has another chance to realize his dream of playing a professional football game before his patience runs out.


"I'm here obviously to try to play," Eckert said. "I'm not here to be satisfied to sit on the sidelines for my career."

Eckert made an impact in one of the Alouettes' preseason games this year. He had five catches for 29 yards and caught the game-winning two-point conversion when Montreal visited his hometown Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Montreal co-offensive coordinator Kevin Strasser said Eckert's ability to come up with catches and gain yards, albiet unexcessive amounts, made the Alouettes' coaching staff more aware of his ability.

"He's somebody who we wouldn't feel like we were losing anything if he were to be on the field," Strasser said.

Strasser said he understood what Eckert was going through when he didn't get to play in the two regular-season games.

"That's like dangling the carrot right in front of him," Strasser said. "It can play with your mind a little bit."

The Alouettes again teased Eckert last week. He was nearly activated for Montreal's game against the Calgary Stampeders. Instead, he was left off the roster again and forced to stay in Montreal for the road game.

Despite not being a part of the active roster, Eckert spends most days like any other Alouettes player. But when game day arrives, the respect earned in practice is replaced by sobering sideline duty in street clothes. Even worse, when the Alouettes travel, the developmental roster players remain in Montreal.

However, not being able to travel with the team doesn't distress Eckert, who said he keeps busy by working out and studying film.

"It's a matter of time I guess," Eckert said. "Going through this year, it'll be well worth the wait until I get on the field."

Most of Eckert's weeks are predictable and exhausting, regardless of whether the team is traveling across Canada for a game or playing in the French and English-speaking Quebec city.

Some days, he'll finish practice and have more time on his hands than he knows what to do with. Others, he barely has the energy to make a 15-minute phone call to his girlfriend 1,800 miles away in Dickinson.

"It gets lonely," Eckert said. "In the back of the mind, is it worth it? Then you start thinking."

Between practice, weight lifting, team meetings and taking care of nagging injuries, Eckert has learned to balance his time well. He had a slight setback when the often rough receiver footwork drills, as well as a couple of practice miscues, left him without toenails on both big toes.

"I was stepped on a couple times," Eckert said. "Just sliding in the shoes a little bit and slamming toward the front. It was a little painful. It's unfortunate I guess. It didn't set me back any."

Today, his toes are more than halfway back to their normal length, but will still take a few more weeks to fully heal.

"They look uglier than they are," Eckert said with a laugh. "It sounds worse than it is too."

Eckert has had the advantage of playing in both Canadian and American football systems throughout his career.

Before he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2005 CFL Draft, Eckert played high school ball in Winnipeg, then went to British Columbia to play junior football. He ended up at Dickinson State in 2001 through coach connections.

There, Eckert earned All-American honors, broke career records for most touchdowns in a game (five), most touchdown receptions in a game (four) and finished his career as the Blue Hawks' No. 2 all-time receiver with 2,754 yards and 133 receptions.

"He did a lot more things than most guys do," DSU football coach Hank Beisot said. "He was like having a couple guys wrapped up in one."

Eckert said he got used to American football and needed to relearn the system the CFL uses.

Despite the CFL's not-so-glowing reputation in American football circles, Eckert believes it's doing a solid job helping build the sport in both Canada and the United States.

"A lot of people underestimate the talent here," Eckert said. "There's a lot of talent coming from the CFL, going to the NFL. For some it's a development place. Doug Flutie said he had a lot more fun playing in the CFL than he did playing in the NFL."

Eckert also said he likes that instead of a 40-second play clock, the CFL uses a 20-second countdown between plays and stops the clock after every play in the final three minutes of each half.

"The plays go a lot quicker," he said. "Get in and out of the huddle. ... You can't run out the clock."

Strasser said Eckert's style of play fits in well with the Alouettes.

"He can play two to three different positions," Strasser said. "He's a smart football player who has a great feel for the game. He's just a guy who's going to try hard on every down. He's got a tremendous pair of hands with a great concentration level."

Strasser added that because the Alouettes have so many talented, veteran receivers, it becomes difficult for a player like Eckert to get on the field.

Montreal nearly parted with the 5-foot-11, 183-pound slotback when another team was in a fix.

Eckert was almost claimed by the Blue Bombers earlier this month, but the claim was rescinded because Winnipeg would have had to wait 48 hours before claiming Eckert's rights and didn't want to wait that long because they had a game during that time.

Strasser said it wouldn't surprise him if Eckert ended up on another team before the end of the season. However, he added that Montreal won't give him up without a fight.

"He's been extremely valuable to us the last year and a half," Strasser said. "He's so well respected and received here in Montreal."

Despite having the opportunity to play the sport he loves as a profession, Eckert has been paying his dues by skipping most life events a majority of people take for granted.

Other than the short trips during the Alouettes' preseason games, Eckert said he hasn't taken a vacation to Winnipeg since the late 1990s.

He didn't have a chance to see his sister get married last year and has nephews he has seen pictures of, but never met.

"I miss all that stuff," Eckert said.

If he could find his way onto the field during a game, Eckert said some of the frustration may disappear.

"I understand the situation I'm in," Eckert said. "In a way, I'm grateful to be in the situation I'm in. At the same time, not getting a chance to play for a year, it's tough."

Until he gets his opportunity with the Alouettes, or finds himself in a different uniform, Eckert plans to bide his time and hope that one day he'll get the chance to live his dream.

"When it comes, I guess, its hard to say," Eckert said. "I think it'll be worth it. Just to say I went through all this rollercoaster ride of emotions. Playing and staring in college to playing second fiddle to everyone else.

Even if Eckert doesn't get his shot this season, he's willing to wait as long as it takes to get on the field.

"I don't want to quit football to take a minimum wage job," he said.