Alouettes’ Bourke has NFL dreams
Cecember 22, 2010
WINDSOR, Ont. — Josh Bourke will use the option year of his contract with the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes to explore his options south of the border.
The six-foot-seven, 315-pound Bourke has won back-to-back Grey Cups with Montreal and was named an East Division all-star at offensive tackle the past three seasons. By CFL rules, a player going into his option year can explore making the jump to the NFL.
“I have a window and it could be a possibility,” said Bourke. “The NFL is the best league in the world and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to prove I can play.”
Bourke has already had one workout this month with the Cleveland Browns as well as the Philadelphia Eagles, but has not signed a deal.
“We’ll see where it goes,” Bourke said of his NFL aspirations.
He spent a year on injured reserve with the Green Bay Packers in 2006 before being let go in 2007 and signing with the Alouettes, who made him the 21st pick overall in the 2004 CFL draft.
“It’s made me a lot better,” Bourke said of his time in Montreal. “As far as experience, I’ve been a starter for four years and played in a lot of big games.”
Bourke is also not limiting himself to just playing tackle, but feels he can contribute anywhere on the offensive line now that his knowledge base has grown.
“Maybe I didn’t understand different schemes and blocking or if the centre was calling something,” Bourke said of his knowledge of the game coming out of college. “Now, I can go in and play centre and make those calls. That’s a big thing.”
Windsor Star
© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star
If Josh leaves, we're not in a bad position with Kristian Matte who's a natural left tackle, IIRC. We also have Steenbergen waiting in the wings since 2009.
