TORONTO – Dwight Anderson is one of the Canadian Football League’s most polarizing figures. His physical appearance and boisterous personality can certainly be misleading. In actuality, Anderson is a very kind-hearted, genuine individual. Although he may be perceived as a “distraction”, the Argonauts’ newly acquired defensive back is not concerned with the negativity surrounding his persona. Anderson is a proven winner and is confident that CFL fans will eventually come to appreciate his energetic, high-intensity playing style.
“Always,” chuckled Anderson when asked if he feels that he is often misunderstood. “I get my laugh when I see people finally realize that I’m really not that bad. That’s when I get to have some fun.”
The 33-year-old Spanish Town, Jamaica native is not afraid to acknowledge his personal flaws. Truthfully, nobody is perfect. Deep down, everyone has secrets that they willingly withhold. Furthermore, it may be just a bit hypocritical for people to scrutinize individuals who, for all intents and purposes, wear their emotions on their sleeves.
Anderson’s reputation as a notorious trash-talker has developed as a result of his vibrant on-field antics. To the naked eye, it would appear as though he is a conceited and egotistical individual. However, once again, that is a false assumption.
The key question that has yet to be answered is: Who is the real Dwight Anderson?
When posed with this question, Anderson paused for a moment. He analyzed his surroundings, turned his head slightly, and with a grin spanning from ear-to-ear, began to discuss his life off the football field.
“Off the field, I’m sweet. Everybody loves me,” stated a jubilant Anderson. “I am one of the nicest, coolest guys you could possibly be around. I’m really level headed.”
A father of three young boys, Anderson is far removed from his days as a wide-eyed 25-year-old CFL rookie playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Without question, the University of South Dakota graduate has matured significantly since his early playing days in Hamilton. Anderson understands the immense responsibility that coincides with being a father of three young children.
Football does not define Anderson. It is simply his profession, a means of supporting his family and making his children proud. When asked to comment on the most difficult aspect of being traded, the former two-time Grey Cup champion promptly stated, “It’s definitely my family.”
“My wife will get comfortable with the other wives and then we have to move,” continued Anderson. “My kids will make some friends, and then, here we are leaving again. It’s more difficult on them than it is on me.”
Education is certainly a top priority, especially for young children. Their time in school is critical as it assists in the development of a structured and balanced lifestyle. With this in mind, Anderson prefers to have his children reside in one specific city rather than constantly relocating.
“It’s stressful,” commented Anderson. “They come up here for the summer and at the end of the summer they go back home for school. They need some consistency and that’s what we have in place for them right now.”
Anderson’s professionalism has been called into question on several occasions over the course of his eight-year CFL career. Many argue that Anderson’s undisciplined nature makes him a liability on the defensive side of the football.
It’s no coincidence that the Toronto Argonauts elected to roll the dice on Anderson. General Manager Jim Barker and Head Coach Scott Milanovich both have strong ties to the veteran defensive back. Milanovich was the offensive coordinator in Montreal when Anderson signed with the Alouettes in 2011. The duo spent one season together as Milanovich departed following the 2011 campaign, ultimately accepting the head coaching position in Toronto.
Anderson is admired and despised by a legion of followers who are fascinated by his intriguing psychological make-up. For Anderson, things have truly come full circle. This particular trade is symbolic of his transformation from being an immature, inexperienced football player to a well-respected, consummate professional.
“Things have really come full circle. It’s a special connection that you establish over the years,” declared Anderson, making reference to his relationship with Jim Barker and Scott Milanovich. “Believe me, if I was a terrible person, they wouldn’t want to deal with me.”
“People just want to misconstrue things and make me seem eccentric. They really don’t know me,” added Anderson. “People always want to judge others. I guess they assume that just because of the way I play, I live a reckless life. That’s not how it works. When I’m on the field, I have fun and play the game with true passion.”
Insider Extra – Secondary Assistance
In just his second practice as a member of the Double Blue, Anderson received repetitions at both halfback and cornerback. As the Argonauts continue to prepare for this Saturday’s home game against the Calgary Stampeders, Anderson’s role remains unclear. Despite possessing previous knowledge of Tim Burke’s defensive schemes, there is still plenty of new information that he has yet to grasp. Anderson is working diligently to familiarize himself with the various nuances of Burke’s hard-hitting, fast-paced defence and states that he is pleased with the progress he has made since arriving in Toronto.
“I’ve been in this defence before so it’s just about refreshing my memory and getting rid of that old (Saskatchewan) playbook that I have in my head,” said Anderson. “I was going over the playbook and everything started coming back to me. Today’s practice (Wednesday) was a lot faster being out on the field. I was moving a lot quicker and reacting to the things that I saw. I’ve been picking up the defence relatively quickly.”