Simoni Lawrence, a former Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker, has a resume that would make most Hall of Famers blush, but one accolade has escaped him during his 11 seasons in the CFL.
Lawrence has been a finalist for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the East Division three times: in 2015, 2019, and 2021. He left the CFL awards event empty-handed three times in a row, doomed to always be the bridesmaid rather than the bride.
After announcing his retirement from football earlier this month, the 35-year-old was open about his conviction that he was overlooked, notably in 2019, when he lost to Willie Jefferson of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“I love Willie J; he’s my buddy, a close friend who comes to my place and does stuff. That year, I had more tackles in one game than he did, and he was chosen as the defensive player over me,” Lawrence told CHCH’s Sportline program. “And 2021 wasn’t a close year either, but I think it all depends on what they want it to look like. These accolades are chosen by the CFL; it’s not like the best player receives them.”
Fellow linebacker Adam Bighill defeated Lawrence for the award in both 2015 and 2021, with a clear statistical advantage in the first of those two wins. The second was much tighter, with Lawrence having a little advantage in all statistical categories but still losing.
Both of those defeats paled in contrast to Lawrence’s best season, which saw him record 98 defensive tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions in 16 games. In Week 16 of that season, he set a new CFL single-game record of 17 solo defensive tackles.
“There were games in 2019 where players would say, ‘Man, you got it, bro.'” “You won, bro.” Lawrence laughed. “Like these are grown men with children going ‘No mas,’ you know what I’m saying?”
That dominance did not persuade the CFL media, who voted for the long-armed defensive end Jefferson, despite finishing third in the sack race behind Charleston Hughes and Ja’Gared Davis. Jefferson had only 24 tackles and 12 sacks in 18 games, but he also caused six turnovers and had an interception.
Lawrence believes the decision was based on reputation, with voters unwilling to credit his performance following a contentious late hit to the head from a sliding Zach Collaros in the season opener. The play resulted in a concussion for the quarterback and a two-game punishment for his former teammate, who was never able to shake his villainous reputation afterward.
Rather than holding the play against him, the Upper Darby, Pennsylvania native believes media members should have applauded his accomplishments despite the setback.
“Imagine this: that year, I accepted my sentence and sat down for two games. “Who led the league in defensive plays that year still?” Lawrence inquired rhetorically. “I missed two games, but I came back and led the entire league to help my team win the Grey Cup. When you think about it, the level of football that I was able to play in Canada is unrivaled.
It’s difficult to dispute after retiring as the ninth most prolific tackler in CFL history. However, his impact on the league may be as unparalleled, since his tragic hit on Collaros triggered a chain of circumstances that resulted in the Bombers’ current dynasty.
Lawrence denied himself the only other accolade he had sought throughout his career: a Grey Cup championship.
