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Unamba viewed the rest of proceedings of training camp with a rare set of caring, compassionate eyes, knowing that for half the players involved they were about to leave their dreams behind and make the transition to the real world.

The 30-year-old is one of a very few who was given his so called apple and road map and somehow, someway managed to return and not only get another chance to play. Now he begins his time with the CFL’s flagship franchise as a certified star.

“I came to the CFL in 2014 in Winnipeg and had a really good year. I was the Bombers special teams player of the year and one of the top three or four players in the league on special teams. The next year they had a new defensive coordinator, and I came to camp and ended up getting released,” he said.

“Saskatchewan picked me up, and I had another good year, and the G.M down got fired, and I ended up not re-signing. I sat out a whole year, and I didn’t get picked up, and no one showed interest.

“I had to get a real job. I had to make a life decision. And I ended up selling roofing installation.”

His professional football career was over. The Southern Arkansas product that had spent time with the St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills coming out of college was at the end of the line as a pro player.

How exactly does one go about selling roofing installation?

“You go door to door,” he said.

In his case, that involved the summer heat of Dallas, Texas.

“It was hot. My back would be hurting. I remember people would slam doors in your face. I’d get up ridiculously early in the morning and not get back home until 10 p.m. I literally walked around neighbourhoods until in the evening,” he said of calling on houses that appeared in need of shingling, attic insulation and windows.