GAME DAY: CALGARY AT B.C., 7 P.M.
Courtney Taylor began to feel the twitches in his right eye in 2008.
They prevented the receiver from seeing the ball the way he normally would. Taylor was playing for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks at the time.
Little did he know then that they would lead to him being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an often crippling disease that attacks the central nervous system and often affects a person's vision.
Taylor was released by the Seahawks in 2009 and has struggled to return to the gridiron. Taylor will suit up for his first game with the B.C. Lions (9-4) today as they host the surging Calgary Stampeders (8-5) in a battle for first place in the CFL's West Division.
He joined B.C. on Oct. 11, 2011, but has yet to play a down in the regular season.
"I've been waiting for this for about three years," said Taylor.
The chance to shine in such an important game comes after Taylor searched in vain for a break. After being released by the Seahawks, he spent two years out of football, working as a mover in Seattle while completing a degree in business administration.
"When I got this opportunity, I was excited to come back and play football. That's how I view it. I get an opportunity to play and do something I love, so I want to take advantage of my opportunity [against Calgary.]"
He will start in place of Arland Bruce (concussion-like symptoms) as the Lions attempt to atone for a loss in Saskatchewan last weekend. In addition to Bruce, top B.C. receiver Geroy Simon is out with a hamstring injury.
The onus is on Taylor, Nick Moore, who will start in place of Simon, and B.C.'s young receivers to play well as the playoffs and a chance for first place and an opening-round bye draw closer.
"The thing is, this is our opportunity," said Taylor, a 28-year-old Carrollton, Alabama, native.
"This is our opportunity to step up and show the coaches that, hey, you guys made the right decision by keeping us here and putting us behind some of the best receivers ever to play the game, in my opinion, in [Bruce] and [Simon.]"
Taylor is now in remission, and takes medication once a day.
"The only time I think about it is when I take a little pill every day," he said.
The former Auburn star became his school's all-time leading receiver with 153 receptions for 2,098 yards and nine touchdowns from 2003 to 2006. But he played sparingly with Seattle from 2007 to 2009 before the Seahawks waived him and there were no takers.
