Mike Maciejewski signs with CFL's Tiger Cats

By Michael Thayer
STAFF WRITER

Over the past six months, Mike Maciejewski has been training and working to accomplish a single goal. The goal was to make it pro, and play in the National Football League. However, there is yet another obstacle in his path.
If you want to get technical, he has accomplished his goal. This is because he has made it to the professional level in the world of football. However, it will not be with the NFL.

A contract was signed between Maciejewski and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats April 30. Hamilton is a team for the Canadian Football League, comparable in Canada to the NFL in America, as well as one of North America’s oldest football teams.

With options to leave for the NFL, trade or even more money, the two-year contract will have the receiver in Ti-Cat colors through 2010. His first year will pay $40,000 and an additional $5,000 will be paid for the second year. There are also incentives of up to $15,000.

Although there is a future in the professional realm, it is not the future Maciejewski expected.

“I’m not going to lie,” Maciejewski said. “I’m a little disappointed. I thought it [the NFL] was for sure.”

After not receiving a call, it left Maciejewski, his agent, his family and friends wondering what had happened.

“Something went wrong,” Maciejewski said. “I was on two teams’ draft boards, but still not invited.”

However, there is no quitting in an athlete who has had to overcome adversity his entire life.

“I know I can play at that level,” he said.

Therefore, the CFL will be just another step to get to the “big show.”

“Might not be as much money, but most people would be happy,” he said while discussing his future. For now, he will rely on support from friends and family, and his talent to get him through.

The team reports to a 21-day camp beginning May 28. Maciejewski will finally solve one challenge that he always faced ­— troubled vision. Undergoing lasik eye surgery in mid-May, this wide receiver already has a great vision of what he wants and what it will take to get there.

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