By Mitchell Blair
For Riderville.com

Riders defensive lineman John Chick has become the first member of the football team since Jerald Baylis in 1993 to become the Canadian Football League’s top defensive player. The 6-foot-3, 250 pound Chick took the award Thursday night beating out Montreal’s Anwar Stewart as the league honoured its best.

While Chick is grateful to be recognized as one of the CFL’s best, he says he could have waited a couple of weeks before finding out.
“The award is great, but its absolutely secondary,” insists Chick. “My primary focus for this week is winning the Grey Cup. Its an honor and privilege to win, but I wish they could present it after the Grey Cup is over. Everyone is focused on this game and I don’t want this taking away from that focus.”

The Utah State product was one of the leaders of the Saskatchewan defence in 2009. He finished second in the league in sacks with 11, he forced four fumbles and recorded 32 tackles. He also had five pass knockdowns and registered two tackles on special teams.  Despite those gaudy numbers, he refuses to take credit for his performance saying he needed a lot of help.
“I am honoured to win, but I would consider it to be more of a team award,” Chick said. “Look at the season Stevie had, look at what Keith (Shologan) and Chunk (Marcus Adams) did, Rey Williams had a great season, Eddie Davis had a great year. Every guy on that defence helped me play better.  I wouldn’t be in the picture if it wasn’t for them.

The 27-year-old definitely has the respect of one member of the Montreal offensive line that he will bang helmets with on Sunday for the Grey Cup.
“John is very strong and for a big guy he’s very quick,’’ Alouettes left tackle Josh Bourke told the Regina Leader Post’s Murray McCormick. “He’s versatile and has many pass-rushing moves. He’s among the most solid defensive ends in the league.”

What perhaps makes Chick’s story even better is the fact that he hunts quarterbacks with a cell-phone shaped device that is tucked into his equipment. A device that injects life-saving insulin into his body seeing he is a diabetic. John has become a spokesperson for diabetes. He quite often will take time out after a road game to speak to people suffering from the disease, one he has had since the age of 14, and how to handle it. He has also made many travels throughout Saskatchewan as he is an ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He says his message when it comes to diabetes is a simple one.
“People focus on diabetes because its one thing you can physically look at and say its what he’s had to overcome,” Chick said. “The message I try and leave is its not just diabetes, but its anything. Everyone has had to overcome something. You meet the challenge and you step up and do it. You stay positive and if you perservere and work hard enough, you will succeed. I have done that with diabetes and I have done it on the football field. “

Chick’s victory means it is now three straight years that a member of the football club has taken a year-end award. The others being 2008 rookie-of-the-year Weston Dressler, and 2007 most-outstanding-player Kerry Joseph. Chick captured 34 of 55 first place votes by the Football Reporters of Canada to snag the award in this his 3rd year in the CFL.