Darrell Davis: A good player, Ambrosie could be Hall-worthy commissioner

This is Randy Ambrosie’s last year of eligibility for entering the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a player.

A first-round draft pick from the University of Manitoba, Ambrosie had a respectable, nine-year CFL career as an offensive lineman with three teams.

It ended following his 1993 Grey Cup victory with the Edmonton Eskimos as he was about to face a fourth knee operation. Hence, the 25-year window following a player’s career is about to be closed by the Hall of Fame.

Although I’m on the selection committee, I can’t imagine voting Ambrosie into the Hall of Fame as a player and he likely won’t be nominated by the veterans’ committee.

Let’s wait a few years. Judging by Ambrosie’s performance through his first months as CFL commissioner, he’s perfect for the job and could be in office for a couple decades. That will certainly get him into the Hall as a builder, not a player.

You can listen to Arielle Zerr’s three-part interview with Ambrosie online.