Keeping thrilled to be Montreal bound

UXBRIDGE -- When Jeff Keeping headed into free agency, the Uxbridge resident was looking for one thing above all others.

Opportunity.

That's all the oft-injured former University of Western Ontario product wanted when he began his search for a new Canadian Football League team.

Keeping, a second-round draft pick of the Toronto Argonauts in 2005, declared free agency after the 2007 season, and fielded his first call from the Montreal Alouettes, who had a keen interest in the 6-foot-5 272 pounder.

And that, ultimately, was the only call he needed.

"I made the decision to go to free agency and once I made that decision I was obviously looking for teams to come with offers and Montreal, they were the first team that called me," recalls Keeping, of the process that saw him leave the Argonauts in favour of a one-year deal (plus a club option) with one of Toronto's hated rivals.

"They offered me a great opportunity and I am pumped. Pumped to go and experience the city and I know the team has a great following so I am pretty excited. I've heard nothing but great things about playing in Montreal so it's going to be a neat atmosphere to be a part of."

After enduring many an obstacle as an Argo, Keeping was in search of a situation that would allow him to do what he set to accomplish upon being drafted.

"It's definitely been the hardest part of my experiences over the last three years," says Keeping, of battling injuries and inconsistency. "I'm a player who wants to play through it and not sit out, even if I am injured. Now I am looking forward to the chance to show that I can be not only a durable player, but a strong contributor. The big thing for me is I want to play every down and be one of those Canadian players who is an impact player."

One thing Keeping was able to display during his time with the Argos was an uncanny ability to play almost anywhere on the field. As a rookie in 2005, he opened the year as an offensive guard. Then he was listed as an offensive lineman, a tight end and nose tackle. Then over the next two seasons, Keeping found himself bouncing from one side of the ball to the other as a nose tackle, and defensive tackle, while also seeing time again at tight end, as a full back and on special teams.

As impressive as his versatility was, the seemingly never-ending story of where he'd line up next also played into his decision to depart Toronto.

"Going to free agency gave me the opportunity to find the club that had one position for me to play," says Keeping, who works for his dad over the winter at their sign installation and service business. "Once you have that one position, all the training in the off-season is easier. It's hard to set yourself up for success when you don't know where you're going to be playing. With different positions came different playing weights and it was hard to be at that perfect weight and perfect condition when I was playing four and five different positions."

Tabbed as a tackle by the Als, Keeping is very much looking forward to heading off to Montreal at the end of the month.

"The off-season has been busy with a lot of training and such, trying to get ready here for my fresh start because you got to go in and impress and make all those first impressions all over again. I'm really excited."

The Alouettes make their first regular season trip to Toronto Aug. 15.