PLAYER #97 - RICK MOHR (1982-84)

When the CFL first expanded to the United States in 1993, one of the happiest people to see it coming was former Argo defensive end Rick Mohr. Living in Davis, California, which is located just outside of Sacramento, Mohr was one of the first on- board when the Gold Miners became the first American team to play in the league.

"We were season ticket holders," said Mohr of his family, which includes wife Sally and kids Brittany, Dakotah and Tanner. "I was thinking: 'God, if I was still playing now, I could be playing at home'."

But the Miners' stay in Sacramento was rather short-lived, as they left for San Antonio after their second season.

"It was okay, but they were behind the eight-ball from the start," said Mohr, who said the makeshift stadium only made matters worse. "Everybody here is a 49ers fan, and now the Raiders fans are coming out of the closet. And in Sacramento, it's very hot in the summer, and there are a lot of things to do outdoors. (There's no NFL team in Los Angeles now), and you know, I don't think they give a damn because there's so many things to do there too."

Growing up in San Francisco, where his father was a police officer, Mohr attended the University of California at Davis, where he excelled on the football field. After a free-agent tryout with the Green Bay Packers, Mohr was signed by the B.C. Lions in the 1982 pre-season, and was subsequently traded to the Argos along with Don Moen before the season started.

His rookie campaign was a solid one, as he recorded six-and- a-half sacks and a fumble recovery in nine games, twice earning the Rothman's Lineman-of-the-Week honours. However, the next year was sensational, both personally and as part of the team, as Mohr earned first-team CFL all-star status with a 15.5 sack campaign, which remains the third-highest in team history.

"That was a nice little extra bonus, on top of everything else, but the Grey Cup was more important," said Mohr, who earned his one and only Grey Cup ring in 1983, as the Argos ended their 31-year drought with an 18-17 win over B.C. "For me, I had reached the peak really early in my career, and I tried to keep everything in perspective."

After the Grey Cup season, Mohr continued playing by going directly to the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL, and when their season was over, he came back to the Argos, who then traded him to Saskatchewan for their sack leader, Vince Goldsmith.

"I played back-to-back-to-back seasons, and that's probably why I quit so soon, I was burnt out," said Mohr, who played with the Green 'Riders for two seasons before retiring in 1985.

Upon retirement, he finished school in Davis, and worked for a consulting firm for three years. After that, he and a partner went out on their own, forming Anderson-Mohr Associates, a security consulting firm that designs electronic systems for airports and other major projects. It's a job that has taken him around the world, and made him laugh at Die Hard II, in which faulty airport security made a hero again out of Bruce Willis.