CFL IS BECOMING A HALFWAY HOUSE FOR NFL'S CONVICTED RULE BUSTERS

Aaron Fiacconi already aided and abetted a criminal once in his
Canadian Football League career, occasionally playing centre on a
Montreal Alouettes offensive line that blocked for the troubled
Lawrence Phillips in 2002.

So it came as no surprise to the six-foot-three centre when the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers assumed Fiacconi would side with a convicted
cheat this upcoming season.

Last Thursday, Fiacconi's Bombers signed running back Onterrio Smith,
an NFL reject serving a one-year suspension for violation of the
league's substance abuse policy.

When he was caught with "The Original Whizzinator" at a Minneapolis
airport last April, it looked then as if Smith had flushed his
football career down the toilet.

A device used to dupe drug tests, the Whizzinator comes complete with
a prosthetic penis, plastic bag and viles of dried urine in powder form.

After the Vikings briefly suspended Smith for "actions detrimental to
the team," he failed an NFL-issued drug test for the third time in
two seasons, earning a year-long suspension.

It was a prompt, disappointing end to a promising career.

Immediately after the Minnesota Vikings took Smith in the fourth
round of the 2003 NFL draft, he, and really only he, anointed himself
the "steal of the draft."

For two seasons, he lived up to his self-assessed status. Smith
rushed for 579 yards as a rookie in 2003, and then, despite being
suspended for four games, led the Vikings with 544 yards a year later.

"He's a breakout player," said Fiacconi. "It's quite an opportunity
to sign a marquee player to boost your team."

Smith joins Charles Roberts, who rushed for a CFL-leading 1,624 yards
last season, in the Bombers backfield.

"I don't think I've ever seen a one-two backfield like that," said
Fiacconi. "It's a two-headed monster. Onterrio is a proven NFL running back."

As is Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, also serving a
one-year suspension for violating NFL drug policies.

But that didn't stop the Toronto Argonauts from offering Williams
refuge in the halfway house the CFL has become. As early as today,
Williams could sign with the Argos, the team that added him to their
negotiation list last month.

"It's certainly a controversial question," Fiacconi admitted when
asked if NFL violators should play in the CFL. "They are two athletes
who put up great numbers. But they're also two guys with questionable
pasts when it comes to drugs."

Williams makes no bones about his propensity to smoke pot, and the
University of Tenessee expelled Smith for use of marijuana. Smith
later starred as a University of Oregon Duck.

"I've been hearing a lot of negative things about Williams signing,"
said CFL Hall of Fame receiver Rocky DiPietro, who played for the
Hamilton Ti-Cats and resides in Port Colborne. "It's always good to
give guys a second chance, but . . . ."

While trying to prolong his career in 2002, Phillips walked out on
the Als at midseason in hope of renegotiating his contract. Despite
rushing for 1,022 yards that year, the team released Williams before
the 2003 season. The decision was made easy after Phillips was
charged with assault and sexual assault in Montreal.

"He had his moments with management and the coaches, but Lawrence
made us a lot better," Fiacconi said. "There's a lot of
misconceptions out there about Lawrence. He was great to the
offensive line, he treated us with the utmost respect. He was a joy
to have as a teammate."

Off the field, however, Phillips greatly differs from Williams and Smith.

Phillips has no fewer than four assault charges, domestic and
otherwise, against him in the States, and he was arrested for drunk driving.

The latter two running backs don't have a history of violence, but
neither are role models, according to DiPietro.

"I'm a teacher and I hate to see kids get that impression that you
can cheat, use drugs or take a shortcut," said DiPietro, now a
physical education and math teacher. "It looked like the CFL turned
the corner (after slumping attendance and ratings). I just hope this
doesn't tarnish their image."