Former NFL lineman Aaron Maybin relishes chance to play football in CFL

TORONTO - Now the Toronto Argonauts have no excuse for using a picture of Aaron Maybin as a New York Jet on their website.

The 25-year-old import defensive end made his CFL debut Friday night in the Argos' 23-20 loss to the Montreal Alouettes.

While Maybin acknowledged it takes more than a week to learn a new defence, he said it was a good night.

"Obviously you never want to start off with a loss in your debut game," said the Baltimore native. "But one thing I can say is I'm happy to be back on a football field, man. It was a blast to get out here, fly around and play with these guys. They have an extremely talented team. It's good to be a part of something like that again."

Having already locked up first place in the East, the Argos had nothing riding on the game. As such, they fielded a lineup that was virtually unrecognizable. Seventeen of 24 starters were shelved.

That helped point the spotlight at Maybin, selected 11th overall in the 2009 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. After his stint with the Jets, he was a final training camp cut of the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 18.

The Argos signed him as a free agent on Oct. 27, looking to add some teeth to a defence that ranked seventh in the league with 38 sacks going into Friday's game.

Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich had little by way of immediate review.

"I saw him make a couple of a plays and be athletic but I don't get to study our defence during a game. I'm generally concerned more about what we're running on offence and trying to get prepared there.

"So it'd be unfair for me to really evaluate him at this point."

Wearing No. 56, Maybin accounted for two of the Argos' 33 defensive tackles on the night and did his best to make a nuisance of himself on other plays.

Listed at six foot four and 237 pounds, Maybin is a willowy pass rusher who uses his speed to try to beat defenders. He believes that might be a good fit north of the border.

"It's a lot more of a passing- and skill-oriented game. You see those guys kind of getting into space a lot more. A guy like myself, he can showcase his talents a little bit. I feel like it's a pretty good fit."

Maybin may be a CFLer now but he was wearing an NFL-size shiny chain as he met with reporters.

His last game was in the NFL pre-season. His last regular season outing was last year with the Jets.

"I knew how much I missed it. It was just a matter of me deciding whether or not I missed it enough to make that long-haul commitment again. Being back out here and seeing how (much) fun it is to me and how much you do miss it and all that kind of stiff, it was good."

He says his immediate goal is to try to help the Argos make the Grey Cup.

"Everything after that, we'll kind of figure out as it comes."