Infection after knee surgery landed end in hospital, forced lengthy rehab sessions

He has contracts in the fashion industry and is actively involved in various offseason community programs. But there's nothing Marc Megna would rather do than play professional football.

"Football, to me, is the most important thing in the world because of what it has done for me," Megna said yesterday. "Being out on the field, making plays and helping this team win is special. Especially since this is something we can't do forever."

There was a time last winter when the Alouettes' rush end wondered whether his career was coming to a premature end.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder missed the final eight games last season after suffering torn knee ligaments during a game at Winnipeg in late August. He underwent surgery the following month and was healing well, but experienced significant pain. Megna refused to take medication to alleviate the pain.

Eventually, infection set in, forcing Megna to take oral antibiotics for 10 days. That suppressed the infection, but it never disappeared. On Dec. 10, with a grapefruit-sized infection in his knee, Megna underwent emergency surgery, was in a hospital for two weeks and took antibiotics intravenously for two months.

The 28-year-old had to decide whether to continue his career.

"I had to decide early," he said. "You decide you're not going to play and endure no pain or make rehabilitation part of your daily grind."

Megna returned to the University of Richmond, his alma mater, where rehab consisted of three sessions per day, six days a week. When in Montreal, Megna was under the watchful eye of team athletic therapists Scott Suter and Rodney Sassi.

"I'm very lucky. If not for their support, I wouldn't be here. It was a long road," said Megna, who also credited head coach Don Matthews with an uplifting hospital visit. "There was one time I was down and coach Matthews came to see me at the hospital. His visit gave me that much more incentive."
And now Megna's eagerly anticipating his fourth season with Montreal. Last winter, when Megna signed a contract extension taking him through the 2007 season, general manager Jim Popp said, unequivocally, the Als never recovered from the player's loss.

"I don't know if it's me. Each guy's important," Megna said.

He brings unbridled passion to the field, along with a strong work ethic.

"Marc Megna is a great player who does everything the defence asks of him," said veteran middle-linebacker Kevin Johnson. "He runs to the ball and helps eliminate big plays. He brings enthusiasm through his character. You need that on the team. He could run all day. That type of energy is great.

"He's a symbol of our defence."

Megna bounced around the NFL and NFL Europe for three seasons before venturing to the CFL, seemingly out of options and with few backers in his athletic corner. Forced to defy the odds, he has brought pride and determination to the Als.

"A lot of factors motivate people. I enjoy trying to do things people say I can't and proving people wrong," he explained. "It's almost a borderline hate that's the driving force behind me. No matter how big or strong you are, I'm going to keep coming.

"I don't want to be like everyone else."