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The timing is terrible, always has been.
Announcing your All-Stars on the eve of the playoffs is like telling Jesse James just before a gun fight that the rest of the cowboys absolutely love his boots.
"Thanks, but I kind of have bigger things on my mind right now."
So it was with passing thanks that the trio of Edmonton Eskimos, one of them injured, one of them sick and one of them healthy, accepted their spots on the CFL's West Division All-Star team.
"That's cool, that's what a lot of guys want, but I can't really enjoy it," said receiver Fred Stamps, who's been out all week with the flu. "I'm happy about it, but my main focus is the playoffs."
No offence to the selection process -- being named an All-Star is something they can savour in the off-season, and at contract time -- but right now Sunday's West semifinal against the Calgary Stampeders is kind of a bigger deal.
"It's a goal I set out for myself, to play at an all-star calibre level and I think I achieved that this season," said Calvin Armstrong. "But I'd happily give it up to win a couple of playoff games. My goals aren't met till we win a Grey Cup."
For the third member of the trio, Dario Romero, the All-Star berth is especially bitter-sweet. He's missed the last six games with a season ending bicep injury.
"I felt like I was having my best season, that's why I was so bummed out about getting hurt," he said. "I was surprised a little bit, only playing 12 games, but at the same time the media feels I deserved it."
This is the time of year when a player really wants to get after it, but Romero will be relegated to the sidelines.
"It gets harder as it gets closer," he said of the playoffs. "The first couple of weeks are OK, then it gets old. It really started last game when everything was on the line (in B.C.), and now it's playoff time, the time that I cherish.
"I'm jealous. This is when it's the most fun. I wish I was out there playing with the guys, helping them win."
Stamps expects to be there Sunday, but the impact receiver is still a long way from 100%. He missed practice on Tuesday and watched from the sidelines yesterday.
"I'm coming out of it, I should be back at practice (today)," he said, adding this is pretty much the worst time to come down with something. "I started getting a little upset. You feel you're letting the team down, but it's something that's out of your control.
"I was never worried about missing the game, my main concern was missing practice and missing meetings, not being around the team. You can't just show up for a game like that."
With three more days to get his strength back, he's expecting it to be full speed ahead against Calgary.
"I should be ready."
With 85 catches, eight touchdowns and a CFL leading 1,402 receiving yards this season, he'll be a welcome sight in the huddle.
"Along with Arkee and our offensive line he's been one of our biggest playmakers this year," said quarterback Ricky Ray.
"He just makes a lot of plays for us, whether it's down the field or catching balls underneath and making guys miss, he's definitely been that weapon for us."
"It was good to see him out there at least just watching practice," said head coach Richie Hall. "He's not in a position where he can run around and stuff like that, but to get a look at the stuff we're putting in ... and his teammates were happy to see him just being around. That's a positive."
ROBERT.TYCHKOWSKI@SUNMEDIA.CA