Lowell Ullrich
The Province

It was a moment for storytellers and scriptwriters across the CFL when Brent Johnson closed out a rare home win in the final game of the regular season schedule Sunday at Empire Field with a sack on Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant.

It was embellished Tuesday when the BC Lions recognized the play -- which set a franchise record of 83 career sacks -- by presenting Johnson with a framed montage and giving him a standing ovation in a team meeting.

You know what is supposed to happen next, of course. After 166 straight games over 10 CFL seasons, missing at most only a handful of practices, Johnson was due to respond by announcing he had played at home for the last time. Nice story. Cue the sunset ending. But darned if one of his coaches gave him an assessment that may cause a script change.

"I told him, 'You got 38 more games [or two seasons] left in you.' He said, 'Really? I'll have to tell my wife', " defensive co-ordinator Mike Benevides said.

At 33, Johnson could still take his bows and not feel that he owes anything after a career that has landed him three major individual awards.

It still could end that way, despite the security he bought last year when he signed a contract extension in exchange for a pay cut. Retirement was already an option.

The trouble with sacking Durant, helping his team bring meaning to their game Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and doing whatever he can to fashion a formidable line rotation, is the difficulty it causes in assessing the future. It barely allows him to even understand the present, Johnson said.

"Football has been a big part of my life, but it's only one facet. I don't have to keep playing. But I want to keep playing," he said.

It's been a while since Johnson was the subject of double-team scheming and identified as the best BC defender on the field. Against the Riders, that honour went to Ryan Phillips, named CFL defensive player of the week Tuesday for his two interceptions.

In fact, the absence of a sustained pass rush, caused somewhat by a wave of season-ending injuries on the line, has forced the Lions to alter their defensive mindset. Opponents run on BC. Passing is tougher.

Nonetheless, Johnson still is making a contribution, if not for what he does on the field but through example. He lasted long enough to break the club record held by James (Quick) Parker, who had 82 sacks in just 87 career games with the Lions. He'll be back for more if his position coach has his way.

"Not only is the record a feat, but it's how he did it. You have to show the young guys how to be a pro," said Benevides.

"We had a plan for him this year, but the plan fell apart with all the injuries. He's still been one of the most productive people we have. There are people here who still think he can help."

The year may end Saturday for the Lions, and yet if there is a pending sense of melancholy it is not evident with Johnson. His season might have ended months earlier anyway if the hit on his knee by Hamilton's Jason Jimenez in the last meeting of the teams Sept. 18 had been more damaging. But it wasn't, so no big deal.

"I thought about [the hit] driving in [to practice], but that was about it," Johnson said. "I'm not lying; for the team and for me I'm thinking about getting this win."

Nothing more. Scrap the script.