— Geroy Simon became one of the most prolific receivers in Canadian Football League history with methodical precision.

One pass route, one big reception, one game and, apparently, one season at a time.

The Greater Johnstown High School graduate signed a one-year contract extension last week to play his 11th season with the British Columbia Lions and his 13th CFL season overall.

Simon, a slotback, is 1,431 yards from becoming the CFL’s all-time receiving yardage leader.

He enters 2011 ranked fifth all-time with 13,722 receiving yards on 851 catches.

Even though he is one of the most recognizable athletes in Vancouver, British Columbia – and for the better part of a decade probably could have signed a long-term deal with the Lions – Simon said he preferred to ink one-year contracts. This is his fifth consecutive one-year deal.

“For the past few years we’ve had the understanding we’ll just do it one year at a time because of my age and the fact that I’ve been playing for the team a number of years,” said Simon, 35, who added the tactic provides incentive to excel each year.

“When you get to 30, people look at you as a liability and not as an asset,” he said.

“It definitely is a motivating factor.”

‘I just want to win’

Although he’s at an age when many pro football players have retired or have been forced out by injuries, Simon remains one of the best-conditioned and most-effective players in the league.

The 6-foot, 198-pounder has averaged 1,469 receiving yards during his past eight seasons – when he was ages 28 to 35.

In other words, his average during that span is 38 yards more than he needs to pass former teammate Milt Stegall, who retired with 15,153 receiving yards in 14 seasons. Simon and Stegall each played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when the Johnstown native entered the CFL in 1999.

“Obviously Milt is a good friend of mine,” Simon said. “When I first came in to the league, he was my teammate. It’s a great thing.

“It would be an honor to pass him. But for me the numbers aren’t a big factor. I know if I’m in good shape and healthy the numbers will come. For me it’s about winning games and winning Grey Cups. I just want to win championships. But to have that all-time leading receiver on your resume would be an accomplishment.”

Simon’s resume already is impressive.

The former Trojan was the CFL’s Outstanding Player, the equivalent of the NFL’s MVP, in 2006. That year, British Columbia won the Grey Cup, the league’s equivalent of the NFL’s Super Bowl.

He has been an all-star in five of the past eight seasons. In 2010, he had a club-leading 1,190 receiving yards (seventh overall in the CFL) and recorded his Lions-record eighth straight season with 1,000 or more receiving yards.

“Geroy’s accomplishments on the field are well documented and he continues to be a significant part of our offense,” said Lions general manager and head coach Wally Buono. “He’s led by example throughout his time as a Lion and his dedication to being the best player on the field is remarkable.”

‘An elite receiver’

Simon said he works out and remains active each day in order to be both physically and mentally prepared for the grind of a pro season.

“For me, my thing is I always want to be an elite receiver, an elite athlete,” Simon said. “You have to make sacrifices. You can’t burn the candle at both ends like I did when I was younger. I try to do something every day. I try to be active every day – whether I’m in the gym, playing basketball or running. I maintain my diet so that I’m not putting the wrong things into my body. I just try to stay healthy all year and active all year.

“At 35 years old, playing this sport, you can fall off pretty quick if you don’t take care of your body.”

Simon resides in Vancouver year-round, but has had many opportunities to return to Johnstown.

A former Trojans football, basketball and track star, Simon was back in November to watch his son, Gervon, quarterback Johnstown in a state playoff game against Clearfield. Gervon Simon helped Johns-

town go 10-2 and he earned the 2010 Point Stadium Award.

“I came to Johnstown when they lost in the playoffs,” Geroy said. “We lost the week before (in the CFL) so I got an opportunity to see my son play. I’m planning on coming home at the end of April for about a week and taking Gervon down to the University of Maryland. He has a combine in Baltimore.”

Geroy Simon was a star receiver with the Terrapins in the mid-1990s.

“It’s great. The people at Johnstown are doing a great job with Gervon,” Simon said. “I’m trying to do as much as I can from here. It’s been rewarding to see his progress over the years.

“He was on the varsity as a ninth grader but didn’t get a chance to play. I was just trying to keep his spirits up and tell him he’d get his chance. Now to see him play, I’m proud as a parent. But I’m more proud about the academics. The good thing is even though he’s 3,000 miles away, it seems like everybody in the province in British Columbia is asking about how he’s doing and where he’s going to go to university.”

‘Place that welcomed me’

Johnstown is Simon’s hometown, but Vancouver now is his home.

“It’s been great here in B.C.,” he said.

“This is the place that welcomed me with open arms when I first got here. Once I started having success it felt good to stick around in the offseason. I can train here.

“It’s a good place to be. I don’t have to worry about snow like back East, where I can’t train outside.

“It’s been really good for me here on and off the field. I’m trying to work on a few things that if I decide to stay here, I’ve been here long enough and I’ve had success doing a lot of community work that I can make my transition easier in the work force.”

Until then, Simon has at least one more year to play in the CFL.