Barrin Simpson Barrin Simpson ( born October 1 , 1977 , in St . Louis , Missouri ) is a Canadian Football League linebacker who is Retired . He most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders but was released on December 6 , 2011 . Simpson has previously played for the BC Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers . Simpson is a minister in the off - season , hence his nickname " The Minister of Defence . " High school - College career . He attended Starkville High School in Mississippi , where he played middle linebacker . Simpson a two time All - SEC performer in 1998 and 1999 at Mississippi State University Simpson played in 40 games in college from 1996 – 99 , starting in 27 of them . He had 104 tackles , and 2 sacks in his sophomore year . Simpson earned 82 tackles impressively while missing 3 games due to a knee injury in his junior year . Simpson capped off his senior season with 105 tackles , Sporting News 1st Team All - American , and Dick Butkus semi - finalist honoring the best linebacker in college football in 1999 . Barrin ' s senior season was highlighted by his 23 tackles 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery game verses rival Ole Miss which earned him SEC defensive player of the week . Professional career . 2010 : Saskatchewan Roughriders Started all 18 regular season games , West Final and Grey Cup game at middle linebacker … missed the West Semi - final due to an ankle injury … had ten defensive tackles and a fumble recovery in week nine … had 11 defensive tackles in week ten … finished the regular season with a league leading 105 defensive tackles … also added four quarterback sacks , three tackles for a loss , two special team tackles , one pass knockdown , one fumble recovery and one forced fumble … had six defensive tackles in the Grey Cup game … was named a West Division All - star . 2009 : Winnipeg Blue Bombers Played 13 games for the Blue Bombers and tallied 84 defensive tackles , three special team tackles , two quarterback sacks and one interception 2008 : Winnipeg Blue Bombers Simpson started the year off leading the league in tackles with 29 after 4 games before suffering a season ending injury tearing his Pectorial Major Tendon . Barrin miss the last 14 games and the playoffs . 2007 : Winnipeg Blue Bombers Simpson had over 100 tackles for the second straight season with the Blue Bombers . He was second in the CFL in defensive tackles with 112 , was tied for third in fumble returns with two and contributed four sacks . He was named a CFL All - Star . 2006 : Winnipeg Blue Bombers It didn ’ t take long for Simpson to have an impact on his new team . The first - year Blue Bomber middle linebacker led the CFL in defensive tackles with 110 . It was the fourth time Simpson led the CFL in defensive tackles in a season . Appearing in 18 regular season games , Simpson was also among the Bomber regular season leaders in quarterback sacks ( three ) , special teams tackles ( eight ) and tackles for losses ( four ) . He also contributed two pass knockdowns , an interception , two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries . Simpson also started the team ’ s CFL East Semifinal loss to the Toronto Argonauts , contributing a team - leading 10 defensive tackles . He was the winner or co - winner of the CJOB Defensive Player of the Game Award five times and was the CFL Defensive Player of the Week during Week Three versus Edmonton ( eight defensive tackles and one special teams tackle ) and Week 11 versus the B . C . Lions ( 11 tackes , one quarterback sack and an interception ) . Simpson ’ s efforts were recognized by his being named to the CFL and East Division All - Star teams . It was the fifth time he was named a division and league all - star during his CFL career . Simpson was also runner - up as the league ’ s Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year Award . He finished second to former B . C . teammate Brent Johnson . 2005 : B . C . Lions Simpson proved his durability by starting all 18 of the B . C . Lions regular season games and one playoff game . It marked the fifth year in a row he hasn ’ t missed a game . Simpson was once again a tackling machine for the Lions . He led the team in defensive tackles for the fifth straight year with 71 . He finished tied for eighth place overall in the CFL in that category . The Leos ’ defensive leader also led the team in hits with 83 . His six quarterback sacks ranked second among B . C . defenders . Simpson also collected three tackles for losses for 12 yards , one fumble recovery and one interception return for 17 yards . He collected another four defensive tackles in the Leos ’ lone playoff encounter . 2004 : B . C . Lions Simpson had one of his finest seasons as a pro and it did not go unnoticed . He was a CFL All - Star , a West Division All - Star and was the B . C . Lions ’ Defensive Player of the Year nominee . In 18 regular season games he registered 78 defensive tackles , 13 special teams tackles , seven tackles for losses for 15 yards , two interceptions for nine yards and three fumble recoveries for four yards . He also had six defensive tackles and two tackles for losses for four yards in the Lions ’ Western Conference playoff game . He also had four defensive tackles in the Lions ’ Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts . 2003 : B . C . Lions Simpson led the CFL in defensive tackles ( 92 ) , the third straight year he did that as a member of the B . C . Lions . He also had seven special teams tackles , four tackles for losses for 16 yards , four quarterback sacks , one interception and three fumble recoveries . Those numbers earned him CFL and West Division All - Star honours . He collected another five defensive tackles in the Lions ’ lone playoff contest . 2002 : B . C . Lions The second - year B . C . Lions linebacker , led the CFL in defensive tackles for the second year in a row with 92 . He also had four tackles for losses for 10 yards , six quarterback sacks , two interceptions for four yards and one fumble recovery . He was once again honoured as a CFL All - Star and a West Division All - Star . In one playoff contest , he had one defensive tackle . 2001 : B . C . Lions Simpson had an impressive rookie season with the B . C . Lions . The first - year defender led the entire CFL in defensive tackles with 115 . He also collected on special teams tackle , one tackle for a loss , two quarterback sacks , one interception and three fumble returns . That in turn led to Simpson being named the CFL Rookie of the Year , a CFL All - Star and a West Division All - Star . He made one playoff start , netting four defensive tackles , one special teams tackle and one fumble return