RIDER PRIDE

The Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Jason Clermont.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post

REGINA — There isn't a lot of room for interpretation when it comes to Twitter because posts are limited to 140 characters or less.

That may explain why so much was read into a tweet by Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Jason Clermont on Friday. Clermont posted that he wasn't travelling to Winnipeg and would be a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Blue Bombers — which the Riders won 55-10

"It was all blown out of proportion,'' Clermont said Wednesday after the Roughriders returned to practice for the first time since improving to 6-4 with Sunday's win. "That was my status and it wasn't as if I tried to qualify it. I didn't say I was really happy or upset about it. I had a bunch of family and friends going to the game and I knew they were going to ask why I wasn't there. A healthy scratch means I'm on the 46-man roster and one of four guys who gets scratched.''

There must have been some reaction to Clermont's post because he later posted this tweet: "To clarify — Not playing: but not cut, traded, suspended, on 9 game, IR, PR, personal leave, etc. On 46-man roster, not 42-man roster.''

"What happened was someone out of the 40 people I have on my Twitter account posted it on a website,'' said Clermont. "I guess it blew up from there.''

There are a number of reasons for concerns over Clermont's status. The Regina product was among the team's highest-profile off-season signings. Clermont was released by the B.C. Lions after seven seasons. The Riders quickly signed the slotback in December.

On the field, Clermont hasn't been a major part of the offence, with 17 receptions for 215 yards in nine games. He also suffered a bruise to his left quadriceps muscle in the Riders' 29-14 victory over the Blue Bombers on Sept. 6.

"The biggest thing was it was an Eastern team we were playing and we felt that he was still a little nicked up,'' said Joe Womack, the Riders' director of player personnel. "Jason is so tough that he's going to play whenever he can go. It was an Eastern team who we were playing and we wanted to have him ready for down the stretch.''

The Roughriders were in a position to make a roster move at slotback because Andy Fantuz was returning after missing five games with a torn left hamstring. Before the game, Riders head coach Ken Miller said Clermont was still sore and a game off would have provided him with an opportunity to rest his 30-year-old body.

On Wednesday, Miller didn't know if Clermont would be on the 42-player roster for Sunday's game against the Edmonton Eskimos.

"We just have to make what we feel is the best football decision,'' said Miller.
Miller suggested that Clermont's contributions to the Riders can't be measured in the number of receptions the veteran slotback has recorded.

"He has never complained one time (about his receptions),'' said Miller. "He's such a great leader in the locker room. On a daily basis he goes out of his way to help the younger players and even help the coaches. He is the consummate professional.''

Clermont adopted a professional stance while responding to questions about his playing time and his limited contribution to the Riders' offence.

"We're winning,'' said Clermont. "These questions you're asking are opening a door for me to be a distraction and I won't do that. People expect that players should be selfish. Everyone on this football team wants to contribute any way that they can. If you talk to guys on the practice roster, other injured lists and those on the 46-man roster this year ... They are going to feel some frustration because they all want to help the team win.

"You're opening a door here and I understand that's your job but I'm not going to talk about my feelings and be a distraction. Football is a business and a game. What one person feels and trying to make one guy happy is not the way you win football games or championships.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com