NO ONE HERE ON A FREE RIDE

Even though Riders kicker Jamie Boreham is injured and won’t be playing in Sunday’s Grey Cup game, he’s been helping teammates prepare to play.
Photograph by: Don Healy, Leader-Post files

CALGARY — Saskatchewan Roughriders punter-kicker Jamie Boreham is preparing to play in Sunday's 97th Grey Cup game at McMahon Stadium.

The only problem for Boreham is that he won't be playing. A herniated disc in his neck, likely aggravated when he hit B.C. Lions returner Ryan Grice-Mullen in a game Oct. 2, ended his season with five regular-season games remaining.
Even so, the six-year CFL veteran is in Calgary and is involved in every aspect of his team's preparations for Sunday's clash with the Montreal Alouettes.

"Everyone who's in meetings at home is in meetings here," Boreham said Thursday. "No one's here for a free ride. We didn't come here for the party. It's all business."

To that end, Boreham and the other players who aren't dressing for Sunday's game are subject to the same team rules as those who are slated to play. The inactive players have to go to the same events as their teammates — practices, meetings, media events, galas and so on — but they just don't get to play.

"If I took the selfish outlook on it, yeah, it'd be really difficult to be here," Boreham said. "But it's great for our team and it's great for the players — and I'm still part of this team. I'll do as much as I can to help anyone, especially Louie (Sakoda, Saskatchewan's punter) and Luca (Congi, the Roughriders' kicker).

"It's not the easiest thing to do because, being a player, you obviously want to play. But aside from that, it's great to be here."

Offensive lineman Wayne Smith feels the same way. He has been sidelined all season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in a training session just before training camp began.

"It's frustrating (to not be playing), but really, it's about the guys who are playing right now," said Smith who, like Boreham, was part of the Roughriders' 2007 Grey Cup-winning team. "Every guy who's playing right now deserves to have this opportunity.

"I've been here before. The guys who are going through this for the first time, you see their eyes light up and they're kind of in awe. I'm excited for them because I remember what it was like for me in '07. It's a big deal. It's the biggest game in the country."

Smith, who resumed practising in early October, said he's now healthy and could play Sunday if he was needed. But while Smith may have felt ready to return to action, the coaches didn't insert him into the lineup.

"I've been campaigning (to be added to the roster) for a couple of months now and it's kind of frustrating that I haven't got the opportunity," Smith said. "At the same time, they're looking out for me.

"Sometimes as players, we think about the now: 'I want to play.' In the long run, I may thank them for it. Who knows? It may add another year to the end of my career."

Boreham doesn't need surgery to repair the disc and suggested he'd be ready for next season. The doctors, however, didn't feel comfortable in letting him play Sunday.

"This is just another step, the last step of a long season," he said. "It's like any other week except I'm not allowed to play. I've got to do whatever I can to help the guys who are going to go out there and play because at the end of the day, it affects me, too."

Smith said he'll be on the sideline Sunday, offering whatever advice and guidance he can to his teammates who are playing. It won't be the same as battling the Alouettes' defensive linemen, but for Smith, it'll be the next best thing.
"I guarantee after the game that I'll be just as tired as the other guys," he said. "It's going to be an emotional roller-coaster.

"If we can win the Grey Cup this year, it'll make the whole year of frustration worth it."

ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com