EDDIE DAVIS RETIRES

Eddie Davis
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leaxder-Post files

REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Lance Frazier dished out a tear-inducing hit Thursday.

The victim was fellow DB Eddie Davis, who announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the CFL without a watery, Brett Favre-like media gathering.

"I held it together for a while and then I got a voice message from Lance Frazier," Davis, 37, said from Calgary. "He expressed what I meant to him as a player and to the organization. That got me; I got teary-eyed for the first time.

"I knew this day was going to come and I'm glad that the negotiation process took this long because it gave me time to sit back and reflect on everything and how my life is going. I knew it was time for me to be here with my family ...

"I woke up this morning and saw my kids' faces, the sun was outside shining and I knew it was time for me to step away from it and do something else."

Davis spent the past nine seasons with the Roughriders before becoming a free agent Feb. 15. After some give and take with the team, Davis retired.

He suggested he didn't like the pace of the negotiations or the offer he received from the Roughriders. It's believed the sticking point involved the signing bonus he was offered.
"I'm not bitter," Davis said. "To me, if you really want a player, then you put your best foot forward right away and get the player. I definitely don't feel that they did that from the first offer. But it is what it is. It's over, it's done with and I'm happy with this decision."

Davis said he's in a place financially that he doesn't have to keep playing. Of greater concern is the family he's raising with his wife, Debbie.

"My daughter (Imani) will be six years old this year and my son (Eddie III) is one now," Davis said. "Just seeing them and being here and enjoying the time that I'm spending with them, I'm really enjoying myself.

"I haven't had the opportunity yet to spend a summer with my family. It's going to be great to be able to do that and just do something different."

Even though Davis has long been considered a coach on the field, he vowed he won't get into that racket "because that's me losing my family again." He plans to take some time off and travel before possibly finding employment in the oil and gas industry.

Davis' CFL career began in 1995 when he was signed by the Birmingham Barracudas. After the CFL's U.S.-based teams folded, Davis joined the Calgary Stampeders and stayed with them

until signing with the Roughriders in 2001.

He retires having amassed 801 tackles, 112 special-team tackles, 111 pass knockdowns, 34 interceptions and 16 quarterback sacks in 236 regular-season games. He was named a CFL all-star three times and a West Division all-star five times and won Grey Cups with Calgary in '98 and the Roughriders in 2007.

"He's the best player and the smartest player I've ever played with," Saskatchewan cornerback Omarr Morgan said from Los Angeles. "It's going to be rough for me because I've been playing with him for almost a decade. But I think we'll be all right.

"I've been getting calls all morning and lots of players are sad. But we've got some good coaching and some quality players who can step up. Life goes on. The (NBA's Chicago) Bulls kept playing without Michael Jordan."

Possible replacements include Chris McKenzie (who filled in as a rookie last season) and Tad Kornegay (who moved back from linebacker last season after Davis suffered a knee injury).
Morgan said Davis was successful into his mid-30s not only due to his intelligence and guile, but also because "he worked harder than everybody. Period."

"I've tried to mentor a lot of guys and I've tried to be the best player that I can be," Davis said when asked about his legacy. "I think I've done a good job of erasing teams' best receivers when we play against them. I think I've had a great career."

ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com

PRECHAE RODRIQUEZ SURPRIZED BY TRADE

By IAN HAMILTON ,
REGINA — When the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats acquired wide receiver Maurice Mann from the Edmonton Eskimos on Feb. 16, Prechae Rodriguez was thrilled.

"I thought, 'Man, we are going to be stacked at receiver,' " a chuckling Rodriguez recalled Thursday from Tampa, Fla. "I didn't see this coming."

"This" was Wednesday's trade which sent Rodriguez — a former 1,000-yard receiver — and the rights to a negotiation-list player from Hamilton to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Tiger-Cats got non-import receiver Adam Nicolson, a third-round pick in the 2011 Canadian college draft and the rights to a negotiation-list player.

The latter player is reported to be Chris Williams, a returner who attended New Mexico State University before making stops in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns. The identity of the negotiation-list player coming to Saskatchewan isn't known.

"I didn't ask for a trade," stressed Rodriguez, 25. "(The Tiger-Cats) brought it up to me. I was shocked in a way. They just called me up and said they were working on a deal with Saskatchewan.

"After that, I just went along with it."

The 6-foot-5, 208-pound Rodriguez spent two seasons in Hamilton.
In 2008, he had 70 receptions for 1,099 yards and three touchdowns in 14 regular-season games en route to being voted the East Division's top rookie. He lost in balloting for the CFL's most outstanding rookie award to Saskatchewan slotback Weston Dressler.

Last season, Rodriguez — slowed by a bone bruise in a knee — caught just 45 passes for 495 yards with three touchdowns over 12 games.

"That injury set me back a little ways," he said. "Before that, I was productive. I was on my way to another 1,000-yard season."

Rodriguez said the knee only needed time to return to 100 per cent — surgery was not necessary — and he now proclaims himself healthy.

When he is, he's among the CFL's most dangerous wideouts. His size and leaping ability made him a favourite target of Hamilton quarterbacks and the Roughriders hope a similar chemistry develops between Rodriguez and quarterback Darian Durant.

The Roughriders' corps of import wide receivers last season — Gerran Walker, Johnny Quinn, Chris Jones and Jason Armstead — combined for 60 catches for 703 yards and three touchdowns. But that production may have been limited because Saskatchewan's offence was built around its slotbacks.

Will that affect Rodriguez's game, too?

"I'll leave that up to the offensive co-ordinator," he replied. "If he feels we can go after one-on-one or whatever coverage we get on the boundary and get the ball up in the air, I can do that. I just want to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way."

n According to a report on Sportsnet.ca, Roughriders slotback Jason Clermont — who reportedly was receiving around $110,000 annually — recently agreed to a pay cut.
The report said the Roughriders needed salary cap relief this off-season after they re-signed slotback Andy Fantuz and gave him a raise.

Clermont appeared to confirm the report with this post on Twitter: "Thanks a lot Perry Lefko, I hadn't told the wife about the paycut yet!"

RIDERS TRADE FOR A TI-CAT RECEIVER

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have traded receiver Adam Nicolson to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for wide receiver Prechae Rodriguez (right). Rodriguez played two seasons with the Ti-Cats and was named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Rookie his first year.
Photograph by: Mike Cassese, Reuters files

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders' basketball team may have received an injection of talent Wednesday.

The CFL squad acquired import wide receiver Prechae Rodriguez — a 6-foot-5, 208-pounder who was recruited out of high school by the Auburn University hoops team — from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for non-import receiver Adam Nicolson and a third-round pick in the 2011 Canadian college draft.

"We were looking to get an import receiver who would be a pretty significant upgrade on our team if one was out there," Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman said. "We started talking about Prechae and when we went back and Ken (Miller, Saskatchewan's head coach) saw the film of him, we decided to go after him.

"Adam was having trouble cracking the lineup here with guys like (Andy) Fantuz, (Chris) Getzlaf, (Rob) Bagg and (Jason) Clermont . . . Usually you don't want to trade a non-import for an import, but this is a chance for Adam to play."

Rodriguez — a 25-year-old product of Tampa, Fla., who couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday — spent two seasons in Hamilton.

He was voted the East Division's top rookie in 2008 (he lost in balloting for the CFL award to Saskatchewan's Weston Dressler) after catching 70 passes for 1,099 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 regular-season games.

During an injury-filled '09 season, Rodriguez caught 45 passes for 495 yards with three touchdowns over 12 games.

"We wanted a bigger target for Darian (Durant, the Roughriders' quarterback) to throw the ball up for," said Taman, who noted he started working on the deal "three or four weeks" ago with Hamilton GM Bob O'Billovich. "We're going to bring in other guys with other skill sets, but we wanted a bigger guy.

"(Rodriguez) covers a lot of a ground. He's a long-striding dude who can go up and get the ball."
The Roughriders' corps of import wide receivers last season included 5-foot-10 Gerran Walker (36 catches, 401 yards, two TDs), 6-foot-1 Johnny Quinn (13 receptions, 218 yards, one TD), 6-foot-3 Chris Jones (eight catches, 56 yards, no TDs) and 5-foot-10 Jason Armstead (three receptions, 28 yards, no majors).

Taman defended making a trade instead of trying to find a receiver from the NCAA ranks or the NFL waiver wire.

"When you have a proven guy in this league, that takes a lot of doubt out of the coaches' minds when it comes to quote-unquote younger guys," Taman said. "We will push Prechae with other guys who we're going to bring in, but when you can get a guy with experience and an upside, you make that deal.

"Then, when he has two years left on his contract and it fits nicely into your salary cap, that's a no-brainer."

Nicolson, 25, originally was drafted by the B.C. Lions in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2007 draft out of the University of Ottawa. He signed as a free agent with the Roughriders in September of 2008.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound product of North Bay, Ont., had four receptions for 53 yards with one TD for Saskatchewan in 2008 but didn't catch a pass last season.

PATRICK HAPPY TO RESIGN

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have re-signed safety James Patrick.
Photograph by: Mike Cassese, Reuters files

REGINA — In the end, James Patrick couldn't bring himself to move.

The 27-year-old safety, who became a CFL free agent Feb. 15, re-signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Tuesday.

"It's going to be good to be back home and playing in front of those fans," Patrick said from Tuskegee, Ala. "I'm looking forward to being back and doing it all again."
Financial details of the deal weren't released. Patrick said the pact was for one year with an option.

"Teams were interested, but I stayed with the Riders — which I'm happy about," Patrick said. "It's a good environment to play in, the fans were great and so were the coaching staff and the players."

Patrick had 59 tackles, 17 special-teams tackles, six pass knockdowns, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 18 regular-season games with Saskatchewan last season.

In 2008, Patrick started one game at safety for the Roughriders but also played other positions in the secondary. He played in 17 games, registering nine tackles, seven special-teams stops, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

"He's under-rated in some ways," Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman said. "If you take a look at him, he does a lot of things for us — he plays safety, plays special teams, has cover skills, hustles. The coaches evaluated him at a pretty high level."

Having re-signed, Patrick will get an opportunity to continue his development in the Roughriders' defensive backfield.

"That's what I'm looking forward to," he said. "Hopefully I can carry over as a leader in the secondary and help this team win a championship."

Patrick's signing — and that of quarterback Steven Jyles with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — leaves the Roughriders with five remaining free agents: Defensive tackle Marcus Adams, tailback Wes Cates, defensive back Eddie Davis, wide receiver Gerran Walker, and offensive lineman Cliff Washburn.

Taman said he's still talking with Adams, Cates and Davis. Walker is expected to sign elsewhere, while the Roughriders don't plan to offer Washburn a contract.

ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com

RIDERS RESIGN PATRICK

By Ian Hamilton Tue, Feb 23 2010 COMMENTS(0) Rider Rumblings

Here's the release from the Roughriders:The Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club announced they have signed import defensive back James Patrick to a contract. Financial details of the signing were not released. Patrick is heading into his third year with the Green and White. The Stillman product started all 18 regular season games, the West Final and the Grey Cup game at safety in 2009. He finished the season with 59 defensive tackles, 17 special teams tackles, six pass knockdowns, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The 27-year old originally signed with the Riders as a free agent in January, 2008. Since joining the CFL, Patrick has played a total of 35 regular season games for the Green and White tallying 68 defensive tackles, 24 special teams tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries

DORSEY A RIDER AGAIN !!

Special teams specialist Dominique Dorsey will return to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 2010 season.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Regina Leader-Post

The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn't exactly dive head-first into the CFL free-agent waters, but they were holding their breath on Dominique Dorsey.

Saskatchewan landed one of the big fish on the open market Wednesday by signing the versatile tailback/return man, an ex-Rider who was named the CFL's outstanding special teams player in 2008.

GM Brendan Taman and head coach/vice-president of football operations Ken Miller have focused primarily on signing their own players since the free-agent frenzy began Tuesday, but they made an exception for Dorsey.

"He's a pretty special player," offered Taman. "We felt if we were going to go into the market (for another team's free agent) we needed a special player to do it. Obviously we weren't going to be able to do it with a lot of them ... but if you can get lucky with a home run, so to speak, we felt Dominique would be that guy. When Kenny sat down (and looked at the free-agent list), I think his words to me were, 'Get him!' We were able to do it, which really made us smile quite a bit."

Dorsey broke into the CFL in 2005 with the Riders, who traded him to Winnipeg prior to the 2007 campaign. He was cut by the Bombers in training camp but quickly landed on his feet with the Toronto Argonauts, where Dorsey developed into one of the league's premier return men. The 5-foot-7, 173-pound dynamo spent most of last season with the NFL's Washington Redskins before rejoining Toronto late in the campaign.

The Riders' return game was a sore spot last season until the team brought in Jason Armstead, whose future is now uncertain.

"Jason is obviously still a member of our team," said Taman. "He did a good job for us last year. We'll evaluate that as we go forward."

Dorsey's signing also led to speculation that he might become the starting tailback if the Riders are unable to re-sign free agent Wes Cates. However, Taman suggested that Dorsey is viewed more as a multi-purpose performer in the mould of Corey Holmes or Pinball Clemons.

"He's under-rated as a running back," explained Taman. "His return game is very special and the more he brings to the table the better. He's under-rated as a blocker. He's not a big physical specimen, as everybody knows, but he's one of the stronger guys you'll see. We can probably line him up maybe even in the slot kind of thing like other teams have done with certain guys in previous eras. He has good hands and he can catch the ball well. Hopefully it just gives our offensive staff another weapon to use with the rest of the guys we've already got."

As for Cates, there were reports Wednesday that he had come to terms with the Argos, but that was news to Taman, who had been in contact with Cates's agent that morning.

"We're still in the talking stages," he said. "We obviously have a lot of work to do to get a deal done but we're in the mix, I guess you could say. I don't feel we're done and we're out of it."
If Cates does sign with Toronto, the Riders could shift their focus to the Argos' own free-agent tailback, Jamal Robertson, who went to camp with Saskatchewan in 2008. That said, the Riders are pleased with their own in-house options -- Dorsey, Hugh Charles and Stu Foord.

"We could probably go out today and play with that group of guys," added Taman. "We'd love to have Wes back, obviously. If we can get that all sorted out, that would be the intention of it. I just look at it, for example, if we're playing one week and Wes has a sprained ankle and he can't go, can we line up with these three guys (Foord, Dorsey and Charles)? Sure we could. Would we want to do it for 18 games? We'd have to wait and see on that one. But this (signing of Dorsey) isn't reflective of our disdain for Wes. By no means. It's just trying to get a good guy to add to

the group of guys we already have."Read more:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Dorsey+Rider+again/2580979/story.html#ixzz0g5weIWIU

DOUG BERRY NOT GOING TO MAKE BIG CHANGES

Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Doug Berry prepares to throw the flag to challenge a play during the second half against the British Columbia Lions during CFL action in Winnipeg July 11, 2008.
Photograph by: Fred Greenslade/Reuters, NP

The handyman in Doug Berry re-emerged during a brief hiatus from football, but he doesn't anticipate any major repairs with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

"Everybody likes to be associated with a winner," Berry said Thursday from Florida after being named Saskatchewan's new offensive co-ordinator/assistant head coach. "The Riders have had their share of success over the last three or four years. There's a reason behind that. Whether it has to do with the tangible facilities or the relationships the coaches have with the players, good things are going on right now. It's going to be my job to help keep it going."
Berry has been out of football since he was relieved of his head-coaching duties with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers following the 2008 season. The 61-year-old has passed some of the time doing renovations on his winter home in Florida.

"I've been busy up until maybe the end of September and after that you start going stir crazy and I'm not ready to take up golf," chuckled Berry, who has also been watching "every CFL game possible," in addition to the NCAA and NFL. "I'm going blind watching football games."
Berry took a break last week to fly into Regina for a visit with Riders GM Brendan Taman and head coach/vice-president of football operations Ken Miller. Berry has never worked with Miller but he is very familiar with Taman, his old boss in Winnipeg. They collaborated on the 2007 Bomber team that lost to Saskatchewan in the Grey Cup final.

"I'm sure the mutual relationship with Brendan Taman might have had something to do with it," Berry said of his hiring. "If it did, great. I always felt I had a great relationship with Brendan."

Berry added that he came away "very impressed" with what he saw during his visit to Rider headquarters.

The feeling was mutual.

"I'm really excited to have Doug because of his experience and his background and success," said Miller, who also hired veteran coach Jim Daley (special teams) and ex-Bomber assistant Bob Dyce (receivers coach/pass-game co-ordinator). "There will be a melding of offence in what we have done here in the last three years with what (Berry and Dyce) have done together and what Doug did in Montreal (as the Alouettes offensive co-ordinator). Systemically it's going to be pretty much the same. We share a lot of philosophy."

Berry was the architect of some explosive aerial attacks in Winnipeg and previously with Montreal, where he mentored quarterback Anthony Calvillo. Based upon what Berry has seen and heard so far, the veteran coach believes he and the Riders are "very compatible."
"I'm not looking to reinvent myself or the offence that I know," he said. "But you have to tailor all the things that you know to the things that Saskatchewan has been doing well over the last few years. We're certainly not looking to change any of that but maybe try to embellish it with a few things that we've been successful with wherever I've been in the past."

Berry had also been talking recently to the Toronto Argonauts about their head-coaching vacancy. When that opportunity "fell through" he quickly turned his attention to Saskatchewan.

"The more I spoke with Ken about it, I felt more comfortable going there and being a part of the Rider organization," he said. "You don't want to be out of coaching very long. Being out of coaching for one year was beginning to, I can't say take its toll on me, but I was certainly anxious to get back into it. I really love the Canadian Football League. I love the style and all that, and was hoping to get another opportunity."

Berry admitted he still has aspirations to be a head coach -- an opportunity which may present itself in Saskatchewan. Miller, who could move upstairs as early as next season, said Thursday there are some possible successors on the team's current staff, but he insisted none of them were hired solely for that purpose.

"There's always the thought for the future," added Berry, "... but it's not necessarily anything that was talked about concretely or even thought about that way. My job is to make Ken Miller the best coach I can make him in 2010 and then we'll take it from there."

© Copyright (c) Canwest News ServiceRead more:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Berry+looking+make+changes/2586351/story.html#ixzz0g5uRflru

GOOD INTERVIEWS FROM THURSDAY !!

THREE GOOD INTERVIEWS WITH KEN MILLER, JIM DALEY AND DOMINIQUE DORSEY.....

NOW IF WE CAN ONLY SIGN JAMES PATRICK, WES CATES AND EDDIE DAVIS.....



GO RIDERS

SEE RIDER VISION


http://riderville.com/

REY WILLIAMS SIGNS WITH STEELERS

Rey Williams had 97 tackles and six sacks during the two-plus seasons he spent with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He signed with the NFL’s Pittsburg Steelers on Feb. 12.
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post file photo

REGINA — Perseverance paid off with a shot at the NFL for former Saskatchewan Roughriders middle linebacker Rey Williams.

Each year Storm Kirschenbaum, Williams's agent, compiles a highlight video of his client's previous season and sends copies to NFL teams. This year, that video helped Williams sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"It's totally luck of the draw,'' said Williams, who signed with the Steelers on Feb. 12. "I don't know what made them open it or even look at it, but they saw my highlight film. The guy who brought me in also remembered me from college (Hofstra) because they were high on me from then. He said that they had lost track of me but after they saw my highlight film, they were blown away.''

Williams amassed those highlights in two-plus seasons with the Roughriders where he had 97 tackles and six sacks. In 2009, Williams took over as the starting middle linebacker, recording 59 tackles and three sacks despite missing five games with a knee injury.

Williams was at his best in the playoffs. He had 10 tackles and three sacks in the Riders' 27-17 victory over the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division final. Williams followed that up with 11 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Saskatchewan's 28-27 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup.

Williams also contributed on special teams with eight tackles in 2009 and 29 tackles in his career. The Steelers are looking for the Williams to bolster a special teams that was among the worst in the NFL. Pittsburgh's kickoff coverage was ranked 30th, after allowing four kickoff returns for touchown. The punt-coverage team was rated 24th.

It was through special teams that Williams was able to catch on with the Riders in 2007 after stints in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. Williams started his trek though the NFL after graduating from Hofstra in 2004.

"That's how it is in football,'' said Williams, who is 6-foot-0 and 228 pounds. "Once you get on special teams, they may open a place for you on defence. That's all you can wish for and hope that everything turns out for the best.''

Kirschenbaum said that the 28-year-old veteran will be more than another body to fill out the Steelers' training-camp roster.

"There is the perception that he's just another training-camp body,'' said Kirschenbaum. "People don't realize that when you have three years in the league, they have to sign the player to minimum of three credit seasons. They aren't going to waste their money on a guy they think is a camp body.''

Williams was also left with that feeling after meeting with the Steelers.

"They seem genuinely excited to have me there,'' said Williams. "They know that I'm a good special-teams player and that's where they are really hurting right now. They want me to be the dog because they went from the top of the league in 2008 to the bottom in 2009. That's where they really want me to focus on.''

Williams is the third member of the Riders' 2009 defence and 18th CFL player to sign with an NFL team this offseason. Defensive end John Chick, the CFL's most outstanding defensive player in 2009, signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Stevie Baggs, who tied for the league lead in sacks with 12 at the other defensive end position, signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Williams is also the second CFLer to sign with the Steelers in two years. Stefan Logan, a former member of the B.C. Lions, starred as a returner with the Steelers last season.

Williams, who took over at middle linebacker after Maurice Lloyd signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Eskimos, feels the Riders will be OK despite the losses. There is depth at middle linebacker with Mike McCullough, Jerrell Freeman and Kye Stewart.

"They still have guys like Omarr (Morgan) and Mike (McCullough) and (Gary) Etcheverry is a great coach,'' said Williams, who trains in Atlanta with Baggs. "Besides, in football, they will always find someone else. People were mad when Mo left but we carried on without him. They will be all right. One thing about football is things keep going.''

REGGIE BUSH TO THE RIDERS ??????

REGGIE BUSH, NEW ORLEANS SAINT.........WAS JUST INTERVIEWED ON CTV. HE IS AT THE OLYMPICS SUPPORTING SOME OF THE ATHLETES.

I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS INTERVIEWING HIM, BUT IT WAS HILARIOUS..... HE WENT ON TO SAY TO REGGIE ...................WHY DONT YOU WALK AWAY FROM THE SAINTS AND SIGN IN THE CFL................WITH THE SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS.....HE ASKED REGGIE IF HE HAD EVER HEARD OF THEM AND REGGIE SAID HE HAD.


SIGN FOR 3 YEARS AT $60,000 A YEAR AND OWN THE CFL. THEY SHOWED A PICTURE OF A MELLONHEAD FAN. REGGIE SAID PROBABLY NOT......NEED A BIT MORE MONEY.........

WHEN THEY CUT BACK TO THE ANCHOR DESK AND I THINK IT IS JAY.......THE GUY THAT IS ALWAYS FUNNY ON TSN SPORTS DESK.....HE COMMENTED THAT REGGIE WOULD BE BIG IN REGINA.....OWNING THE 306 AREA CODE........

GOT TO LOVE THE RIDERS !!!!!

GO GREEN !!!

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDER DAY AT THE OLYMPICS

Legendary Riders fullback George Reed took part in the Saskatchewan Pavilion’s Roughriders Day festivities at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files

WHISTLER, B.C. — IOC president Jacques Rogge has frequently expressed his desire for a green Olympics in Vancouver.

Well, he got his wish.

It was Saskatchewan Roughriders Day on Wednesday at the Saskatchewan Pavilion — part of the mosaic at the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, the Roughriders' presence was actually noticeable as early as Tuesday, when legendary fullback George Reed joined current players Stu Foord and Luc Mullinder on the premises.

"It has been great,'' Reed said via telephone from Vancouver during a rare break from signing autographs, chatting and shaking hands.

"At the Saskatchewan Pavilion, a lot of people are coming up to me and reminiscing. Rider fans are saying, 'I remember when you played at Empire Stadium,' and they all want to take pictures. B.C. Lions fans are saying, 'You killed us time after time,' but they're very gracious about it.''

Reed enjoyed many fine moments during an illustrious career with the Roughriders, but he was especially formidable against the Lions (who originally held his CFL rights, by the way).
On Oct. 24, 1965, Reed rushed for 268 yards — still the second-highest single-game total in CFL history — as the Roughriders secured a playoff spot by defeating the Lions 30-14 at Empire Stadium. Remembering this, people have asked Reed to sign some autographs which include the date of that game and the yardage total.

Thirteen months after the 268-yarder, the peerless fullback rushed for 133 yards — including a victory-clinching, 31-yard touchdown — as Saskatchewan celebrated its first-ever Grey Cup, defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders 29-14 at Empire Stadium.

A visit to the Olympics also brings back fond memories for Reed. His daughter, Georgette, competed in shot put for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Four years earlier, George Reed — who resided in Calgary at the time — attended several events at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

"It's nice to see all the hard work that is put in to put on something like this,'' said Reed, who is to return to Regina on Friday evening. "You see the progress that has been made since '88 in Calgary. It's great to see people enjoying themselves and to see some of the events. Some people are probably against it, but it's a wonderful thing. It brings people together from all over the world and shows off Canada.''

Not to mention the enduring greatness of George Reed.

"It's amazing,'' marvelled Foord, a Regina-born running back who has completed two seasons with the Roughriders. "You see how knowledgeable he is about the Olympics. You sit down with him for supper and watch the highlights. He knows what every Canadian athlete is doing.''
Reed and Foord, among others, have done their part to make the Saskatchewan Pavilion a popular attraction since it opened Friday.

Jennifer Johnson, director of communications for Saskatchewan's Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, reported that attendance has exceeded expectations by a considerable margin. The pavilion has welcomed from 6,000 to 9,000 per day, compared to a projected 5,000.

Many of the visitors have ingested bison burgers, perogies, sausages and Saskatoon berry tarts. Equally palatable were visits by two former Olympic speed skaters with ties to Saskatoon — Craig MacKay of Saskatoon (who competed in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics) and John Sands (1956, 1960) — and law-enforcement personnel.

"We have two RCMP officers in red serge here every day and they have been celebrities,'' Johnson said via e-mail. "Everyone wants a photo with them.''

Talk about a "serge'' in popularity!

Everyone is caught up in the vibe.

"It's off the charts,'' Foord said. "We're just having a good time. So many people from Saskatchewan and across Canada are dropping by to say, 'What's up?' It makes me glad to represent our province and the team I play for.

"I think we've converted a lot of people over to being Rider fans, if they weren't Rider fans before. They're just loving us. It's easy to love us when we're hanging with George Reed.''

rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com

RIDERS ANNOUNCE COACHES

Doug Berry has been named the Roughriders assistant head coach and offensive co-ordinator. He's pictured here in 2005.
Photograph by: Phil Hossack, Winnipeg Free Press

REGINA — After two seasons as the Saskatchewan Roughriders' head coach, Ken Miller knows what it is like to lead a CFL team to the league's championship game.
Now he's not the only one with such experience in the Riders offices.

As expected, the Roughriders announced Thursday that the team has added Doug Berry (assistant head coach/offensive co-ordinator), Bob Dyce (passing game co-ordinator/receivers coach) and Jim Daley (special teams coach) to its staff.

Berry most recently spent two seasons as the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — whom he guided to an appearance in the 2007 Grey Cup — before being fired following the 2008 season.

Daley has served nearly 20 years in the CFL in various capacities, including three years as Saskatchewan's head coach during which he led an improbable run to the 1997 Grey Cup game.
Including Miller and defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry, four of the Roughriders' nine coaches have experience as a CFL head coach.

"There's a lot of experience and knowledge in those men," said Miller. "Really, our entire coaching staff . . . have been with us and have demonstrated positive leadership or they have demonstrated their ability to lead in other areas."

Daley, the only one of the three new coaches in Regina on Thursday, showed some of that experience by jumping at the chance to take on a special-teams role, just a few months after resigning his post as the Edmonton Eskimos defensive co-ordinator.

"Change occurs all the time," said Daley. "When this job came open and Ken Miller and Brendan (Taman, Saskatchewan's general manager) called, this was something I was very interested in. I'm really happy to be back in this city.

"I've always loved special teams. It'll be an adjustment from defence, but one I've done many times."

And while Dyce, who was an assistant with the Blue Bombers the past seven years, doesn't have quite the CFL experience as Berry or Daley, Miller believes the newcomer has the talent to get there.

"When I interviewed him, he was a tremendous teacher and he's very enthusiastic and precise," the head coach said. "He's somebody who will develop a very good rapport with the people he coaches."

The Riders now have only one spot — offensive line coach — to fill after an off-season that has seen tremendous turnover of the staff.

Now-former offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice was named the Blue Bombers' head coach and brought along two other members of the 2009 Riders staff — Kavis Reed and Jamie Barresi — as his co-ordinators. Offensive line coach Bob Wylie resigned to take a job with the NFL's Denver Broncos. Offensive assistant Marcus Crandell is the only returnee on that side of the ball and will continue to work with the team's quarterbacks and may also help with running backs.

Defensively, the Saskatchewan coaching staff remained intact with Etcheverry, Alex Smith (linebackers), Nelson Martin (defensive backs) and Mike Scheper (defensive line).
From Daley's perspective, there have been a lot more changes in Regina than just coaches and players since he was fired after the 1998 season.

"The world evolves and the province of Saskatchewan has evolved," said Daley. "This organization, then and now, has always been one that was well-respected around the league, thought very highly of and run very, very well.

"In years past, it was well-managed, well-run, well-organized but as many people who were here back then realize, we fought some battles financially that right now we have an

opportunity to avoid. That's a huge change."

DORSEY SIGNS AND RIDERS STILL TALKING TO CATES

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed former Toronto Argonaut Dominique Dorsey, an ex-Rider and the CFL's 2008 outstanding special teams player.
Photograph by: Peter J. Thompson, National Post files

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn't exactly dive head-first into the CFL free-agent waters, but they were holding their breath on Dominique Dorsey.

Saskatchewan landed one of the big fish on the open market Wednesday by signing the versatile tailback/return man, an ex-Rider who was named the CFL's outstanding special teams player in 2008.

GM Brendan Taman and head coach/vice-president of football operations Ken Miller have focused primarily on signing their own players since the free-agent frenzy began Tuesday, but they made an exception for Dorsey.

"He's a pretty special player," offered Taman. "We felt if we were going to go into the market (for another team's free agent) we needed a special player to do it. Obviously we weren't going to be able to do it with a lot of them ... but if you can get lucky with a home run, so to speak, we felt Dominique would be that guy. When Kenny sat down (and looked at the free-agent list), I think his words to me were, 'Get him!' We were able to do it, which really made us smile quite a bit."

Dorsey broke in the CFL in 2005 with the Riders, who traded him to Winnipeg prior to the 2007 campaign. He was cut by the Bombers in training camp but quickly landed on his feet with the Toronto Argonauts, where Dorsey developed into one of the league's premier return men. The 5-foot-7, 173-pound dynamo spent most of last season with the NFL's Washington Redskins before rejoining Toronto late in the campaign.

The Riders' return game was a sore spot last season until the team brought in Jason Armstead, whose future is now uncertain.

"Jason is obviously still a member of our team," said Taman. "He did a good job for us last year. We'll evaluate that as we go forward."

Dorsey's signing also led to speculation that he might become the starting tailback if the Riders are unable to re-sign free agent Wes Cates. However, Taman suggested that Dorsey is viewed more as a multi-purpose performer in the mould of Corey Holmes or Pinball Clemons.

"He's under-rated as a running back," explained Taman. "His return game is very special and the more he brings to the table the better. He's under-rated as a blocker. He's not a big physical specimen, as everybody knows, but he's one of the stronger guys you'll see. We can probably line him up maybe even in the slot kind of thing like other teams have done with certain guys in previous eras. He has good hands and he can catch the ball well. Hopefully it just gives our offensive staff another weapon to use with the rest of the guys we've already got."

As for Cates, there were reports Wednesday that he had come to terms with the Argos, but that was news to Taman, who had been in contact with Cates' agent that morning.

"We're still in the talking stages," he said. "We obviously have a lot of work to do to get a deal done but we're in the mix, I guess you could say. I don't feel we're done and we're out of it."

If Cates does sign with Toronto, the Riders could shift their focus to the Argos' own free-agent tailback, Jamal Robertson, who went to camp with Saskatchewan in 2008. That said, the Riders are pleased with their own in-house options — Dorsey, Hugh Charles and Stu Foord.

"We could probably go out today and play with that group of guys," added Taman. "We'd love to have Wes back, obviously. If we can get that all sorted out, that would be the intention of it. I just look at it, for example, if we're playing one week and Wes has a sprained ankle and he can't go, can we line up with these three guys (Foord, Dorsey and Charles)? Sure we could. Would we want to do it for 18 games? We'd have to wait and see on that one. But this (signing of Dorsey) isn't reflective of our disdain for Wes. By no means. It's just trying to get a good guy to add to the group of guys we already have."

gharder@leaderpost.canwest.com

CATES COULD BE GOING TO TORONTO

That according to Eskimos colour commentator Dave Campbell on Twitter:@Dave_CHED"Dorsey signs with the Riders, its expected Wes Cates is going to Toronto"

The Riders' prized free agent signing Dominique Dorsey (pictured above) will meet with the Regina media today for the first time since his Wednesday signing which caught the rest of the CFL off-guard.

Meanwhile there may be a hidden message in the Dorsey signing. I'm hearing the Riders aren't thrilled with Jason Armstead (pictured above) who is already asking for a new contract.

The Riders were very happy with Armstead's play in 2009 and felt he was a big factor in the team's Grey Cup run, however he's had contract issues with two or three teams. With Dorsey on the roster now, the Riders may feel like they can live without Armstead if they have to

TAD KORNEGAY INTERVIEW

REGINA — Tad Kornegay’s return is just what the doctor ordered for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Canadian Football League club’s defence has been hemorrhaging this off-season with the loss of rush ends John Chick and Stevie Baggs, along with middle linebacker Rey Williams — all of whom signed with NFL clubs. However, the bleeding was slowed Wednesday when Saskatchewan re-signed Kornegay — an all-star linebacker in 2009 — for one year plus an option.

“We lost three of our key players on D that we had great success with,” offered Kornegay, who became a free agent Monday but quickly agreed to a new deal with general manager Brendan Taman. “If I’m speaking for myself — and I’m probably speaking for Taman as well — we wanted to keep as many vets as possible because of the loss of those three guys. Me staying with the team is definitely going to help out a lot and hopefully we have guys who can fill those (other) shoes.”

With Kornegay back in the fold, Taman is continuing to work towards new contracts for Saskatchewan’s three remaining free agents on defence — halfback Eddie Davis, tackle Marcus Adams and safety James Patrick. The Riders are still in a negotiation phase with Davis but Taman hinted that talks are further along with Adams and Patrick.

“Our defence has taken some hits,” the general manager said. “It was all out of our control, really. We didn’t have any control over the NFL coming to get them. Our motto was to try to do the best we can to keep the rest of the guys here. We still have some work to do with Eddie and Patrick and Chunky but at least with Tad we have one starting block to put the pieces back together.”

And a key one, at that.

“Tad was a really unique guy because he can do so many things for us,” continued Taman. “He played that linebacker spot for us at a very high level. He has the ability to go back and play in the secondary if need be. He was a pretty important piece to what we do. We lost a few guys. Had we lost Tad and some other guys we would have really been in trouble but at least with Tad we have some insurance and some versatility, so that’s a huge thing for us.”

Kornegay enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Riders in 2009, recording 74 defensive tackles, 10 special-teams tackles, four forced fumbles, three recoveries and three interceptions. He was rewarded with a West Division all-star award for the first time in his five-year CFL career.

“There were a few teams interested in me . . . but I really was focused on working a deal out with the Riders and continuing what we started,” said the native of Trenton, N.J. “Last year we got to that Cup (final). We feel as though we should have won that game. We definitely have some unfinished business.

This is what I wanted. I’ve been here for three years. It’s almost like I’m home. I think everybody that’s returning from last year, we all have a chip on our shoulder. I accept any accolades I win but I really want to win a Grey Cup.”

Kornegay’s motivation for returning also had a lot to do with the presence of defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry.

It was under his guidance that Kornegay was converted from defensive back to linebacker and thrived in the role, becoming a full-time starter for the first time in his CFL career.

“I love his defence,” added Kornegay, 27. “His defence allowed me to be myself and just make plays. He trusted in me and I trusted in him. They like to call me Mr. Everything. I always thought I could do everything but Etch actually proved to me that I really can play every position out there. It was crazy but I had a great time doing it.”

© Copyright (c) Canwest News ServiceRead more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/star+Kornegay+signs+with+Riders/2578140/story.html#ixzz0fqnme84B

ROUGHRIDERS SIGN DOMINIQUE DORSEY

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed import running back/kick returner Dominique Dorsey to a contract. Dorsey spent the majority of the 2009 season with the NFL's Washington Redskins before returning to the Toronto Argonauts for the final four games of the CFL season.
The UNLV product originally signed in the CFL with the Roughriders in 2005 and spent two seasons with the Green and White until signing as a free agent with the Argonauts prior to the 2007 season.

In 54 games played in the CFL, Dorsey had 145 kickoff returns for 3,239 yards and two touchdowns and 212 punt returns for 2,301 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, the 26-year-old had 119 carries for 657 yards and four touchdowns plus 26 receptions for 381 yards.
Dorsey's kick returning talent was acknowledged at the conclusion of the 2008 season when he was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
//

Tad Kornegay Signs

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www.saskriders.com

INTERVIEW WITH BRENDAN TAMAN FEB 16th

CLICK HERE FOR INTERVIEW WITH BRENDAN TAMAN

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SEE RIDERVISION

TICK...TICK ....TICK

Free agent (Rider) QB Steven Jyles is telling teammates he's torn between offers from the Riders and the Bombers. Jyles says he has spoken with Coach Miller and Coach LaPolice, and both teams have offered similiar deals, with contracts of around $100,000, plus the potential to make more bonus money.

RIDER DAY AT THE OLYMPICS

This is Saskatchewan Roughriders Day at the Winter Olympics’ Saskatchewan Pavilion in Vancouver.George Reed, Stu Foord and Luc Mullinder got a head start.

They were at the pavilion on Tuesday, signing autographs and interacting with fans.“You can anticipate what people are going to say: ‘Tough loss,’ ” Foord said. “It was everything from ‘tough loss’ to ‘good luck’ to ‘pleasure to meet you.’ Anybody who wasn’t from Montreal said, ‘We wanted you guys to win.’“There’s a good vibe because we’re at the Vancouver Olympics and everybody’s doing fine.’’

RIDERS TRYING TO SIGN DOMINIQUE DORSEY

BY PERRY LEFKOsportsnet.ca
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are taking a run at all-purpose running back Dominique Dorsey, whom the Toronto Argonauts are trying to re-sign, sources told sportsnet.ca.

The Riders are apparently putting forth a contract with a significant signing bonus that has made Dorsey evaluate his options. Dorsey began his Canadian Football League career in 2005 with Saskatchewan where he played two seasons as a backup running back/returner. He was traded to Winnipeg in May 2007 and released a month later. The general manager of the Bombers was Brendan Taman, who is now the Riders' GM.

Dorsey rose to unexpected prominence with the Argos, who signed him as a free agent. He emerged into a special teams star and a year later and was voted the Outstanding Special Teams player in the CFL.

He parlayed that into a tryout with the Washington Redskins but was released in the final cuts before the start of the regular season. He rejoined the Argos in September, but was limited in his return by an ankle sprain.

NOTES: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and B.C. Lions are also believed to be interested in signing Dorsey

RIDERS RESIGN FANTUZ

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club announced today they have officially signed non-import slotback Andy Fantuz to a new contract. Financial details of the signing were not released. The Western Ontario product is heading into his fifth year with the Riders and was set to become a free agent. Fantuz was originally drafted by the Green and White in the first round (6th overall) of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft. Since joining the CFL, the Chatham, Ontario native has made 189 catches for 2,756 yards and 17 touchdowns. Fantuz was named the Riders nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian in 2007. He was a key member of the championship winning team and was named Top Canadian in the Grey Cup game. In 2009, Fantuz tallied 67 catches for 882 yards and four touchdowns. He was also named the CFL's Canadian Player of the Week three times.
at 12.2.10 7 comments

Bombers Name Coordinators
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Football Club has revealed its offensive and defensive coordinators today, and the two join the Blue and Gold with a combined 21 years of CFL experience. On the defensive side, the Blue Bombers have hired Kavis Reed to fill the role as the team's Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. Reed joins the Blue and Gold after also spending the 2009 season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as their running backs/special team's coordinator. Prior to his time in Saskatchewan, Reed spent two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts where he initially worked as a defensive assistant before moving into the defensive coordinator position in 2008. On the offensive side of the ball, the Blue Bombers welcome Jamie Barresi as the club's Offensive Coordinator. Barresi is entering his 7th season as a coach in the CFL and spent the past two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders

MILLER INTERVIEW - FEB 11th

CLICK HERE FOR MILLER INTERVIEW.......THEN GO DOWN THE PAGE TO RIDER VISION

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KEN MILLER NOMINATED FOR COACH OF THE YEAR

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders' Ken Miller is a finalist for the CFL's coach-of-the-year award.

Miller, former Roughriders offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefeuille (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and Marc Trestman (Montreal Alouettes) are the three nominees. The award is to be presented March 5 in Edmonton.

Miller was also a finalist a year ago, when the Calgary Stampeders' John Hufnagel was named coach-of-the-year. The Roughriders' Kent Austin was honoured as coach-of-the-year one year earlier.

The 68-year-old Miller guided the 2009 Roughriders to a 10-7-1 record, which gave them first place in the West Division for the first time since 1976. The Roughriders advanced to the Grey Cup before losing 28-27 to Montreal — which went 15-3-0 in its second season under Trestman. Under Bellefeuille, Hamilton went 8-8-0 (good for second place in the East Division) and made the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

"All three of these gentlemen are a tremendous credit to our league and their organizations, leading their teams to successful 2009 seasons on the field, while displaying their customary class on the sidelines and in the community,'' CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said in a prepared statement.

"We're thrilled they have been nominated for this prestigious award by the Football Reporters of Canada, and we're very pleased that all three will be back in the CFL for the upcoming 2010 season. I want to congratulate them on behalf of our board of governors, and our fans across the country."

The three finalists were nominated by 50 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada.

STEVEN JYLES....WHERE WILL HE GO

It’s believed a hacker manipulated a link through the CFL database and added Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Steven Jyles to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files

REGINA — Thanks to a technical flaw somewhere, quarterback Steven Jyles joined the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers this week.

"Whaaat?" Jyles, who spent the past two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, said Tuesday from his off-season home in Baton Rouge, La. "I didn't know nothing about that."

It's believed someone manipulated a link through the CFL database and added Jyles to the Winnipeg roster. That would be a bit of a shock, since Jyles isn't due to become a free agent until Monday and therefore can't sign with the Bombers — or any team other than the

Roughriders — before then.
"I wasn't too concerned because I just talked to Paul (LaPolice on Monday)," said Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman, referring to the former Saskatchewan offensive co-ordinator who was named the Bombers' new head coach Friday. "Winnipeg, with the people they've employed there, would not be the team to tamper."

As a result, the 27-year-old Jyles is still a Roughrider. The ironic thing is that many CFL observers expect the Bombers to take a run at him when he does become a free agent.
"Right now, I'm just waiting to see who's going to offer me a job," said Jyles, who spent the 2009 season as the backup to Saskatchewan starter Darian Durant. "I talked to Coach (Ken) Miller one time, but we didn't really talk about me re-signing ... It was more of an end-of-the-season talk."

Taman — who talked with Jyles' representative, Ferrell Elliott, on Tuesday — suggested the Roughriders would like to bring back the veteran quarterback.

"He knows the system, he's been here, he a good teammate and he's got ability," Taman said.

"We've got Dalton (Bell) and the other guys (Graham Harrell and Cole Bergquist, both of whom were rookies last season), but the more the better.

"If we can (re-sign Jyles), great. If not, we'll go to the next guy. Preferably we'd try to retain him, but I'm sure he'll be a free agent Monday, so we'll see where it goes."

That's the attitude Jyles has taken as well.

"My thing is to just let it happen," said the product of Independence, La. "Everybody wants to play, but I really like Saskatchewan. I really like the fans and the chemistry with the team. But if someone called me and asked me to start, I'd probably have to take a look at that."

After competing with Durant for the No. 1 job in training camp, Jyles settled in as the backup. He finished the season with 25 completions in 40 pass attempts for 290 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed 24 times for 102 yards with four majors.
Durant — the West Division's all-star quarterback in 2009 — appears to be entrenched as the starter. If Jyles were to return, it's likely that he again would be the backup.

"The thing we have in Saskatchewan is pretty good," he said. "The way I looked at it last year is we have two guys who are ready to play. If one goes down, we've got another who's ready to step in and play."

Having said that, he indicated he likely would listen to offers. Teams such as the Bombers and Toronto Argonauts may be in the market for new starting pivots.

"It's my fifth year in the league," said Jyles, who spent the 2006 and '07 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos before being acquired in February of 2008 for defensive end Fred Perry. "I feel I've been well-coached through the years, so I feel I can go out there and perform.

"Maybe I should see what free agency is about. Even if I go back to Saskatchewan, maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to see if doors open up for me."

ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com

GRAHAM HARREL UPDATE

By Murray McCormick Tue, Feb 9 2010 COMMENTS(0) Rider Rumblings

I just got off the phone with Jon Persch, who is Graham Harrell’s agent.Persch wanted to clarify Harrell’s status and the media reports that the Riders’ quarterback was giving up football to become a coach at Oklahoma State University.

Persch stressed that Harrell hasn’t quit football and has every intention of attending training camp this season. Persch explained that Harrell is serving as a consultant during the offseason with OSU.OSU’s head coach Mike Grundy recently hired Texas Tech’s Dana Holgorsen as the Cowboys offensive co-ordinator.

Holgorson contacted Harrell, who was just hanging out in Texas, about working with OSU’s quarterbacks. Holgorson was the offensive co-ordinator during Harrell’s record-breaking seasons with Red Raiders.“Mike Grundy walked into a meeting this morning and asked Dana what was up with Graham,’’ Persch said. “Mike said they were getting phone calls from the Canadian media about him being a coach with OSU.“All Graham is doing is helping them install the offence.

It’s a brand-new offence with a 180-degree shift from the offence Oklahoma had been running. They just asked him to help and tutor quarterbacks. He’s not a member of the OSU football staff.’’Harrell signed with the Riders in 2009 for two years and an option. He was the team’s fifth quarterback and didn’t see any game action. Persch said that his client wants to play football and wanted to let all know that reports of his client quitting professional football weren’t true.“As far as we are concerned, he’s still member of the Roughriders and he’s planning on coming up there,’’ said Persch.

“He hasn’t quit football or the CFL to become a member of the Oklahoma State coaching staff.’’

RIDER STARS BEING SEIZED !

Stevie Baggs has signed with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post file

REGINA — The Baggs are packed.

Stevie Baggs, a CFL West Division all-star defensive end with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2009, has signed with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. Not only that, Roughriders offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice is poised to become the next head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Such is the price of success.

When rival teams are poaching, they typically pay scant attention to the doormats. The most accomplished organizations are routinely raided.

In the NFL, for example, disciples of Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick have been widely coveted by organizations with holes to fill. Given the demand for players with a winning pedigree, anyone with an association to Saskatchewan is likely to be courted.

The Roughriders should derive a measure of solace from the fact that other teams woo their personnel. However, that does not address the immediate problem: What now?

That question has been frequently posed in recent years. Leading up to the 2007 season, the exodus included tailback Kenton Keith, guard Andrew Greene, linebacker Jackie Mitchell, defensive tackle Nate Davis and cornerback Omarr Morgan. One year later, the Roughriders were faced with having to replace luminaries such as head coach Kent Austin, quarterback Kerry Joseph, tailback/returner Corey Holmes and linebacker Reggie Hunt. Last year's list of departees was highlighted by defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall, offensive line coach Mike Gibson, and all-star linebackers Anton McKenzie and Maurice Lloyd.

Baggs and fellow defensive end John Chick (now of the Indianapolis Colts) are the latest all-stars to find employment elsewhere. On the football operations side, two assistant coaches (LaPolice and offensive line coach Bob Wylie) and general manager Eric Tillman have left the organization. Brendan Taman was hired to succeed Tillman, the architect of Grey Cup finalists in 2007 and 2009.

Under Tillman, the Roughriders demonstrated an uncanny ability to address every void — even when it seemed incomprehensible that they could possibly withstand the double whammy of losing Joseph (the CFL's reigning most outstanding player) and Austin (coach-of-the-year) early in 2008.

Now the onus is on the Roughriders, under Taman and head coach/vice-president of football operations Ken Miller, to continue to be resilient.

Taman's player-personnel acumen will be put to the test as he strives to replace Baggs and Chick. The latter was named the CFL's top defensive player in 2009. The in-houses candidates are Joe Sykes, Willie Evans and Kitwana Jones. Given that Jones is a situational player, it is a roll of the dice to think that Sykes and Evans will both develop into every-down replacements for Baggs and Chick. Then again, who expected Baggs to be such a revelation in 2009? Chick came out of nowhere two years earlier.

As for the vacancy created by LaPolice's well-deserved ascent to the head-coaching ranks, it would be most prudent and practical for the Roughriders to promote from within.

The most obvious candidate is quarterbacks coach Jamie Barresi, who worked closely and productively with Darian Durant in 2009. Durant was named a West Division all-star late in his first full season as a starter. His rapid progression is a testament to the work done by the studious Barresi, who was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' offensive co-ordinator in 2004 and 2005.

It is virtually important for the Roughriders to maintain continuity on offence, to the extent that is possible with LaPolice out of the equation. Keep in mind that Miller was the Roughriders' offensive co-ordinator during the Grey Cup-winning season of 2007. Although Miller does not have any designs on revisiting that role, he could still have an imprint on the strategy (as Austin did when Miller called the vast majority of the plays in 2007).

By retaining Barresi, elevating Marcus Crandell to quarterbacks coach and prevailing upon the wisdom of Miller, the Roughriders have the necessary expertise to ensure there is continuity.
The alternative is to bring in someone from outside the organization and potentially force

Durant to adjust to a new scheme, just as he is becoming a star. The Riders could always search for a coach who can embrace the extant system, but how realistic is that? Why place restrictions on a new coach?

All things considered, the best call is to let Jamie Barresi make the calls.

rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com

STEVIE BAGGS SIGNS WITH CARDINALS

The NFL's Arizona Cardinals have signed free agent DE Stevie Baggs formerly of the Roughriders. His agent Chad Speck spoke with 620 CKRM about the signing this morning:"They didn't require a workout. They just brought him in for a physical and they watched a lot of tape on him. We've had a lot of dialogue and finally we came to an agreement.""I think a lot of these guys' dreams are to get back to the NFL if they're from the States. He has the opportunity to be an outside linebacker/rush linebacker in passing situations and the Cardinals are thin at that position right now and he feels he has a great opportunity to make an NFL team."Read all about it here:http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-1/Cardinals-Baggs-a-Pass-Rusher/82d6e661-75e2-497b-be9e-58c1dae11e13

PAUL LAPOLICE NEW BOMBER HEAD COACH

WINNIPEG - Paul LaPolice is the new head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.LaPolice formally accepted the terms of a deal with the club Thursday morning and will be introduced as the new coach at a press conference on Friday. Sources with both the Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where LaPolice has spent the last three years – the last two as offensive coordinator – have confirmed the news...