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