DRESSLER TO STAY AROUND REGINA IN OFF SEASON

REGINA — Weston Dressler is a team player, even during the off-season.

Dressler has taken over as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ career development co-ordinator from Jeremy O’Day, who had held the position for the past couple of years. O’Day retired last off-season and is now the football operations co-ordinator with the Roughriders.

Dressler is now assisting Roughriders who spend the off-season in Regina to find work in fields in which they might have studied while in university.

“I’m trying to help make them make the transition from football to the real world, as we call it,’’ Dressler said. “We also want to encourage guys to remain around here. It’s good for the community and the players. The more players we have around, the better.’’

Dressler, who hails from Bismarck, N.D., plans on spending the majority of the off-season in Regina. He has already been approached by players who are looking to take advantage of the program.

“It has been tough to find things that they want to do, instead of just a job for the off-season,’’ Dressler said. “That’s not really the point of it. It’s finding guys work that they are interested in and could lead them into a career when they’re done. Some guys want to be in an office and others just can’t sit down all day. They are willing to do manual labour.’’

Off-season employment is important from a financial and career point of view.

“Some guys spend the season on the practice roster and they never see the full salary that they signed up for,’’ Dressler said. “If you play all year, you don’t need the extra money for your income, but it can sure help out.’’

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TSN recently recognized Dario Romero as the league’s nastiest player in its annual poll of CFL players.

The Riders defensive tackle edged out Montreal Alouettes linebacker Diamond Ferri and Toronto Argonauts offensive tackle Rob Murphy in balloting conducted by CFL players. Romero is personable away from the field. That appears to change when he’s on the field.

“I’m not a nasty person out there,’’ said Romero, who was also third in voting for the CFL’s toughest player. “It’s competition. I approach it as a fight — a controlled-violence situation — so you’ve got to play on the edge. You’ve got to raise the bar and it helps me play better. It helps the games go by faster. It’s just the mentality that I like to approach the game with.’’

Romero was the only Rider to lead any of the 11 categories. Slotback Chris Getzlaf was second in the category of most under-rated player. Toronto slotback/running back Andre Durie was first. Darian Durant was also second to the Calgary Stampeders’ Henry Burris in voting to determine which CFL quarterback has the strongest arm.

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NOTES: The Riders won, sort of, after Friday’s 23-20 season-ending loss to the Edmonton Eskimos. The defeat left the Riders at 5-13. A win would have meant the Riders and Argonauts would have finished tied for last at 6-12. The teams split the season series, but the Riders would have finished ahead of the Argos based on a 48-44 advantage in points differential. The loss left the Riders with uncontested control of the first overall pick in the 2012 CFL draft … The Riders were not only 0-10 versus West Division teams, but were outscored 286-132. As befitting a befuddling season, the Riders were 5-3 against the East and actually outscored them 194-173 … The divisional nominees for the CFL’s player of the year awards are to be announced today. Dressler (outstanding player), linebacker Jerrell Freeman (defensive player), guard Chris Best (lineman), safety Craig Butler (rookie) and kicker Chris Milo (special teams) are the Riders’ nominees … The Riders finished the 2011 season as the lone team to not record a touchdown on its first possession. The offence exploded (?) for two field goals in its opening drives in 2011.