Mitchell Blair
The CFL trade deadline usually comes and goes with very little fanfare. Teams don’t usually make a big deal involving a big-name player. Not this year!
On Sunday afternoon, the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced they had acquired the CFL’s sacks leader by getting Alex Hall from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers along with a second round draft pick in 2014 for offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld and a fourth round pick in 2016. It was a move that signaled the Riders were going all in when it comes to winning this year’s Grey Cup on home turf and they will leave no stone overturned in their attempts at doing so.
It’s a move general manager Brendan Taman admits could be a rental because Hall is a free agent at year’s end, but he’s not looking at the future, he is looking at the present and is hoping the players see the organization is serious about winning their first Grey Cup since 2007 and just their fourth overall.
“The guys will see we are doing what we can to make this team as good as we can,” Taman said. “It might ruffle the odd feather just because someone’s personal agenda could be affected but if the guys have a brain, they know we are trying to win games. When Alex walked in here on Monday, there were a lot of guys pretty happy to see him. I think a lot of our guys know what he brings to the table and that he is well-respected.
As for Hall, he admits he was surprised to get moved from the Bombers, but he is excited to leave a team that isn’t going to the playoffs to join a team that is looking at getting to and winning the Grey Cup.
“It feels good,” Hall says with a laugh. “These guys have been working hard and I’m just looking at coming in here to contribute. I’m ready to help them out and continue doing what I’ve been doing and that is make an impact and help them get to where they want to be.”
The 28-year-old, who will go into Saturday’s game against Edmonton with 15 sacks, is excited to join a defence that has been playing perhaps its best football over the last few weeks despite the fact the wins haven’t been there.
“There’s a lot of good players on this team,” Hall preached. “Watching them on film, they are very fast and aggressive. Guys like John Chick and Ricky Foley are great players and I’m hoping I can just keep going the way I have been in Winnipeg and work hard to make this team successful.”
Head Coach Corey Chamblin is happy to have someone of Hall’s quality on the roster. He says his presence will hopefully mean a lot in the last five regular season games and playoffs.
“He gives us added playmaker ability,” Chamblin said with a smile. “We know what he can do and he’s done a great job with Winnipeg in his time there. Hopefully, he can do the same for us. We can do a lot of things when it comes to stunts and other things so I’m excited to see how he will work out.”
With Hall becoming a free agent at the end of the season, there is talk his stay in Riderville may be a short one as he will end up elsewhere or perhaps in the National Football League. Hall doesn’t want to discuss that right now.
“We’ll see,” Hall said. “There are a few football games to play between now and then and there are a lot of decisions to be made. I just want to make an impact and play the type of football I was playing in Winnipeg. I’m excited to be here and be on a winning team which is something I wasn’t on the last couple of years. We’ll see.”
Taman won’t deny Hall is perhaps viewed as a rental player, but he is quick to remind people Hall could decide to re-sign with the Riders instead of testing the free agent waters or taking his talents south of the border.
“He will see the organization from top to bottom. He’ll get some version of playoff money which is good for him and hopefully we can make his experience as good as can be.” Taman said. “We told him the minute we talked to him that if we can help you go to the NFL, we will do what we can and perhaps in the long run it may work out for us.”
Rider fans are hoping Hall’s arrival is an extended stay that lasts at least until the end of November if not more. His presence certainly makes a defense that has been playing at a very high level that much more dangerous. His presence also signifies the football team is serious about accomplishing their goal of a championship as they head down the road into the final five games beginning with a visit from the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday. Game time at Mosaic Stadium is 2:30.
