SASKATOON — Slotback Bakari Grant was involved in the most ferocious collision to date at the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp.
No, Grant wasn’t flattened by a defensive back in the flat or drilled by a safety while running across the middle. Actually, Grant was the one who delivered the blow.
During the CFL team’s practice Thursday at Griffiths Stadium, Grant slid into the backfield to help protect quarterback Kevin Glenn in a passing drill. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Grant saw 5-foot-9, 205-pound safety Jeff Hecht coming on a blitz — and Grant laid Hecht out.
“I felt bad,” Grant said with a smile after a workout at the stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus. “He was coming full speed and he kind of caught me in reaction mode. My reaction mode is to lower my shoulder. That’s the only way I know how to play football.
“Yeah, I caught him a little bit. I apologized about it. Hecht knows it was nothing personal. When you get in a game, you can expect that from me.”
That’s exactly what the Roughriders are expecting from Grant, who spent the 2016 season with the Calgary Stampeders.
Saskatchewan signed the 29-year-old product of Oakland to a free-agent contract in the off-season in part because of his receiving ability — he had career highs of 69 catches and 947 yards for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2013, when he was named an East Division all-star — but also because he’s a physical presence.
“He offers leadership, he offers toughness and he offers experience; he has been there,” said Glenn, who played with Grant in Hamilton. “He’s one of those guys who’s selfless. He will do anything — I mean anything — that it takes in order for the team to win.
“If he has to line up at tight end or tackle, he’s the guy who’ll put his hand up and say, ‘I’ll do it.’ He reminds me a lot, mentality-wise, of (Montreal Alouettes receiver) Nik Lewis. They’re not afraid to block a defensive lineman, but they’re also not afraid to catch a ball over the middle or run a deep route down the field.
“I’m happy that Calgary didn’t get (Grant) back.”
So is Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones.
Grant spent the first five seasons of his CFL career with the Tiger-Cats before joining the Stampeders. Jones had never coached Grant, but the veteran coach saw from afar some characteristics that he liked.
“He’s extremely tough, he’s got great leadership skills and he’s got tremendous personality,” Jones said of the University of California, Davis product. “It’s not shocking to me, but he’s better than what I thought he was even after going against him.”
Apprised of Jones’ comments, Grant grinned. He said he got the same message from Roughriders players who told him they like the way he goes to work every day.
“When you see guys on other teams, you don’t necessarily know what they do outside of the game,” Grant said. “The game could be geared towards them and the offence could feature them, but you don’t really get to see them work on an everyday basis. To me, it’s the utmost honour — to have the respect of my teammates and the coaches around the league.
“When you get phone calls from ex-coaches who say they respect the way you practise and the way you play, that’s what I’m about. That’s why I play the game. Yeah, the touchdowns are fun, but I play to respect the game.”
Grant joined the Roughriders with 286 career catches for 3,652 yards and 21 touchdowns. His teams have gone to three Grey Cup games, but he hasn’t won a ring yet.
After missing the first two days of the Roughriders’ camp — he was testifying in court in Calgary — Grant slid seamlessly into the starting receiving corps with the likes of Rob Bagg, Duron Carter and Caleb Holley.
The reason Grant was able to join the No. 1 unit so quickly was simple, at least in his mind.
“I’m THE veteran among the receiving corps, outside of Rob Bagg,” Grant said. “I’ve seen all defences that the league has, so I’m pretty good on that front. I also have playmaking ability.
“What people don’t really know about my resumé is my ability to pick up blitzes … I tout myself as the best blocking receiver in the league and I hold that (title) with pride.”
Grant’s chemistry with Glenn likely was a factor as well. The former Tiger-Cats teammates see the same things when they scan a defence and that has to help them connect.
Now Grant is hoping to connect with the Roughriders’ fans. His first opportunity to do so in Regina is set for Saturday, when Saskatchewan plays host to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a pre-season game.
“It’s in the back of every player’s mind at every point in their career that they’ll end up in Regina,” Grant said. “It’s bittersweet because honestly, as a player, you don’t really want to move. But when you get a chance to be on this side of the Green Sea, you’re not mad. I’m happy about it.”
