SASKATOON — It’s late in Week 2 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp and Rob Bagg is holding up just fine.
Sure, the 32-year-old receiver is a little leg-weary — “If you’re running as hard as you can and doing what the coaches are asking you every play and every drill, your legs are going to get tired,” he said Thursday — but Bagg isn’t going to let that slow him down.
“Anytime I start to feel sorry for myself, which I guess is natural in some regards, I just remind myself how lucky I am to play this game at the age of 32 and how lucky I am to be out here with these guys,” the 10th-year CFLer said after practice at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus. “There are so many things to be thankful for.
“Having missed two seasons with (torn) ACLs, I feel like anytime you take it for granted, that’s when you’re going to get hurt — and there’s no time for that. It’s such a blessing to be able to play the game that I find it easy to get excited about every practice even though my body is telling me that it doesn’t want to do it.”
Many players refer to training camp as a grind. Bagg said he doesn’t like using that word “because it makes it sound like it’s not fun.” Instead, he relishes the opportunity to work hard in camp and to be part of the construction of a football team.
That’s why Bagg views camp as simply another opportunity to play the game.
“I’m excited to come to training camp,” he said. “I love working hard, I love the competition, I love competing with my brothers and watching the guys around me improve, make plays and come together as a team.
“A lot of the things that create a great locker room and a great team environment come to fruition in training camp. So far, it has been really good compared to last year. Last year, we had a lot of talented individuals but we just weren’t able to bring everyone together like we needed to as a family early enough. This year, we’re way ahead of the game in that regard.”
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One of the younger players who has been hanging on Bagg’s every word during camp is Regina’s Mitchell Picton.
The 22-year-old slotback has been trying to glean as much information as he can from veterans like Bagg, Duron Carter and Bakari Grant in hopes of sticking with the Roughriders. Picton has one season of U Sports eligibility remaining with the University of Regina Rams, but he wants to stay with the Roughriders in 2017.
So far, training camp has proved to him that he belongs in the CFL.
“I was trying to get my feet under me in the first couple of days, but now I understand how things are around here,” said Picton, whom Saskatchewan selected in the fifth round (37th overall) of the May 7 CFL draft. “I think I can play here and it’s something that has been in my mind all camp.”
Picton admitted that things were “a little shaky” for him in the early days of camp as he tried to adjust to the speed and size of the pro players. In recent days, he has been more consistent — and his progress hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Head coach-GM Chris Jones feted Picton a couple of times during media briefings and the rookie has appreciated the compliment.
“It means the hard work is paying off and things that I’ve done through camp are progressing,” Picton said. “It’s nice to get some recognition and know that the coaches are noticing that I’m doing good things.”
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The Roughriders added three players Thursday — all by different methods.
Signed as a free agent was linebacker/defensive end Myke Tavarres, who had a stint with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles last season. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder is a product of the University of the Incarnate Word via the University of Arkansas.
Selected in a supplemental draft was linebacker Brandyn Bartlett from Tusculum College. To get the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Bartlett, the Roughriders had to surrender a fifth-round pick in the 2018 CFL draft.
In three seasons at Tusculum, Bartlett recorded 229 tackles, 12 tackles for losses, seven sacks, six forced fumbles and one interception.
Jones said Bartlett can work on special teams and can back up fellow nationals Henoc Muamba and Mike Dubuisson at middle linebacker.
Then, added as a territorial junior was receiver-kicker Kris Calcutt of the PFC’s Regina Thunder. Calcutt handled the placekicking duties during Thursday’s practice in the absences of Tyler Crapigna and Quinn Van Gylswyk.
“They’ve kicked a ton,” Jones said of the veteran duo. “We’re just trying to make sure that their legs are fresh so they’ve got pop come game day.”
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Jones expects many of the Roughriders’ walking wounded to play Saturday against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the pre-season opener for both teams.
In addition to Crapigna and Van Gylswyk, the absentees Thursday included linebackers Sam Eguavoen, Kevin Francis and Glenn Love, defensive linemen Ivan Brown, Ese Mrabure and Jordan Reaves, defensive backs Zavian Bingham and Kacy Rodgers, quarterback Vince Young, tailback Kienan LaFrance, receiver-returner Chad Owens, long-snapper Jorgen Hus and punter Josh Bartel.
Those with more serious injuries — players like Eguavoen and Young — won’t play Saturday.
The Roughriders don’t have to trim their roster until June 17 and it appears that Jones is going to keep as many bodies as possible right up to the deadline.
“You’ve got to have legs for camp,” he said. “There are guys who unfortunately are behind the 8-ball a little bit, but you never know. If we get in this game and don’t come out as healthy as we’d like, if you’ve already sent somebody home, then you’re just incurring more costs.”
