Fake injuries and stalling tactics no doubt will be raised Friday when the Saskatchewan Roughriders arrive in Winnipeg in advance of Saturday’s CFL game against the host Blue Bombers.
The Roughriders won’t have much to say about either topic.
“That’s pretty much for the league (to discuss),” Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones said after Thursday’s closed practice at Mosaic Stadium.
“Player safety is one of our biggest issues and it’s something that the league has addressed at the league level, about making sure that we do make it a priority. It’s not my place to even talk about it or judge on it.”
Fans in Winnipeg and some Bombers players weren’t impressed with the Roughriders during and after Sunday’s Labour Day Classic, which Saskatchewan won 38-24.
Many Winnipeggers believed Saskatchewan defensive linemen faked injuries three times during the contest to keep the Bombers from going into their no-huddle offence.
Each player sat out the three plays required under CFL rules and, during that time, was replaced by another D-lineman.
“There’s tons of accusations, but people can think what they want to think,” said Eddie Steele, one of the Roughriders who sought medical attention as the Bombers tried to go hurry-up. “Football’s a physical game and player safety comes first.
“I’m going to be worried about my health and my safety before I’m worried about a football game.”
Jones was asked if he thinks the Bombers will try to get in the officials’ ears and demand a penalty be called if a Saskatchewan player stays on the turf at an inopportune time for the home team.
“I don’t know,” Jones replied. “All I can tell you is that we’re going to play hard. I worry about my football team, not what (the Bombers) do.”
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Steele has come full circle.
On Saturday, the Winnipeg product is to play the 100th game of his CFL career in his hometown.
He also played the first game of his CFL career in Winnipeg; he was a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats when they visited the Bombers on July 1, 2011.
“It’s special to be playing my 100th game in Winnipeg in front of all my friends and family and with all the support that I have there,” said Steele, a product of the University of Manitoba Bisons. “Hopefully I put on a good show for them.”
Steele, 29, played two seasons with Hamilton and four with the Edmonton Eskimos before signing a free-agent deal with the Roughriders in February. His 10th game with Saskatchewan will be a milestone event.
“It’s a blessing to even be here to play my 100th game,” he said. “Coming into the league, I never would have thought that I could make it this far, but hard work really pays for — and God has really had my back throughout my career.”
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One of Tavares Bingham or Royce LaFrance will get to play the first game of his CFL career Saturday.
One of those defensive linemen will be activated off the practice roster to replace Nick James, who is out for the contest.
“If it’s me, it’s going to mean a lot to actually get to help the team,” said LaFrance, a 24-year-old product of Tulane University who was signed to the Roughriders’ practice roster on Aug. 21. “I’ve just got to do my job and let the guys do what they’ve been doing for the past three weeks.”
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound LaFrance had an NFL stint with the New Orleans Saints in 2016. The 23-year-old Bingham is a 6-foot-4, 290-pounder out of the Georgia Military Academy who joined Saskatchewan’s practice roster on Aug. 30.
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Crezdon Butler is focused on the present.
The Roughriders defensive back spent seven seasons in the NFL, making stops with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2010), the Arizona Cardinals (2011), the Washington Redskins (2012), the Cardinals again (2012), the Buffalo Bills (2012), the San Diego Chargers (2013), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014), the Seattle Seahawks (2015) and the Detroit Lions (2015-16).
The 2017-18 NFL season begins Thursday night, but the 30-year-old Butler isn’t yearning to be back in his former stomping grounds.
“I really haven’t even focused on it,” he said. “We’ve been playing good ball here and I haven’t been really focused on the NFL. Of course I’m going to watch the games, but I have a job to do here and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Butler joined the Roughriders in training camp after not getting any serious offers from NFL teams. He was released by Saskatchewan after suffering an injury in camp, but was re-signed after returning to full health.
He has been part of the starting defence for the past six games — the first six games he has played in any pro league other than the NFL.
“I’m pretty comfortable now,” Butler said. “Everybody wants to get better. Everybody has room for improvement. If you get too comfortable, you start making mistakes. I just want to keep my mindset on getting that one-per-cent better every day.”
