Dan Clark was feeling all warm and fuzzy during the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ practice Tuesday.
The veteran centre was in the Halloween spirit, practising in a furry, powder-blue outfit adorned with claws and horns — and his No. 67 jersey, of course.
Just to be clear: Clark was dressed up as Sulley from the movie Monsters, Inc.
“It’s one of those things that brings a little bit of light (to the day),” Clark — still in costume — said after his CFL team worked out at Mosaic Stadium. “We’re all a bunch of little kids eventually.”
Defensive backs Crezdon Butler (The Flash) and Jovon Johnson (Superman) also dressed up for Halloween, but that was it. Some players apparently didn’t get the memo.
“I don’t think we shared the idea,” Clark admitted. “I think we all figured out who’s going to be the little kids today. Butler and J.J. were more than welcome into it.
“I thought about Batman, but you always can’t go wrong with Sulley.”
Who wore it best?
1) @DanClark67 as “Sully” from Monsters, Inc.
2) @Mr_Consistent_2 as Superman.
3) @butlerboy28 as “The Flash”⚡️ pic.twitter.com/O9WemY6VMs
— Sask. Roughriders (@sskroughriders) October 31, 2017
Clark has worn the costume before in public — he once ventured out with his wife, who was dressed up as Sulley’s best friend, Mike — but the veteran centre had never been Sulley during a practice. He suggested the team’s schedule never before had given him the opportunity to dress up for a practice on Halloween.
Clark took repetitions with the starting offensive line Tuesday and his outfit didn’t restrict him at all. However, there was one cosmetic touch that was required.
“I tied my tail up and I could snap the ball,” Clark said. “I could move (well).
“I stayed nice and warm. Everybody was complaining that it was cold, but I think I lost 10 pounds in (the costume) today. I feel pretty good about it.”
•••
Bakari Grant was feeling much better about himself Tuesday.
“This is probably the first time I’ve smiled in a while,” the veteran slotback said. “It’s one of those things where you don’t get the bad taste out of your mouth until you get back to work.”
In reality, Grant was responsible for his bad mood.
During the second quarter of Friday’s 37-12 victory over the visiting Montreal Alouettes, Grant caught a 14-yard pass from Brandon Bridge and started an unimpeded trip to the Als’ end zone.
Inexplicably, Grant started to celebrate before crossing the goal line — and Montreal cornerback Tevaughn Campbell stripped Grant of the ball at the one-yard line. The Als recovered the fumble.
“I eased up before I sealed the deal and I paid for it,” Grant explained. “I hurt the team, so it won’t happen again …
“I’ve never done anything like that before and I take full responsibility. I don’t blame anybody but myself.”
After the game, Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones said no one felt worse about the incident than Grant. The veteran receiver didn’t need to be reminded of his gaffe, either.
“Guys know how I feel on this team,” Grant, who wasn’t available in the locker room after the game to discuss the play, said Tuesday. “My whole sentiment coming to the sideline and going to the locker room at halftime was, ‘These guys work too hard for me to pull that B.S. so I won’t let it happen again.’ ”
The lapse in judgment could come in handy if younger players see how contrite Grant has been since the game. But while the incident has been a teaching moment, it also won’t ruin Grant’s season. He enters Saturday’s game against the visiting Edmonton Eskimos just five yards shy of the first 1,000-yard receiving season of his CFL career.
“A great touchdown won’t make my season amazing, so one bad play won’t make my season all bad,” he said. “It’s one of those things where you’ve got to get back to work and do the same thing you do after you do something great.”
•••
The Roughriders will be shorthanded Saturday.
Jones confirmed that tailback Cameron Marshall, slotback Naaman Roosevelt and linebacker Sam Eguavoen won’t play against the Eskimos. None of them played against the Als, but Marshall and Roosevelt did practise Tuesday.
As well, tailback Trent Richardson — who rushed for 127 yards against Montreal before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury — likely won’t be in the lineup, either.
With their first- and second-string tailbacks on the shelf, the Roughriders may deploy Marcus Thigpen at tailback.
Chad Owens will start his third straight game in Roosevelt’s spot and Jeff Knox Jr., will start again in place of Eguavoen.
•••
The game Saturday features playoff implications for both teams.
If Saskatchewan wins, it will finish third in the West Division and will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the division semifinal. The Eskimos then will cross over into the East playoffs.
If the Eskimos win or tie Saturday’s game, they will stay in the West and the Roughriders will cross over to the East.
Some have suggested that Saskatchewan should rest players Saturday in preparation for the post-season, but Jones dismissed that notion.
“We’re not worried about the playoffs; we’re worried about this football game,” he said. “We’re going to play our best football that we possibly can play and the healthy bodies that we have, we’re going to send out there to compete against Edmonton.”
If it was up to quarterback Kevin Glenn, he’d play Saturday.
“You get enough rest during the week,” he said. “You want to play in the game. You don’t ever want to not play in a game. It’s not pre-season. It’s still a regular-season game.”
