OTTAWA — Duron Carter stole the show Saturday.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver’s history with Ottawa Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell came up during media conferences held in advance of Sunday’s CFL East Division semifinal at TD Place (noon, CKRM, TSN).
During Ottawa’s availability, Redblacks safety Antoine Pruneau was asked about Carter’s trash-talking. As part of his answer, Pruneau jokingly told reporters: “As long as he doesn’t push our coach, it’s going to stay respectful.”
That was a reference to Carter’s actions on June 30, 2016, when — as a member of the Montreal Alouettes — he bumped into Campbell on the Ottawa sideline after scoring a touchdown.
The CFL subsequently assessed Carter a one-game suspension and hit Campbell with a fine for not doing more to avoid contact with Carter.
On Saturday, shortly after Pruneau’s comments were reproduced on Twitter, Carter replied with a tweet that said: “Yeah whatever! Last 3 times I played Ottawa I have like over 500 yards… flopping is probably the only way to stop me.”
In Saskatchewan’s two games against Ottawa in the 2017 regular season, Carter had 16 receptions for 320 yards. That included an 11-catch, 231-yard eruption in the Redblacks’ 33-32 victory in Regina on Oct. 13.
When Carter met the media later during Saskatchewan’s availability, he was asked about the incident coming up again.
“It’s all fun and jokes,” he replied. “It’s all in the past. It’s a new game, a new team. I’m just ready to go out and compete.”
That comment was followed immediately by one from Roughriders quarterback Kevin Glenn, who was sitting beside Carter during the media conference.
“I just bumped him in the hallway and you didn’t even see it,” Glenn said. “We shook hands and bumped.”
Carter is one of the CFL’s most vocal players, which may be why TSN has decided to mic him up for Sunday’s game. The network could get some gold from Carter, who admitted the on-field banter sometimes motivates him.
“I guess people try to get in my head in a sense, but it sort of makes me play better in a sense,” he said. “A lot of times when I’m out there, I’m nonchalant and I let the game come to me, but if I have to bring it to somebody, that’s really my main goal. I make it my main thing to show them those personal battles on the field.”
After answering more questions than Glenn and tailback Kienan LaFrance, Carter completed his day by sitting with reporters and asking questions of Roughriders defenders Ed Gainey, Jovon Johnson and Henoc Muamba.
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LaFrance is back in a familiar time and place.
During the 2016 playoffs, LaFrance took over as Ottawa’s tailback after starter Mossis Madu suffered an injury in the East Division final.
LaFrance finished Ottawa’s 35-23 victory over the visiting Edmonton Eskimos on Nov. 20 with 25 carries, 157 yards and a touchdown. One week later, he had 11 carries for 42 yards and six catches for 31 yards in the Redblacks’ 39-33 overtime triumph over the Calgary Stampeders in the Grey Cup game.
On Sunday, the 26-year-old product of Winnipeg will join Marcus Thigpen and Greg Morris in Saskatchewan’s backfield for the East semifinal against his former team.
“You definitely reminisce a little bit going on the field and seeing everyone again,” said LaFrance, who signed with the Roughriders as a free agent in February. “It definitely sparks some memories.
“But that’s last year. I’m focused with this team and trying to go out there and do what we can do and do it best.”
LaFrance faced his former teammates twice in the regular season. He had 12 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Roughriders’ 18-17 road victory on Sept. 29 and added seven carries for 12 yards in the aforementioned home loss on Oct. 13.
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Thigpen also is taking a trip down memory lane.
The last time he appeared in a CFL playoff game was Nov. 20, 2011, when he was a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. That day, Thigpen and his mates lost 19-3 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the East Division final.
After spending the next four seasons in the NFL, he’s now with the Roughriders. With Cameron Marshall and Trent Richardson nursing injuries, Thigpen will split time with LaFrance and Morris on Sunday.
“The post-season is always a little bit more (intense),” Thigpen said. “Hits are a little bit harder and everything’s a little bit faster. The main thing for us is to stay disciplined, not kill ourselves with penalties, make sure we be smart and everything else will take care of itself.”
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It was announced this week that two Roughriders — centre Dan Clark (Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award) and defensive tackle Makana Henry (Tom Pate Award) — were up for honours recognizing their efforts.
Since 2010, the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award has been presented to a Canadian-born player who demonstrates the attributes of the country’s veterans, including strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and community involvement.
Clark, a 29-year-old product of Regina, is a first-time nominee for the award.
The Tom Pate Award is presented to a player who displays outstanding sportsmanship and who has contributed to his team, to his community and to the CFL Players’ Association.
Henry, a 30-year-old from Caledon, Ont., is up for the award for the first time. His involvement with Scott Collegiate earned him the nomination from his teammates.
“I didn’t do any of this for (the award); I didn’t even know about it,” said Henry, who has overcome a past that included jail time. “I just wanted to be under the radar and do some nice stuff because that’s how I was brought up.
“I tried to help out and put a little bit of good back in the world. I put a lot of bad in it in my bad days, so I’m trying to outweigh the bad. If I can put more good in it, then I’ll be happy.”
Both awards will be presented at a later date.
