Jovon Johnson wants the Saskatchewan Roughriders to focus on a battle with the Calgary Stampeders, not on any internal battles.
The veteran cornerback was among those who talked Tuesday about the fight that occurred during Monday’s practice between receiver Duron Carter and defensive back Sam Williams, the fallout from the scrap in the media and on social media, and the problems the incident could cause.
Asked how the Roughriders can keep the incident from being a distraction, Johnson replied: “We focus on the game on Friday. That’s how we do that.”
Saskatchewan (8-7-0) is to face the host Stampeders (13-1-1) on Friday with a CFL playoff berth on the line. If the Roughriders win, they’ll clinch a spot in the post-season.
That — not the fight — is the thing on which the Roughriders are eager to focus.
“You have to put everything aside, put the team in front and continue to try to get better each day …,” centre Dan Clark said when asked about overcoming a potential distraction.
“We have a family atmosphere on this team. Brothers are going to be brothers and things are always going to happen in a family. We want to help and always be there for each other.”
Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones confirmed that there was an altercation during Monday’s practice, but he wouldn’t say what started it. He also wouldn’t comment on reports that a coach encouraged Carter and Williams to fight and then didn’t break it up.
In Jones’ mind, fighting is bound to happen in a collision sport like football — even in practice and even between teammates.
“I can remember (former Stampeders defensive backs) Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner fighting four times on Day 4 and we won the Grey Cup, so it doesn’t concern me in the least,” Jones said.
“There was an altercation today in practice,” he continued. “It’s not uncommon when you put people against each other in a competitive environment. I can assure you that if our coaches go and play backyard basketball or pickup basketball down at the YMCA, there will be an altercation.”
Jones noted he can accept the occasional scrap provided it’s not something that will tear the team apart. He also suggested he isn’t concerned if the players hurt themselves fighting.
“It’s part of it,” Jones said. “Would it be an unfortunate situation at this time? Absolutely, but it wouldn’t be the first time.
“(Fighting) is not something that we just absolutely condone, but it’s going to be something that happens. If you’ve got a team that’s not willing to go after one another and play aggressive, then you’ve probably got the wrong guys.”
Johnson said the incident started after Williams got in the middle of a daily get-together involving the Roughriders’ receivers and quarterbacks. For his part, Carter said the event was precipitated only by “some football stuff.”
“Just guys playing football,” he offered. “We’re out here playing a kids’ game and sometimes we get into it and that’s what happened.”
Williams wasn’t at practice Tuesday. Johnson said his teammate was sick and couldn’t attend practice for that reason, not because of the scrap.
The fight, which wasn’t detected by many of the onlookers at practice, came to light later Monday afternoon after Carter tweeted: “It was fun while it lasted… love y’all.”
That post led many to believe that Carter was saying goodbye to Roughriders fans and, after reports of the altercation surfaced, people began to suggest that he had been suspended or released.
On Tuesday, Carter said his tweet was meant to signal his departure from Twitter, not his departure from Saskatchewan.
“I’m out here today,” he said. “I’m out here working with my teammates and my guys and my brothers and making everyone better. That’s my main goal.”
Johnson posted a series of tweets Monday night trying to put things into perspective — an action he said he took because he’s a team captain. On Tuesday, he again tried to set the record straight.
“It has definitely been blown out of proportion,” Johnson said. “This is football. We’re a family, we go to war every single day against one another and that stuff happens in football.
“I’ve been on a number of teams where tempers flare, things get out of control for all of five seconds and then we’re back playing together and guys are running around having fun again. It’s not a big deal.”
There also were reports that the Roughriders had cut slotback Bakari Grant (who reportedly tried to intervene in the fight) and guard Derek Dennis (who wasn’t even on the field Monday due to a back injury).
Grant declined to comment Tuesday and Dennis again was absent due to his injury. Jones wouldn’t comment on those reports either, saying any discussions about the players’ standing had happened “within our walls.”
Additionally, there has been speculation that Carter and Grant won’t play Friday in Calgary. Jones would only say that the Roughriders’ roster for that contest will be decided later this week.
Jones was convinced that the matter wouldn’t have become an issue if someone other than Carter had been involved and had tweeted about it. Instead, with Carter’s reputation as a lightning rod in the CFL, the incident became national news.
Having said that, Jones noted he won’t be talking to Carter about his use of Twitter.
“Duron’s a grown man,” Jones said. “He can do the things that he needs to do as long as it doesn’t affect this team in a negative way.
“We’re a team. We do everything as a team. We practise as a team. We travel as a team. We work as a team. We work in the weight room as a team. There are no individuals, I can tell you that.”
