Winnipeg Blue Bombers OL Travis Bond celebrates victory against the Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL action in Winnipeg on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (CFL PHOTO - Jason Halstead)
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have entered the big Bond era.
Offensive lineman Travis Bond — a 6-foot-7, 356-pounder out of the University of North Carolina — signed a free-agent contract with the CFL’s Roughriders on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old product of Windsor, N.C., spent the past two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“He’s an awful good football player and can play a multitude of positions, both inside and outside,” Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones said Wednesday. “Certainly he doesn’t lack for size, which I like.
“The thing about him is he’s one of those guys who gets up in the morning and likes to smash people.”
Bond was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. He was released by the Vikings during final cuts, but subsequently was signed to the practice roster.
The Carolina Panthers signed Bond off the Vikings’ practice roster and he played two regular-season games with them in 2013. The Panthers waived him in May of 2014 and he signed with the St. Louis Rams, but they released him in August of that year.
He signed with the Bombers in March of 2016 and played 12 games at guard as a CFL rookie. He was named a West Division and CFL all-star that season.
In 2017, Bond appeared in 16 games with the Bombers.
Bond is the fourth free agent to sign with the Roughriders since the market opened Tuesday.
Defensive tackle Zack Evans (formerly of the Ottawa Redblacks) signed Tuesday, while linebacker Sam Hurl (Winnipeg) and tailback Jerome Messam (Calgary Stampeders) inked pacts on Wednesday.
