August 15, 2018

The Riders’ Rob Bagg makes another comeback

Rob Bagg experienced something of a flashback Wednesday.

“Getting picked up this morning (at the airport) and being back over at the university dorms kind of felt like I was starting all over again …,” the veteran receiver said after his first practice with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who announced his signing Wednesday morning.

“It doesn’t take long for something to be taken away from you and so, (while) I feel like I appreciated it before, (I feel like I) appreciate the moment even more. I’m just enjoying every minute of every day and I’m going to try to give the club everything I have.”

Bagg did that from 2008 through 2017, playing 139 career regular-season games with the CFL’s Roughriders. He caught 364 passes for 4,705 yards with 24 touchdowns in that span, but also provided leadership and inspiration to his teammates.

He missed most of two seasons (2011 and 2012) with knee injuries, but returned each time.

The 33-year-old product of Kingston, Ont., appeared set for his 11th CFL season in 2018, but he was slowed by an ankle injury in training camp. He was released June 10 at the final roster deadline.

On Wednesday, Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones said the CFL stressed that teams shouldn’t use the six-game injured list to stash players who aren’t expected to miss that much time. Rather than risking a fine, Jones cut Bagg — a player whom Jones said “has worked for you and who you feel loyal to.”

Two months later, Jones re-signed the Queen’s University product.

“Anytime that we bring a veteran back, we bring him back for a reason,” said Jones, whose roster has featured Josh Stanford and Devon Bailey as its national receivers.

“Rob brings leadership in the room. Now that he’s healthy, it’s certainly something that he brings in case one of the other guys goes down.”

Bagg received offers from other CFL teams after he was cut by Saskatchewan, but he couldn’t accept some of them because of his ankle and he turned down others because they weren’t a good fit for him.

He knew he wanted to keep playing — and the Roughriders ended up giving him that chance.

Bagg said he and Jones spoke at the end of last week and again on Monday. After a three-hour conversation Monday, Bagg had a seat booked on a Regina-bound plane.

You’ve got to love seeing a guy who is that committed to the game get another shot.”

On Wednesday, he was asked if he jumped at the chance to rejoin the Roughriders or if he was hesitant to do so because they had cut him.

“At the end of the day, it’s a privilege to play pro football,” he replied. “You can feel pride and all those things and sit in your living room and watch the other guys enjoy what you love to do or you can just look at it as a business and another opportunity to continue to play the game you love. That’s exactly what I’ve done here.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to come back. I certainly didn’t envision that, but I’m here and I’m going to try to make the most of it.”

Not surprisingly, the players welcomed Bagg back with open arms.

Slotback Naaman Roosevelt said Bagg “got a big cheer” when he walked into the meeting room Wednesday, while guard Brendon LaBatte noted it was “really great” to see his long-time teammate return.

“It put a big smile on my face to have a guy who you know is that dedicated,” LaBatte said. “He has been working hard and he’s champing at the bit for this opportunity. You’ve got to love seeing a guy who is that committed to the game get another shot.”

Bagg kept himself in shape while awaiting his opportunity, working out twice a day with a trainer in Kingston. The Roughriders’ playbook has changed a bit since Bagg last studied it, but he’s ready to throw himself into it to prepare for his return to the field.

The Roughriders’ receiving corps features one other long-serving veteran in the 30-year-old Roosevelt, but the other players are in their 20s and have limited CFL experience. Devon Bailey, who has been in the CFL since 2014, is the next-most seasoned receiver on the roster behind Bagg.

Bagg’s work ethic in practice could help motivate his teammates, as could his vocal mentoring.

“I’m just another piece of the puzzle,” he said. “If I can encourage the other guys and work hard, as hard as I possibly can, and hopefully that encourages them to do the same, then we’re all a little bit better off and a little bit closer to our goal, which is being a quality football team.”

Bagg’s return to the Roughriders comes four days after Duron Carter was released. Those transactions have created a different dynamic in the receivers’ room.

“(Bagg) comes in with his veteran abilities and he knows everything,” Roosevelt said. “We can plug him right in because he knows the offence; he has only been gone for a couple of weeks.

“(Carter) is a guy who brings energy. He’s a fun guy. It’s going to be a little different, but I know we’re ready to go.”

  • In addition to the Bagg transaction, the Roughriders also announced Wednesday that they had added international defensive back Will Blackmon to the practice roster.

 

Saskatchewan also cut four players. National defensive tackle Tresor Mafuta, international quarterback Devin Gardner and international defensive back Shawun Lurry were released off the practice roster, while international tailback Trent Richardson was released off the suspended list.