Words By: Daniella Ponticelli
Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day was back at the office early Wednesday to speak with media after a busy first day of free agency.
O’Day officially signed eight players to the football club on Tuesday, including a highly-anticipated deal with veteran quarterback Trevor Harris.
“Really just had to be patient at that position and we were hoping to get into the (free agency) window to get an opportunity to talk to him, and fortunate enough we were,” O’Day said.
When asked what Harris needs to do to “live up to all the hype and expectations,” O’Day said the quarterback just needs to be himself.
“He’s played long enough in this league where he doesn’t need to do anything that he hasn’t already done. He just needs to be Trevor Harris and play consistent football,” O’Day said.
“He’s always been a quarterback that’s been very efficient, very accurate and has a lot of great leadership qualities.”
O’Day also noted that Harris had a vested interest from the start in the direction of the team, and its offence, especially one with pending free agents and starting positions up for grabs.
“He certainly helped us in the process with talking to players, even players that haven’t even been in the CFL yet, he’s willing to give them a call. He hasn’t even been in the building but he’s recruiting for us,” O’Day said.
The deals aren’t all done, yet. O’Day said while big-salary signings are complete, depth positions still need to be filled. They are working through the negotiation list, while also leaving room for draft picks and CFL newcomers.
“It’s still our job to find players that haven’t come to the CFL,” O’Day said.
“I know everyone wants every position to be solidified when you’re going into training camp, and always have an answer, but two years ago no one knew who Anthony Lanier II was. No one knew who Pete Robertson was.”
Centre Pull
One of the first signings announced Tuesday was national centre Peter Godber, a starter previously with the B.C. Lions.
Saskatchewan’s offensive line was sore point in 2022 as fans watched the Riders struggle with a losing record and no postseason run.
O’Day said entering the free agency window, he assessed who was available and where o-line adjustments could be made. Overall, the GM noted there weren’t “a ton” of offensive linemen entering free agency.
“We had conversations with a lot of them. Some offers that were made that weren’t accepted,” O’Day said.
“But we wanted to improve that and Peter Godber is a starting centre in our league and someone we feel the ceiling is high for and was super excited for us to call.”
The Riders also signed 37-year-old Grey Cup champion Philip Blake, who O’Day said is “very versatile” with the ability to play all five positions on the offensive line.
“We really think (Blake) is going to provide some veteran leadership to a younger group of offensive linemen,” O’Day said.
What’s Next for Dan Clark
The addition of Godber does open the question of what happens to veteran Canadian centre Dan Clark.
O’Day told media Wednesday he was “very open” with Clark about the team’s pursuit of new offensive linemen.
“There’s still a conversation we need to have with Dan, just to let him know where we’re at coming out of free agency,” O’Day said.
“I’d never say there’s never a chance (Clark returns), but I would say, going into camp, it’s highly unlikely.”
Regina-born Clark has been a staple of the team and a pillar of the community. Last season, the 34-year-old missed 15 weeks due to a broken fibula and shifted ankle sustained in the team’s Week 2 tilt against Edmonton.
Clark helped Saskatchewan to a home Grey Cup win in 2013 and is the last remaining Rider to put on Green and White alongside Jeremy O’Day back in his playing days.
The general manager said Wednesday that moving on from players like Clark is the toughest part of the job.
“The guy is a Roughrider through and through. He emulates all you want from a football player as far as play on the field, the toughness aspect, the leadership ability in the locker room and also in the community,” O’Day said.
“But ultimately, when you have a season like we did, there’s going to be change. Those are the difficult decisions we have to have.”
Bits and (Sound) Bites
On Jake Weineke: with changes coming to the receiving corp, O’Day said they wanted a good player Harris was familiar with. Insert 28-year-old Jake Weineke. “He was fired up to come here. It’s always refreshing when you talk to free agents and hear how excited they are to come and play in Saskatchewan,” the GM said.
On Shawn Bane Jr.: O’Day sees newly-signed wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. as an up-and-coming starter. “He’s an explosive player. Probably can do a lot of different things with him. He plays multiple positions so we’re excited to have him. Feel like he’s ready to step up in a bigger role.”
On Micah Johnson: it wasn’t a “bad break-up”, according to O’Day, when Johnson left the Riders previously. Johnson played with the club in 2019 and 2021. “Both occasions he went to a different team, we did offer him a contract back.” O’Day noted Johnson’s deal was a “late development” in the free agency window.
On Stefen Banks: O’Day said the club signed the defensive tackle with the goal to have 25-year-old Banks start opposite Pete Robertson. “He was productive with the limited amount of time he’s been able to play. He’s a rotational guy, we like to rotate here as well, so he’ll get more reps than he had.”
