Rider Nation, former players react to Darian Durant trade

Former Saskatchewan Roughrider players and fans are reacting to the news that Darian Durant has been traded to Montreal.

Durant was a fan favourite who seemed to bleed green just as much as the 13th man.

Much like Rider Nation, TSN’s Chris Schultz was shocked by the trade.

“I thought there is no way that he would not be a Saskatchewan Roughrider for the rest of his career but the business side takes over, ” Shultz said.

“An aging quarterback, they basically don’t believe that he has the ability to lead to the team to Grey Cup or they wouldn’t allow him to leave the Rider organization,” Shultz said.

Rider great Don Narcisse was taken off guard by the news.

“You have one of those wow moments where you realize he is not going to be here anymore,” Narcisse said.

“In another two years, if he had won another Grey Cup, he would have been right there with Ron Lancaster.”

In downtown Regina, fans were reacting to the Durant news and were disappointed by the trade.

“They didn’t get much for him did they”, said one person wearing a Rider sweater.

“I am just disappointed, I liked Darian Durant and I kinda wish he would have stayed,” said another.

Many fans were wondering what this means for the team’s future.

“I don’t think there is a plan going forward, I don’t see it” said a season ticket holder.

“If this was the plan six months ago, we would have been able to develop a quarterback coming up right.”

No one appears to think the Durant trade, for two draft picks, was a fair deal.

“They didn’t get much for him did they.”