Riders vets leading workouts as CFL strike continues

Saskatchewan Roughriders veterans are taking on even more of a coaching role as the CFL player strike continues.

With no training camp taking place, the players have had to take it upon themselves to find time to get outside and get some light drills in.

“We understand that this is a special time with everything that is going on,” linebacker Keion Adams said Monday.

“Anything we can do to get ahead of the game while we have these circumstances presented to ourselves (and) anything we can do to get ahead of the game and be leaders, we have to take that initiative because we don’t want to go into a season once we do start playing football and be behind the eight-ball.

“So we understand what it takes to get to that point and get to where we need to be in order to be ready for the start of the season.”

It has also put on hold some of the first steps for some CFL newcomers.

While rookie camp took place last week, the workouts came to a sudden halt after a deal wasn’t reached between the CFL and CFL Players’ Association by Saturday night’s deadline.

That led to the first player strike since 1974.

Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Keion Adams on May 16, 2022. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

“It’s tough, but one thing I tell them is to control what you can control and that’s making sure your body is ready and your mind is ready – whether that’s learning the plays or making sure you get out there and be ready to compete,” Adams said.

“You just have to control what you can control and stay ready so you don’t have to get ready and that’s making sure once you step on the field Day 1, you can go out there and get a job.”

One of the younger players taking part in this year’s camp is defensive lineman Nicholas Dheilly. The Regina product, who played for both the University of Regina Rams and University of Saskatchewan Huskies, was with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season but was released in November. He then spent the rest of the season on the Riders’ practice roster.

“Right now, we don’t have a practice, it’s just a D-line-led practice from A.C. (Leonard) and Charleston (Hughes). You get guys like Charleston and A.C. who have been sack leaders in the league for like years now – guys I have been looking up to since I was in university and never thought you’d be playing with them,” Dheilly said.

“It’s nice to get technique advice from them every day out here and just learn and hope every day that we get to play here.”

“We’ve got a great group of guys, guys who are eager to learn and those who are coming out and want to prove themselves as far as the new ones (and) also a lot of guys coming back who want to reinstate themselves,” Adams said.

One of those players is Hughes, who played in 2021 with the Toronto Argonauts but was a member of the Riders in 2018 and ’19.

“He’s been a great leader as far as coming in. He’s added to the group with A.C. I think with those guys (in) the group, we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Adams said.

But until a deal gets reached, players will need to do what they can to remain sharp.

“You get here and you’re itching to get into camp and you’re ready to work out and you worked hard all off-season to get the chance to go compete against the guys and you’re just sitting in your hotel room waiting for some news,” Dheilly said. “I know the PA is doing their best for us and I can’t do anything except wait and see what they are going to do.

“I don’t want to just be sitting in the hotel room just chilling. We’re going to come out here every day and get ready.”