‘My favourite colour is green:’ Bane embracing opportunity with Riders

Shawn Bane Jr. is excited to wear the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ colours in 2023.

“My favourite colour is green, so I think it felt proper to (sign with Saskatchewan),” Bane said.

The 27-year-old was one of the CFL club’s free-agent signings as it builds for the 2023 season. Bane, who was with the Calgary Stampeders for the previous two seasons, entered free agency for the first time this off-season.

“It was really exciting,” Bane said from Sarasota, Fla. “My agent was just giving me updates on teams calling me left and right. It was surprising to get the buzz I was getting.

“I initially didn’t know that Saskatchewan was interested until Day 2 or 3 of (the negotiation period). I was able to talk to the entire (Riders) staff and everybody just seemed like they were excited and they understood the impact I could have on the team. They pretty much trusted me with that role they were saying.”

His road now leads to the Land of Living Skies, but it has been a trip that has required a lot of patience.

The wide receiver had been released by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and was bouncing around looking for opportunities in 2019.

He was offered a contract by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers that year, but ultimately didn’t sign on the advice from his agent.

“Winnipeg called (and said), ‘We could expedite you a passport. It’s the middle of the season. We want you to come play,’ and I’m really eager. I just want to stay in football. I don’t want to take time off,” Bane said.

“Not knowing anything, I just trusted (my agent’s) judgment on it. I really do wish I went to Winnipeg because that was the year they won the Grey Cup right before the coronavirus cancelled the (2020) season.”

Without football that year, Bane got a job as a Door Dash driver until his next opportunity arrived.

“I’m the middle of seven children, so my mom taught me you have to grind and do stuff you don’t want to do. Not saying I didn’t want to do Door Dash, but at the time, it was the only thing that seemed logical,” Bane said.

“I was training in the morning or evenings and then Door Dashing throughout the day or doing some handiwork around the city with a guy that I knew. I kind of just had to stay afloat until I had another opportunity.”

That chance eventually came with the Stamps. Bane signed with them in 2020, but the cancellation of the season meant he had to wait another year before showing what he could do at training camp.

“I had an amazing camp but I had got released … I was pretty confused because I was pretty sharp all camp but they brought me back halfway into the season,” Bane said. “I was still training and in shape. Once I came back, I was just ready to grind and ready to prove them right.

“They were definitely eager to bring me back a second season. In my mind, it’s always a proving ground thing. I came back the following camp much sharper and just understanding the offence and positioning on the field and how we need to set up routes and how to be a master at receiving in the CFL.”

Over the two seasons he was with Calgary, Bane recorded 388 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 13 games.

“It was tough battling against the ratio and what not because there’s a ton of talent in Calgary,” Bane said. “Do I think I should have been starting the whole time? Absolutely, but it’s the higher-ups that make the decisions and I was just trying to be ready whenever my name was called.

“It was a beautiful two seasons and I’m thankful for them. It only led me to Sask.”

Newly signed Riders quarterback Trevor Harris also reached out about the opportunity for Bane that could come from being in Saskatchewan.

“Once he signed, he reached out to me and said, ‘We’re going to have a really good season. I trust in your ability and I’ve watched your film.’ He’s understanding of my abilities,” Bane said. “He’s a playmaker and really smart and has done this for a long time. I’m just excited to play with him.”

After waiting for his shot, Bane wants to prove it was all worth it by becoming a top receiver in the league.

“It’s nothing short of a blessing and it shows the dedication throughout the journey,” he said. “Anybody could have been like, ‘I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and I’m done.’ I’m just thankful that I stuck with what I knew and my craft and skills and it has led me here. I can’t complain about my journey.”