Grey Cup-winning teammates Kerry Joseph and Neal Hughes are solid choices for the Saskatchewan Roughriders Plaza of Honour.
Joseph had a short, illustrious career as Saskatchewan’s quarterback, highlighted by his outstanding-player awards during the 2007 CFL regular season and the ensuing Grey Cup victory. When he was summoned off the scrap heap to help the team late in 2014, his loyalty to the organization convinced him to return but couldn’t overcome his age.
Hughes was an undrafted running back who won Grey Cups in 2007 and 2013 with his home-town team, a testament to his unsung contributions on special teams and occasionally on offence. Hughes obviously had some talents, but it’s a compliment to also say he was all heart.
The duo was enshrined last night during annual festivities at Mosaic Stadium. The Plaza opened in 1987. Despite slowly reducing the number of annual inductees, there were years when some choices were questionable. This is the seventh-straight year the Plaza is inducting only two members; highlighting a smaller class makes the ceremony more credible.