Clark, Coleman among Riders’ offensive line free agents

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive line was among the CFL’s best in 2019, but it could have a very different look to it next season.

A few of the players who started in 2019 and have contracts in place for next season are offensive guards Brendon LaBatte and Dakoda Shepley. LaBatte is signed through 2021 while Shepley’s rookie contract runs through 2020 with an option year in 2021.

Meanwhile, guards Dariusz Bladek and Philip Blake, tackle Thaddeus Coleman and centre Dan Clark are among those who could find themselves on the free-agent market in February.

The group had to deal with multiple injuries to players and roster moves throughout the season. Despite the vast number of changes throughout the season, the offensive line paved the way for the team’s rushing attack, which scored the most touchdowns on the ground in the league (26) in the regular season and was the third-ranked rushing attack.

“We persevered (and) we pulled it together. Guys stepped up, guys had to take a step back when the coaches asked them to but we all stuck together,” an emotional Coleman said Monday as the players cleared out their lockers at Mosaic Stadium, where the Roughriders lost 20-13 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Sunday’s West Division final.

“It has been a pleasure playing with these guys.”

Coleman joined the Roughriders in 2016 and said he appreciates all the support from Rider Nation.

“It was a joy. Playing here has been a blessing,” said Coleman, 34. “It has been great.”

Coleman said he hasn’t decided what his future holds.

“I still think I got some juice. We’ll talk it up and see what happens,” Coleman said. “I definitely would love to come back but it’s a business so we’ll see.”

Bladek was one of the players who was forced to take a step back as the group got healthier late in the season. Bladek sprained an MCL in a 23-17 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 13, forcing him to miss five games.

Bladek was listed as the starter for eight games but was moved into a backup role on Sept. 28. The last time Bladek was on the game-day roster for the Roughriders was on Oct. 11 against the Calgary Stampeders.

“It wasn’t easy taking a step back, especially knowing what we accomplished while I was in there, but we preach team above self and we trust our coaches to put us in the best position to win,” Bladek said.

Bladek said he needs to see where life takes him in the future.

“I know there’s opportunities for me wherever that is,” he said. “It’s tough to think where it’s going to go. I know I’m going to play football; it’s just where more or less.”

Clark has been a member of his hometown Roughriders since 2009 and was named a West Division all-star for the first time this season.

Clark said there hasn’t been any talks about a contract extension yet.

“The whole mindset is I’m not worried about myself towards the end of the year, I’m worried about what I can do to contribute to this team and continue to contribute to this team,” Clark said. “I’m never worried about a contract talk during the season. It’s one of those things that if it happened it happened.”

Clark knows the locker room won’t have the same faces next season.

“It’s one of those ones where you expect there to be some turnover, there has to be,” Clark said. “It’s pro football and we can’t keep everybody.”