Bagg returns to Riders team in need of positive vibes

Cut in June, receiver gets a second chance

When it comes to offence, there is hibernation in Rider Nation — a state of torpor unlikely to be alleviated by the release of Duron Carter.

The subsequent return of another well-known pass-catcher, Rob Bagg, will not be a panacea. It is unreasonable to expect one player to reinvigorate a dormant attack or, by virtue of his sheer presence, ensure the team is cohesive.

But the 33-year-old Bagg — an accomplished professional, a class act and a fan favourite — does resurface at an important juncture, barely two months after being cut by the only CFL team for which he has played.

The Roughriders, at 3-4, are tied for last in the West Division. Their only two games against divisional opponents have been losses.

The cutting of Carter, a megatalent who was dumped Saturday, rankled many who appreciated what he brought to the team and the manner in which he interacted with the public.

This is a team that has not won a game in nearly a month. Back-toback losses were followed by an elongated bye week that included Cartergate. Over that span, the Green and White also released tailback Jerome Messam after he was charged with voyeurism.

Lately, good news has been tougher to find than, well, a touchdown by anyone who happens to play wide receiver for Saskatchewan. (The 2018 total: 0.)

The Roughriders needed something — anything — that would even remotely constitute a goodnews story.

So welcome back, Rob Bagg. Although Bagg grew up in Kingston, Ont., which remains his home base, he is the embodiment of Rider Pride.

The Roughriders have been remade several times since 2008, when Bagg became a full-time CFLer, but he is a throwback to the most prosperous decade in team history.

In many ways, he is like the team itself: someone who has encountered serious setbacks, only to respond in a manner that silences doubters and inspires everyone.

Repeated knee injuries and subsequent surgeries imperilled his career. Undaunted, Bagg would not allow his career to slip away. He returned to the lineup on a full-time basis in 2013 and contributed integrally to a homefield Grey Cup victory.

The following year, he was named an all-star for the first time.

That is a noteworthy feat for someone who plays the oft-overlooked wide-side wideout spot. A lon-n-n-n-n-ng throw is often required and, not only that, the CFL is a slotback-centric league.

In typical fashion, Bagg overcame those factors — and so much else — to become a mainstay in Saskatchewan. And he did so despite having never been drafted.

The stats have seldom been gaudy, but Bagg has to be the league’s uncontested leader in intangibles. As legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant often put it: “Rob Bagg is our oxygen.”

Hence the gasps that were heard in June, when Bagg was among the final cuts.

Even so, it was not the final chapter — not after Wednesday morning ’s announcement that Bagg had rejoined the Roughriders.

Could that signing be a sign of better days ahead?