Healthy Roberts ready to help
The Ottawa Redblacks reached out to former Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back C.J. Roberts nearly a month ago.
On Friday, Roberts, along with defensive back Winston Rose (New Mexico State) and defensive lineman Mike Wakefield (Florida International), were the newcomers out on the field with the Redblacks, three days before Ottawa plays in Toronto.
In Winnipeg last season, Roberts had 26 tackles and two interceptions in seven games. Injured late in the year, he was released by Winnipeg in May. Roberts hopped on a Tri Rail train to Fort Lauderdale, then flew to Ottawa on Wednesday night.
“(The Redblacks) gave me a call and I was honest with them, I told them I wasn’t 100 per cent ready,” Roberts said. “They said they’d keep in contact. Once I got cleared (from a shoulder injury), I called them back and they said they had a full roster, but they’d figure something out. Now, I’m back healthy and ready to do whatever I can to help this team win.”
Roberts didn’t let the injury get him down; he just prepared himself physically and mentally for the next challenge.
“Injuries are part of the game, this isn’t my first rodeo,” Roberts said. “You always have the nicks and bruises, you just have to have a short-term memory. As long as you’re strong mentally, you can overcome anything.
“I’m a fierce competitor. I won’t talk about my skill set, but I’ll let you know I’m going to compete every play, whether it’s special teams, field corner or whether it’s being a team leader on the sideline. Whatever I have to do, I’ll do it. Every day is a challenge in this profession and I look forward to it.”