Behar among Redblacks with uncertain futures
TORONTO When he lines up at receiver Saturday against the Toronto Argos in his team’s 17th game of the 18-game regular season, it might be the second-last time Nate Behar puts on an Ottawa Redblacks game-day jersey.
Signed to a one-year contract in February, the former Carleton Ravens star is one of several potential free agents on the Redblacks roster. Some will stay, some will go. Such is the nature of the CFL. Here today, gone tomorrow.
Selected fifth overall by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2016 CFL draft, Behar expected more as he came “home” to Ottawa, where not so long ago he put up big numbers for the Ravens in four university football seasons. He averaged 85.9 yards per game and 14.5 yards per catch. In 2014, he had 837 yards in catches and scored seven touchdowns. As a Redblack, the 25-year-old has 13 catches for 142 yards. A year ago in Edmonton, he had 27 catches for 257 yards.
Asked if the season has gone the way he expected it to from an individual or team standpoint, Behar said, “Not at all. You always set high goals. The corny saying is you shoot for the moon, you land on the stars. One of the things you know if you’ve played wide receiver for long enough is it’s a bit of a dependent position. So many things have to go right to even get a pass off. Once the pass gets off, there are five guys it can go to. Then it depends on the defence. It can change week to week. I’ve definitely been frustrated because I want to contribute, I want to feel like I’m doing more, I want to reach my potential.
“We’ve seen how many guys can get their catches when the offence is humming. (The Redblacks) had four 1,000-yard receivers (in both 2015 and
2016). It’s one of those things where everyone on the offence works together, the targets go to everybody. It’s not like, ‘Hey, I want them to throw me the ball more.’ It’s more like we want the offence to succeed more so there are more targets to go around.”
Asked about potentially becoming a free agent in February, Behar, who’s from London, Ont., said, “It’s really too early to talk about it, but it’s always in the back of your mind. Week to week, you have to focus on football. You can’t get caught up in thinking too far ahead. There’s a business side to (the CFL), the ugly side that nobody likes to talk about. If money in one place is X and money in another place is Y and X seems to be greater than Y, then a lot of times that place
(is where you will go). Money is a large factor, it weighs heavily, but I don’t think I’m the type where money is everything.”
Behar likes Ottawa — the city and its CFL team. He likes that the city is lively and vibrant, there are things to do during the day and at night. He also likes the fact that nature isn’t far away from the city’s urban aspects.
“You could see yourself raising a family here — that’s my favourite part about it,” Behar said. “It’s quiet enough in certain places, but also lively enough, too. Everyone here knows that I love this city. In my mind, it’s home. I’d love to be around here if everything works out. We’ll see how it shakes out when we sit down and talk about it, but I’d be happy to be here — that’s for sure.”
GUMP A BALL HAWK: Gump Hayes is one of the rookie Redblacks defensive backs who’s impressed when he’s had the opportunity. In seven games, the cornerback has 22 tackles and three interceptions, showing he can be a playmaker. Asked about Hayes, Campbell said, “He shows a lot of promise, he’s definitely skilled enough to play in this league. He has a little something about him, he has a knack for seeing things and making plays. We want to keep seeing more of him. He’s definitely got a shot to play up here, for sure.”
Asked about the defence’s play last Saturday in a loss in Hamilton, Hayes, who had an interception, said, “We could have had about five interceptions; we dropped a couple, one got called back. We could be the spark that the team needs. If we have a chance to make plays, we have to take advantage of it.”
FUNERAL FOR GEORGE: Here are the details for the visitation and funeral for legendary former Ottawa Rough Riders coach George Brancato, who passed away Tuesday night. Family will receive friends on Sunday at the Pinecrest Visitation Centre (2500 Baseline Rd.) from 2 to 5 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday at St. John the Apostle Church (2340 Baseline Rd.) at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the church hall. Donations may be made to the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. THE END AROUND: There is actually something at stake in Saturday’s Redblacks
Argos game at BMO Field. If the Redblacks lose, they will have the first pick in next year’s CFL draft (both teams have 3-13 records). So there’s that. Even if the Redblacks win, they would still get the first pick if they lose next week to Montreal at home and Toronto beats Hamilton . ... Ottawa’s Michael O’Connor will get some playing time for the Argos on Saturday (4 p.m. start). O’Connor played locally for the Orléans Bengals and Ashbury College, while getting international exposure with Victor Tedondo’s Gridiron Academy before winding up at Penn State in 2014 and finishing his college football career at UBC. Argos coach Corey Chamblin told Argonauts.ca: “I think we’ll have a little plan there to try and see him. Whether he closes the game out or its late third or fourth (quarter) or something like that, we definitely want to see him. The biggest thing is to get him those reps and get him evaluated.”
... The final Redblacks QB Club of the season will be held Tuesday at Buster’s Bar and Grill (420 Hazeldean Rd. in Kanata) from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests are scheduled to be Redblacks receivers Brad Sinopoli and R.J. Harris.