Price is right for Roughriders
QB puts his NFL dream on hold
Keith Price is going from one championship team to another.
Price, who was released in June by the Super Bowlchampion Seattle Seahawks, participated in his first CFL practice Wednesday as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders — winners of the 2013 Grey Cup.
“It’s a humbling experience,’’ the 23-year-old quarterback said. “I was with the Seahawks and they’re one of the better organizations, and then coming here to maybe the best organization in Canada, it’s a privilege.’’
The 6-foot-1, 202-pounder spent the past four seasons with the University of Washington Huskies.
In 46 NCAA games, Price threw for 8,921 yards and 75 touchdowns while completing 64 per cent of his passes. He had been on the Roughriders’ negotiation list since his sophomore year, in which he posted personal single-season highs of 33 touchdown passes and 3,063 yards.
This past spring, he signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent, but was released a month before training camp. After spending a few months waiting for an opportunity with an NFL team, he decided to head to Canada.
“I had a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL,’’ Price said. “Who’s to say that I’ll ever get that opportunity? So I’m just taking advantage of this opportunity.
“Wherever I am, I want to be the greatest and I want to be the best, and I’m going to prepare myself that way.’’
With the NFL dream on hold and three-down football part of his current reality, does it take an adjustment?
“Yes, it does,’’ Price said. “Growing up, you see all of these guys (in the NFL). You’re in Seattle and you’re playing against guys in the NFL and you know you could be on that level.
“Just the way the business worked, I didn’t get that opportunity, and this is another opportunity. This is a huge opportunity. A lot of people try to down-talk the CFL, but there’s some damned good ballplayers here, and I’m just happy to be here.’’
Price was destined for Regina shortly after Roughriders starting quarterback Darian Durant suffered what is expected to be a season-ending elbow injury on Sunday.
With Durant sidelined, the Roughriders were left with two healthy quarterbacks — sophomore Tino Sunseri and rookie Seth Doege. CFL teams are allowed to dress three quarterbacks for games.
Life as the Roughriders’ new No. 3 pivot agrees with the personable Price. The smile never left his face as he fielded questions from the media about matters such as adjusting to three-down football and the expansive Canadian field.
“There’s just a lot of guys moving at one time, and then it’s 24 people out here instead of 22,’’ Price said. “It doesn’t seem like a big difference, but it’s a huge difference, especially coming from the States. I’m just getting adjusted to the movement and just playing ball.’’
Price noted that a 10-yard throw can seem like a 50-yard throw, given the dimensions of the field, but “I’m having a blast so far and I’m just happy to don the green.’’
You might even say he is having a ball.
“I actually just slept with a Canadian football last night,’’ said Price, who typically slept with an American ball before heading northwards. “Our GM (Brendan Taman) gave me the ball. I just wanted to hold it and get used to it before I threw it.
“Today was my first time actually throwing it, so it’s a bit different. I threw a couple of wobblers at the beginning of practice, but I’ll take time to adjust.’’
And how was the first overnight with a Canadian football?
“It was good,’’ Price said with a laugh. “I held it tight.’’