Jones ‘couldn’t care less’ about CFL player awards

Chris Jones didn’t leave any doubt about his thoughts on the CFL player awards.

“I couldn’t care less,’’ the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach and general manager said. “It’s the last thing that crosses my mind because it’s a voted-on individual award.’’

Ballots for the 2017 team nominees were distributed to representatives of the Football Reporters of Canada and each team’s head coach Wednesday.

The first stage of voting takes place with the team nominees for most outstanding player, lineman, defensive player, special-teams player, Canadian and rookie.

The team nominees are to be announced Nov. 1 with conference nominees to follow Nov. 9. The award winners are to be revealed Nov. 23 in Ottawa, the host city for the 2017 Grey Cup game.

“There are a lot of very deserving guys on every single team,’’ Jones said. “It’s just a voted-on award. When you come back 20 years from now, people on the Grey Cup teams are who they honour. That’s what matters.’’

The Riders, meanwhile, are to play host to the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. The game marks the first time that former Riders quarterback Darian Durant will play at new Mosaic Stadium.

Durant, who spent 11 seasons with the Riders, was traded to the Alouettes on Jan. 13 after talks on a contract extension broke off. The split wasn’t amicable after Jones told the Regina Leader-Post’s Rob Vanstone that Durant was “moderately successful” with the Riders.

“I have no problem with Chris Jones,’’ Durant told The Canadian Press. “I just have a problem with what he said and it could have been handled in a better way.’’

Jones, however, has moved on from the trade. “He was a good player for a long time for this organization and he did a lot of good things,’’ Jones said. “Regardless of who they play at quarterback, we’re going to line up and play football.’’