BORED FULTON CAN’T WAIT TO RETURN TO LINEUP
The Saskatchewan Roughriders returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since a 53-7 CFL loss to the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday night. Here are some of the things seen and heard by the Leader-Post’s Ian Hamilton.
Offensive tackle Xavier Fulton, who has been out of the lineup since July 22 with a shoulder injury, was back on the practice field Tuesday.
He could play Friday against the host Edmonton Eskimos.
So, what was it like for him to sit out?
“Mostly boring,” Fulton replied. “There’s only so much you can do without actually practising. … You can only go lift weights so many times. I’m glad to be back out with the guys.”
The fifth-year CFLer tried to be patient during his stay on the sixgame injured list, but admitted it wasn’t easy.
“After the first week, it was like, ‘Five weeks of this? Let me just go ahead and do what I need to do to get this out of the way,’ ” he said.
“It was nerve-racking just sitting and waiting and waiting and waiting.”
MAN DOWN
As Fulton returns, Rob Bagg appears headed for the sidelines.
The veteran slotback didn’t practise Tuesday and Roughriders head coach Chris Jones said Bagg was “doubtful” for the game Friday in Edmonton.
“He’s pretty banged up,” Jones said.
Bagg caught three passes for 28 yards in Saturday’s loss in Hamilton.
His third catch of the game was the 300th of his CFL career.
He’s second on the team in receptions (28), third in receiving yards (383) and first in touchdowns (three).
NEW TERRITORY
The Roughriders 1-7-0 start represents something new for Jones, who has never had a similar record at any of his stops in football.
He admitted he had a junior varsity baseball team go 1-4 to begin a season, but that was it.
Asked what he told his players back then, Jones replied: “Don’t strike out looking.”
Jones noted the Roughriders slow start won’t change the way he coaches, since his style has led to positive results in most of his previous stops in the CFL.
He also is sure the players won’t throw in the towel.
“There’s too much character in the room, too many good guys in the room,” Jones said. “They want to win just as much as anybody, as much as any fan.
“I can assure you those guys in that locker-room want to win and they do take great pride in playing not only here, but playing for this place.”
NEW FACES
The Roughriders signed import defensive lineman Torrey Davis and Canadian linebacker Bryn Roy Tuesday.
To make room on the roster, Saskatchewan released non-import running back Dillon Campbell and international defensive back Major Culbert.
Jones worked previously with Davis with the Calgary Stampeders and Eskimos.
“It’s always been conditioning with Torrey,” Jones said. “Whether or not he’s able to go (Friday) will basically be contingent on when he can get in shape enough to be able to play a CFL football game.”
THE HUNT IS ON
Roughriders assistant vice-president of football operations and player personnel John Murphy took to Facebook Tuesday to say he lost his two Grey Cup rings on a recent trip from New Orleans to Houston.
“If they were taken, I am sure whoever did so had an extraordinary reason for doing so,” Murphy wrote, “and if they have been found please reach out to me as the past 48 hours have caused a lot of distress.”
Murphy flew Southwest Airlines from New Orleans to Houston’s Hobby airport.