RANDLE TRIES TO A GET HANDLE ON CFL
Ex-NFL receiver trying to restart career with Blue Bombers, writes Scott Billeck.
WINNIPEG Rueben Randle admits his brain is a little fried after his third day of Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp on Friday.
That’s not all that surprising, of course.
“I knew nothing about the CFL before I came up here, absolutely nothing,” Randle said after Friday’s four-hour practice in oven-like temperatures at Investors Group Field. “I talked to (Blue Bombers assistant general manager and director of player personnel Ted Goveia) the day before I actually came up to try to get better understanding of what goes on. I had about a 20-30 minute conversation with him about the game.”
Randle did know a thing or two about the NFL, though.
For four years with the New York Giants, the 27-year-old was a household name and one that wasn’t too far down receiver rankings in fantasy football leagues. That’s the case for a player who put up 20 touchdowns and 2,644 yards during his tenure with the G Men, who selected him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
You’d think a guy with some pretty decent NFL numbers wouldn’t have trouble finding work down south, but Randle hasn’t had meaningful a snap since 2015.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed him to a one-year deal before the 2016 season, but inconsistent play in his lone pre-season game, and with some of the criticisms that he had in New York — including appearing disinterested — tagged along with him, he was cut loose before September hit.
Last year, the Chicago Bears gave him another shot, but a hamstring injury derailed his chances of making the roster and he sat out for a second straight season.
Now he’s in Winnipeg. Randle says he harbours no chip on his shoulder and just wants to get back to the game he loves.
“Honestly, I don’t see it as a chip, just an opportunity to go out there and make some more plays,” Randle said. “Like I said, I’ve been sitting out ... injuries the last two seasons. It’s just an opportunity for me to get back out on the football field and make some plays. That’s all I see it as.”
Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said the challenges for Americans coming up to play in the CFL after time spent in the NFL vary from player to player.
Asked if Randle is picking the game up well, O’Shea it’s still too early to tell.
“He’s learning his playbook ... it does take a little bit,” O’Shea said. “They wanted to come up here, so assume they want to be here.”
Randle said two years on the shelf not playing was tough, knowing he wanted to be out there playing and knowing he was capable of doing so.
“Mentally, I had to stay strong, keep putting in the work and make sure I’m ready,” he said.
Randle says while his age is 27, but because he hasn’t put any mileage on since he was 25, he still feels like a 25-year-old.
“I’m still fresh,” he said. “I still got a lot left in me, a lot to prove.”
Randle’s ultimate goal is heading back to the NFL.
“But I’m here now, my focus is here,” Randle said. “I can’t be comparing myself to whatever is going on back in the States. I got to be ready and preparing myself for this opportunity.”
SMALL WORLD
Just because Randle didn’t know much about the CFL didn’t mean there were no familiar faces.
He knows Kenbrell Thompkins, who was signed by the Bombers on the same day as him.
“We’re kind of on the same level, trying to figure the game out and talking about things we’ve learned over the years in the NFL and try to bring it here,” Randle said.
Randle said he also knows defensive lineman Drake Nevis and Sam Montgomery, and receivers Corey Washington and Myles White, who Randle played with on the Giants.
BENNETT BACK
The Bombers brought back quarterback Bryan Bennett on Friday.
Bennett was with the Bombers during the 2016 pre-season and was signed to the practice roster later that season.
“We like him as an athlete, he’s got more experience now,” O’Shea said. “We think he’s going to be able to process through the playbook and on the field. Let’s see if he can help us.”
INJURIES, MALAISE CONTINUE TO MOUNT
Receiver Weston Dressler and linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox took the day off on Friday, adding their names to a growing lot of players who haven’t been taking part, including receivers Nic Demski, Corey Washington and Drew Wolitarsky as well as linebacker Ian Wild and defensive end Trent Corney.