Redblacks firmly believe ‘we is bigger than the me’

Those inside the Redblacks locker-room will tell you there is something special about the 2018 version of their football team.

There’s a closeness and kinship that has allowed them to rise above the ebb and flow of an 18-game CFL regular season and into the playoffs, where the Redblacks made a big statement Sunday with an impressive 46-27 thumping of the Hamilton TigerCats in the East Division final.

Character is important to the Redblacks, who are looking for guys who push ahead in the same direction and won’t point fingers at others.

The Redblacks aren’t afraid to move on from players they don’t think are a good fit — defensive backs Loucheiz Purifoy and Josh Johnson were both released earlier this season.

“What it really comes down to is the we is bigger than the me,” said Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins.

“When there are people that are more about the me than the we, that becomes a distraction. That’s not really something we want in our environment. There are different degrees of that so you need to manage it effectively. When it crosses that line, that’s when you need to make those difficult decisions.”

It’s not easy keeping everybody happy. Defensive ends Danny Mason and A.C. Leonard, who have both been very good at times in 2018, weren’t in the lineup against Hamilton. There’s also a time share going on at two linebacker spots — with Kyries Hebert, Avery Williams, Chris Ackie and Kevin Brown shuffling in and out.

“We’ve always made a commitment around here to hire talented people, but also people with character that can ride through the tough times,” said Redblacks coach Rick Campbell.

On Sunday, the Redblacks will play in their third Grey Cup in four seasons, incredible considered the Redblacks entered the league as an expansion franchise in 2014.

And once again, like in 2016, the Calgary Stampeders (who beat Winnipeg 22-14 in the West final) are the only team standing in the way of a Grey Cup.

This year, Calgary beat Ottawa 24-14 June 28.

Two weeks later, in Ottawa, it got ugly for the Redblacks, who trailed 20-0 at halftime and lost 27-3 to the Stampeders.

The Redblacks will get on a Tuesday flight and begin practising Wednesday in Edmonton, hoping to win the only meeting that matters now.