Denmark thankful for second chance
A professional athlete doesn’t always get a second chance to make a first impression.
Clarence Denmark was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last March, ostensibly for financial reasons, after the team added highpriced receivers Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith in free agency. Denmark signed with Saskatchewan, only to be one of the team’s final cuts in June.
Two pink slips in a three-month span can be a humbling experience for anyone. But to add a further plot to the story, the Bombers re-signed Denmark on July 31, the team thin at receiver due to injuries.
“I’ve seen it all,” the 30-year-old slotback said Thursday upon the team’s arrival for Friday night’s game against the Alouettes at Molson Stadium. “Teams generally move on in a different direction. It’s football and you have to perform. They get other guys they feel can come in and make a difference. That’s just a part of the business.
“This is something that I haven’t seen before in my career. It’s just a wonderful opportunity and I’m very thankful for it.”
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Denmark earned a base salary of $95,000 last season, a year in which he caught 57 passes for 718 yards while scoring three touchdowns in 18 games. The numbers were decent, albeit a reduction from 2014, when he made 65 receptions for 1,080 yards.
He was scheduled to earn $150,000 this year.
“There’s a lot of stuff that goes into (statistics) and I’m not one to make excuses,” said Denmark, originally signed by Winnipeg as a free agent in 2011. “The opportunities went down. We struggled at the quarterback position. It wasn’t a big year for any of our receivers.”
Denmark signed with the Roughriders on May 11, barely more than two weeks before the start of training camp. He said it was getting late in the off-season and wanted the peace of mind and security of knowing he was with a team. But he said nothing felt right from the time of his arrival and now regrets his decision.
“From Day 1 I kind of felt it was a mistake,” said the native of Jacksonville, Fla. “It didn’t feel right. As time went on, it proved it wasn’t a great fit for me. The first day I got there something felt off. I felt like I never really had a chance to make the team and felt I never did anything wrong.”
Denmark, who signed a oneyear contract upon his return, has played two games for the Bombers, catching seven passes in both along with a combined three touchdowns. In Winnipeg’s last game, Aug. 12 at Toronto, he produced a career-high 195 yards.
While Denmark and new starting quarterback Matt Nichols have developed some chemistry quickly, he’s also the team’s only healthy experienced receiver, undoubtedly providing the pivot with a comfort level.
“He’s throwing some great balls out there and making it really easy for me,” Denmark admitted. “I don’t want to give myself too much credit. It’s just being in the right spot.”
The Bombers are now 4-4, their fortunes having changed — and improved — once Nicholls replaced Drew Willy.
“The team got a spark when they made the change,” said runningback Andrew Harris. “If they’re willing to make a change at quarterback and replace the highestpaid guy on the team, they’re willing to make a change anywhere else.
“It sparked some guys and lit a fire under our butts. Guys are playing with that fire, a chip on their shoulder and that edge that we need.”
The Bombers have won their last three road games. Already this season they ’ve defeated Hamilton twice, along with Edmonton, the defending Grey Cup champions, and the Argonauts.
“They understand, I believe, what winning looks like for us. They need to duplicate that,” head coach Mike O’Shea said.