Durant keeps his options open
Former Roughriders quarterback says he keeps himself in shape just in case he gets a call
Darian Durant is royalty when it comes to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
That’s because Durant, Ron Lancaster, Kent Austin and Kerry Joseph are the only quarterbacks to have started for the Riders in a Grey Cup victory. Durant and the Riders captured the 2013 Grey Cup championship at old Mosaic Stadium.
Durant, who spent 11 of his 12 CFL seasons with the Riders before retiring in the spring, was in Regina on Tuesday as the guest speaker for the ninth annual University of Regina President’s Breakfast at the Queensbury Centre.
After the breakfast, the 35-yearold Durant talked to the Regina Leader-post about a variety of topics:
Q You announced your retirement on May 11 rather than continue your CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Considering what has happened with the Blue Bombers — quarterback Matt Nichols getting injured, and later being benched in the Banjo Bowl due to his recent struggles — do you regret that decision?
A You can’t predict things like that happening. You have to go based on history, and history says that Matt Nichols wouldn’t have struggled like this and he would not have gotten hurt without anyone touching him, and I probably would have gone in there as the backup. I don’t look at the what-ifs. The thing that would have been hard for me would have been being away from my daughter (eight-month-old Amayah). Playing football would have taken these months away from watching her grow and crawl and say “Dada.” I don’t regret it from that aspect. Of course, when you think about what’s happening, you would have been in there as the captain of a pretty good football team.
Q Has Winnipeg contacted you?
A I’m not going to get into that. I keep myself in shape just in case I get a call.
Q Does that mean you would consider a comeback if the right call was made?
A Of course. My main reason for retiring was to be with my daughter and not anything else. I’m healthy and I still throw three to four times a week and I still work out every day. Who knows what the future holds for next year? I waited until I was 35 to have my first child and I’ve been playing football my whole life. It was time for me to put football on the back burner and give someone else my time, which is my family. Now that I’ve done that, we’ll see what next year holds.
Q What was it like for you driving by Mosaic Stadium on Tuesday morning ?
A It was tough, really tough. From the time the groundwork was laid, I always envisioned being a Rider there. It wasn’t just playing because I played in it last year. I always looked at that stadium as something that I helped to build. Now not being able to call that stadium home, having a locker in there, walking those halls, lifting weights, meeting with those guys or having lockerroom talks hurts. I will get over it, but I still have that fire in me a little bit.
Q You said you were bitter after being traded by the Riders to the Montreal Alouettes in 2017. Have your feelings changed?
A I’m over that. When you go through things, you’re emotional and you don’t have time to sit back and analyze everything. As you get older, you separate yourself from the situation. You realize that it was just business and it’s like anything else in life. If your boss doesn’t like you or there is a better guy for the position and he decides to move on from you, it’s part of the business. I didn’t understand it at the time because I thought I had a lot to give. If I had had a chance to get Duron Carter and all of the other receivers that (general manager and head coach Chris Jones) brought in, I thought about the possibilities of the magic that could be done. That made me bitter when you see these receivers and the team that he put together and the only thing missing was a quarterback. He is going to run the team whatever way that he sees fit. As a player, I have to respect that.
Q Do you feel fortunate that you’re healthy considering how many retired players are left battling the effects of injuries?
A I am fortunate. I understand that you only have a short window to play this game and, if you play this game enough, those are the risks that we all take as athletes. I understand that comes with it and I’ve been very fortunate to come away without any major injuries that have set me back after football. If I do decide to come back, I understand the risks.
Q What do you think of the 2018 edition of the Riders?
A Chris Jones has that defence playing at an incredibly high level, Craig Dickenson has the special teams playing good football, and the offence is just solid. They aren’t hurting the team, and (quarterback) Zach Collaros is getting a couple of first downs on each possession to switch the field position. They’re doing their job. This is a defensively built team and that’s how they are playing. That’s Chris Jones’ mentality and he’s doing a great job.
Q What advice would you give Collaros with the Riders on a four-game winning streak?
A Don’t get away from what got you in this position. Don’t feel that because you’re only throwing for 200 yards and a touchdown that you have to throw for 300 yards and four touchdowns for your team to win. Keep doing what you’re doing, know your role, and don’t get out of character. That defence will always keep those guys in the game. They will get turnovers and they will score on defence.
Q What are you doing to fill your time in your first season without football?
A I’m a full-time father. You have to have a steady income and I was fortunate that I made a lot of money when I was playing and I made some great investments. I was never a flashy guy who bought cars or anything. I invested my money well when I was playing and it’s starting to benefit me now.