SHIVERS’ PROMOTION HAS A PROMOTER

REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders safety Mike Edem is a big promoter of the promotion of Jason Shivers.

Edem, a Roughriders safety whose two-year contract extension was announced Thursday by the CFL team, feels that Shivers is ready to make the ascent from defensive backs coach to defensive co-ordinator.

“I’m already on the Jason Shivers bandwagon and I believe that I’m the one driving that bandwagon,” Edem, who has worked with Shivers for the past two seasons, said Thursday. “I watched last year when we started training camp that (defensive line coach) Ed Philion was kind of (head coach/defensive co-ordinator Chris) Jones’ right-hand man. When Philion left us, Jason stepped into that role and he really owned it.

“When Jones was working with the offence, Jason was the one running through the defensive playbook to make sure that things were done right and running right.”

The Riders have an opening at defensive co-ordinator after Jones, who was also the general manager and vice-president of football operations, resigned on Jan. 15 to join the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. The Riders have filled three of the holes created by Jones’ exit.