SLAM Article Regarding Nealon Greene
REGINA (CP) - Nealon Greene has no time for the tired sports cliches that the casual observer may apply to his situation.
He bristles at the notion that he will somehow play this CFL season in former quarterback Henry Burris's shadow. He scowls when it's suggested that there are some big shoes to fill.
Given that Greene will begin the 2005 season the same way he began the previous three - as the Saskatchewan Roughriders starting quarterback - it can be argued that his protests are justified.
But whether Greene likes it or not, he will be the one that determines how much Burris's off-season departure defines the Roughriders this year.
He plays well and Burris is nothing but a distant memory. He falters and Burris could become the team's biggest regret.
"I'm here now. I was the one who signed the contract, he didn't so, in that aspect, what else is there to say," Greene says.
"Everything else is just mumbo-jumbo . . . I'm looking forward to re-solidifying that I belong in this number one spot and getting the job done."
In many respects, this year's Roughrider team is the same team that came within a field goal of going to the Grey Cup last season.
Star running back Kenton Keith is back in the backfield. Receivers Matt Dominguez and Travis Moore also re-signed over the winter. All of the regulars are back on defence and Paul McCallum is still kicking.
Without question, Burris's departure was the biggest news of off-season.
He enjoyed a solid season last year, completing 322-of-544 passes for 4,267 yards with 23 touchdowns. But, after telling fans he wouldn't leave until he led the Roughriders to a Grey Cup, he jumped ship for more money and a confirmed starting role in Calgary.
The move handed the Roughriders' starting spot back to the more-fleet-of-foot Greene, a job he held right up until he broke his leg in the first quarter of the first game last season.
Greene says his leg is back to 100 per cent and won't be a problem this year.
"I've been out there running around and I've taken my hits," he says. "That was the last step, getting out there and running around letting people wrap me up around the legs."
He has the full confidence of coach Danny Barrett.
"It's unfortunate that it has to be the Nealon-Henry thing because that is not what the team is all about," Barrett says.
"When someone becomes a former player, they are that - a former player. They are on the opposition so we really don't even think about it."
Instead, Barrett says he's most excited by having all of his players together from the start of the year. Keith and Dominguez joined the Roughriders mid-season last year and gave the team a boost.
Their overall record was only 9-9, but five of those wins came after Labour Day and the club managed to roll over the defending champion Edmonton Eskimos 14-6 in the division semifinals.
The loss to B.C. in the Western final was a heartbreaker, with McCallum missing an 18-yard field goal in overtime that handed the Lions a ticket to the Grey Cup.
The situation turned ugly when, after the game, angry Roughrider fans dumped manure near McCallum's Regina home and threatened his family.
McCallum is back this year with a new pair of shoes. He sold the old ones for charity in the off-season.
"It's not like I ever really lost my confidence. It was just one of those things," McCallum says. "I just want to get back out there after making a crucial mistake last year."
Off-season stories aside, Barrett says that, ultimately, this season will come down to continuing with the slow but steady progress that the Roughriders have made since he joined the team for the 2000 season.
A fourth consecutive playoff birth is a must and hosting that game is a definite goal.
"Our focus has really been on ourselves and what can we do to get over that hurdle," Barrett said.
"This is more than just Nealon and Henry. This is Nealon and his teammates. It's all of those guys, not just the quarterback."
An interesting read, but the 'bolded' text was what stood out for me. I guess in a province that is as flat as a pancake, winning 14-6 in the WSF can be considered a 'roll'
He bristles at the notion that he will somehow play this CFL season in former quarterback Henry Burris's shadow. He scowls when it's suggested that there are some big shoes to fill.
Given that Greene will begin the 2005 season the same way he began the previous three - as the Saskatchewan Roughriders starting quarterback - it can be argued that his protests are justified.
But whether Greene likes it or not, he will be the one that determines how much Burris's off-season departure defines the Roughriders this year.
He plays well and Burris is nothing but a distant memory. He falters and Burris could become the team's biggest regret.
"I'm here now. I was the one who signed the contract, he didn't so, in that aspect, what else is there to say," Greene says.
"Everything else is just mumbo-jumbo . . . I'm looking forward to re-solidifying that I belong in this number one spot and getting the job done."
In many respects, this year's Roughrider team is the same team that came within a field goal of going to the Grey Cup last season.
Star running back Kenton Keith is back in the backfield. Receivers Matt Dominguez and Travis Moore also re-signed over the winter. All of the regulars are back on defence and Paul McCallum is still kicking.
Without question, Burris's departure was the biggest news of off-season.
He enjoyed a solid season last year, completing 322-of-544 passes for 4,267 yards with 23 touchdowns. But, after telling fans he wouldn't leave until he led the Roughriders to a Grey Cup, he jumped ship for more money and a confirmed starting role in Calgary.
The move handed the Roughriders' starting spot back to the more-fleet-of-foot Greene, a job he held right up until he broke his leg in the first quarter of the first game last season.
Greene says his leg is back to 100 per cent and won't be a problem this year.
"I've been out there running around and I've taken my hits," he says. "That was the last step, getting out there and running around letting people wrap me up around the legs."
He has the full confidence of coach Danny Barrett.
"It's unfortunate that it has to be the Nealon-Henry thing because that is not what the team is all about," Barrett says.
"When someone becomes a former player, they are that - a former player. They are on the opposition so we really don't even think about it."
Instead, Barrett says he's most excited by having all of his players together from the start of the year. Keith and Dominguez joined the Roughriders mid-season last year and gave the team a boost.
Their overall record was only 9-9, but five of those wins came after Labour Day and the club managed to roll over the defending champion Edmonton Eskimos 14-6 in the division semifinals.
The loss to B.C. in the Western final was a heartbreaker, with McCallum missing an 18-yard field goal in overtime that handed the Lions a ticket to the Grey Cup.
The situation turned ugly when, after the game, angry Roughrider fans dumped manure near McCallum's Regina home and threatened his family.
McCallum is back this year with a new pair of shoes. He sold the old ones for charity in the off-season.
"It's not like I ever really lost my confidence. It was just one of those things," McCallum says. "I just want to get back out there after making a crucial mistake last year."
Off-season stories aside, Barrett says that, ultimately, this season will come down to continuing with the slow but steady progress that the Roughriders have made since he joined the team for the 2000 season.
A fourth consecutive playoff birth is a must and hosting that game is a definite goal.
"Our focus has really been on ourselves and what can we do to get over that hurdle," Barrett said.
"This is more than just Nealon and Henry. This is Nealon and his teammates. It's all of those guys, not just the quarterback."
An interesting read, but the 'bolded' text was what stood out for me. I guess in a province that is as flat as a pancake, winning 14-6 in the WSF can be considered a 'roll'
Indeed.
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