There's a subject posted around social media, fan forums and Facebook groups. Rider Nation is easy to get emotional and irrational on the subject and there are a very wide difference in opinions and views. It's okay, that's how we are and that's what makes us one of the most passionate fan bases in the CFL. The comments range on a scale of "Jones got rid of our favourite players" to "Jones is a genius." This one subject though gets debated in circles every week and Week 13 in the CFL was no different.
What do you think of Darian Durant now.
Before you click away you need to know a few things about me. I LOVED Darian Durant. I got in family arguments defending him. I got in social media arguments defending him. I met the man several times at training camp and other engagements. I did this for his entire career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Stu Gooden had me gaze lovingly at Doubles picture in last years CTV story. I was All In. But let me also tell you this - It was Exhausting.
There is an idea out there that when Rider fans or CFL fans place criticism on a player that they don't respect that player. That is simply not true. Darian Durant was a true warrior and leader for the Roughriders through several seasons and no one else but him carried the team on his back like he did in 2013. I appreciate everything he did and bringing us that Grey Cup in our home stadium was momentous. The fact is - Darian Durant is no longer a Saskatchewan Roughrider. He made the decision to not be a part of this team and we can debate the how's and why's until the cows come home but it doesn't change that fact that in the end DD did not choose us. He chose money, his own ego and other emotions over loyalty to being a Roughrider. That's my bottom line. If anyone else did that, that player would be ridiculed and haunted by Rider Nation the rest of his career. Instead, members of Rider Nation still have him on that pedestal and will choose to cheer for him over our entire team. I don't get it.
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| My comment moments after Durant was traded January 13th. |
Watching Darian Durant as a Montreal Alouette is odd. First of all given what transpired in the 2009 Grey Cup one has to wonder how exactly one arrives at the desire to make that transition. I never wished ill on Durant but my opinion of him has certainly changed. In Week 1, I saw the man who I had idolized taunt and jeer my Head Coach, the man who apparently didn't like Darian Durant because he 'wasn't his guy.' Could it be that it was Durant himself who didn't like Jones? Could it be that Jones didn't coddle Durant like he was used to and expected him to be able to do his job? Could it be that Jones wanted to build a team so that our QB no matter who that was had support and protection around him instead of having an aging, injury prone, highly paid player weighing the team down and holding them back? In that instance when Durant shouted "How do you like me now" in French I lost all respect for the person and player who I thought he was and it made me question if he ever was the person I had built him up to be in my own mind.
Meanwhile, Kevin Glenn is on his third stint as a Roughrider. When Glenn was a Rider in 2015 I had thought prior to Durant's injury that we'd end up with a QB controversy on our hands. That didn't happen and KG ended up being traded away. This season KG stepped in as starting quarterback. He didn't try to carry the team. Instead I see him as part of the team. Kevin Glenn is always with team members, providing support, friendship, brotherhood and leading the celebration conga line. He's been having a terrific year and even while sidelined he is being the example and mentoring Brandon Bridge, Vernon Adams Jr and Marquise Williams. All of these quarterbacks for what Montreal is paying Darian Durant.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have evolved. I've often asked that Riders fans get on board and learn players names because they are future legends. How about that receiving corps? How about that secondary? How about that offensive line? How about that defense? There are so many names to know! It's looking more and more like the Chris Jones regime not only knows what they're doing in rebuilding/building our beloved team but always had a plan. The team is 6-5. The team is above .500 for the first time since 2015.
The Montreal Alouettes are in disarray. Kavis Reed is the General Manager for a reason that is not known to me since he has no experience in that area at all. Last week the head coach Jacques Chapdelaine and defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe were fired. Kavis named himself HC. Anthony Calvillo was added to the CFL Hall of Fame Friday but was named offensive coordinator in the Alouettes shuffle. The play calls are baffling. They have good players who they don't seem to implement like RB Sutton or WR Jackson. Even Nik Lewis seems to be absent since breaking the all time reception record. Then Darian Durant got pulled in last weekends game for back up Drew Willy. The Montreal Alouettes are 3-9.
This week everyone is wondering what's wrong with Darian Durant. They've brought in Ken Miller to help out and I sincerely hope he can. It feels to me that the Alouettes have tried to recreate a previous Roughrider team and if we can learn from history you simply cannot hold on to the past. Players change and age and become injured. You can't go back again. Fans and media are questioning if this is the end for Durant. I searched his name on social media and waded through the vitriol of "retire" comments. There's no way I'm going to shoot a man while he's down but I can't help but put the question out there...
"Darian...how do you like US now?"
Unfortunately, I cannot be at the October 27th rematch between the Roughriders and Alouettes at incredible Mosaic Stadium but I will be at this Sunday's game where we host the Calgary Stampeders. Bo Levi Mitchell is already trying to stir things up and I wish he'd just keep his mouth closed. Those things have a way of biting you in the butt. This will be a huge test for our Riders who sustained 9 injuries in the win against the Hamilton TigerCats. Can we emerge victorious? I guess that's why we play the games.
I'll be there Sunday in my section 126 seat with cowbell in hand. I am first and foremost a fan of the team who's name is across the front of my jersey not the back. A Saskatchewan Roughriders fan I remain.
Go Riders!
