Saskatchewan Roughriders’ general manager Jeremy O’Day does not mind losing players if it equals success.
“If you look at the teams that are super successful, they constantly lose people,” O’Day said. “Because you know you’re having success, that’s the reason for it. If we have that problem, that’s a good problem to have.”
This similar situation happened to O’Day in 2019 when he took over the Riders as GM. The team went 13-5 that season and earned first in the West Division. Saskatchewan lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 20-13 in the West Final. After the season, O’Day lost players in free agency, including: Dariusz Bladek, Philip Blake, Dyshawn Davis, Alexandre Gagne, Micah Johnson, Denzel Radford and Naaman Roosevelt.
Even if O’Day loses players this off-season, he wants them to succeed even if it is not with the Riders.
“Whether it’s a player, a coach, staff, we want what’s best for them. We want them to take the opportunities if they feel like there’s a better opportunity, then that’s something that we would encourage them to do,” O’Day said.
“We don’t want to lose them because we hired them, we feel like they’re very good, they’re good for our organization and they help us win football games.”
Reported by TSN’s Farhan Lalji and 3DowNation, Riders’ J.C. Sherritt will be moving to the Edmonton Elks to be their new Defensive Coordinator. Sherritt spent last season with the Green and White as their run game coordinator and linebackers coach.
On another note, regarding exit interviews with the team, O’Day could not be happier.
“I feel like we have some momentum going into next year, and I think the players see that,” O’Day said. “They’re excited, the head coach is in place, the staff’s in place. They’ve worked a full year under their positional coaches.”
After two seasons where the Riders did not make the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 with 6-12 records, Saskatchewan made the playoffs with a new head coach in Corey Mace posting a 9-8-1 record, second place in the West. The Green and White defeated the B.C. Lions at home 28-19 on November 2. The next opponent was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Final, the Riders lost 38-22 on November 9.
The CFL’s free agent communication period starts at 11 a.m. on February 2, 2025, and concludes at the same time on February 9, 2025. Players can officially sign with teams on February 11, 2025 at 11 a.m.
