Basking in the financial glow of last years successful Grey Cup. The Saskatchewan Roughriders head into the 2004 season with high expectations.
As the Green Riders get ready to open up their training camp, the look at a roster that is extremely strong in some places offering up the trading chips to secure those areas where they need some help.
The topic on everyone’s mind across the CFL these days is who the Riders will go with at the Quarterback position; the Riders are the envy of the league with three quality pivots vying for the starting job. It’s expected that the riders will be watching closely as Henry Burris pushes incumbent Nealon Greene for the starter’s position, with Kevin Glenn an outside chance of claiming the spot. Regardless of whom GM Roy Shivers and Coach Danny Barrett eventually settle on, they have some great trade bait when the dust settles.
There’s not a team in the league which wouldn’t want to bring in a Greene, Burris or Glenn to help out the offence. So once the starter becomes apparent the Riders will be soliciting trade offers, the need is for a middle line backer or defensive end. Teams with available options should get their name in early, the only criteria the Riders have is that any offers must include starters, back up players won’t be part of any deal for the QB glut.
They also have a couple of holes to fill in as two former Riders head off to test the NFL waters, Wide receiver Matt Dominguez and running back Kenton Keith have both headed south to seek fame and fortune, so their spots will have to be filled in the line up. But Barrett is not overly worried about finding replacements for them; his more pressing concern is on the Defense. Having the ace in the form of his QB situation gives him some room to maneuver heading into camp.
Off the field things are coming along nicely, the Riders posted a $27,058 surplus for 2003, thanks to the two million dollar win fall provided by the Grey Cup. That surplus helped the take the Riders out of debt for the first time since the 1980’s. They have also added a new financing feature that is being received warmly across the football world.
The Riders are in the process of selling 250 dollar shares in the franchise and so far have sold over 2,000 of the 20,000 up for offer. The shares have so far brought in an additional 500,000 in revenue. The money is to be used to provide a more stable base for the storied franchise, patterned after a similar program in Green Bay.
Life in Saskatchewan has always been about a bit of hard work, a bit of faith and a bit of luck. They are the same three elements that the football club lives by, as they get ready to kick off the 2004 training camp they may be about to reap the harvest of their work the last few years. The fans in the stands are looking forward to the upcoming season, in next year country; next year may finally be here!
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