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The Saskatchewan Roughriders cleaned house Tuesday, announcing that 19 players had been released from the team.
The new general manager and head coach Chris Jones, took an ax to the roster with some highly paid veterans on the list.
“When you’ve got guys that are making the higher paycheques, unfortunately you have to part ways from time to time,” he said.
Anthony Allen, Taj Smith, Tyron Brackenridge and Weldon Brown were among the cuts.
“Instead of dragging our feet and waiting and potentially shutting the door on somebody, maybe this opens a door for one of these guys to go find employment,” Jones said in a news conference on Tuesday.
Along with Brackenridge and Brown, defensive backs Terrell Maze, Macho Harris and Marshay Green are also cut from the green and white.
Jones says he’s looking for a different type of player in the secondary.
“Certain guys fit certain systems and you know we’re more of a man-to-man cover team, so that’s kind of the direction we’ll be going,” he said.
Jones also announced his football operations staff which includes two men who were finalists for the Riders general manager job.
Jeremy O’Day stays with the team and says he pouted for about 24 hours after not getting the job before he finally sat down with Jones.
“Five minutes into it, it was pretty obvious about his message and we’re ready to roll,” he said.
O’Day’s new title is assistant vice president of football operations and administration.
Jones also hired John Murphy from the Calgary Stampeders as assistant vice president in charge of player personnel.
Murphy says he definitely wants to see the Riders have a far reach with quality scouts across the US.
“The way we’ve done that and had those kinds of resources out there has turned up good players in places that other people just aren’t looking,” Murphy said.
Some of the cut players took to Twitter, responding to the news with surprise, saying they didn’t get a phone call and found out on social media.
The least they could’ve done was give me a phone call letting me know what’s up.
— TYRON BRACKENRIDGE (@TBrack41) December 15, 2015
— Terrell Maze (@tmaze4) December 15, 2015
@tmaze4 @TBrack41 email or something
— Anthony Allen (@Ant_Allen) December 15, 2015
It’s been real #RiderNation I enjoyed my time spent with the organization as well as with you all (The Fans)! #MuchLove #ThankYou
— TYRON BRACKENRIDGE (@TBrack41) December 15, 2015
No thank you! I will miss you bro! https://t.co/YFYySo8Gf9
— Terrell Maze (@tmaze4) December 15, 2015
The full lists players released are:
- International running back Anthony Allen
- International safety Tyron Brackenridge
- International defensive back Weldon Brown
- International defensive back Marshay Green
- International defensive back Macho Harris
- National linebacker Nathan Kanya
- National defensive back Hugo Lopez
- International defensive back Terrell Maze
- National fullback Scott McHenry
- International defensive back Junior Mertile
- National linebacker Kyle Norris
- International receiver Jamel Richardson
- International defensive lineman Cameron Sheffield
- International quarterback Blake Sims
- International receiver Taj Smith
- International running back Chad Spann
- International defensive back Alex Suber
- International defensive lineman Derek Walker
- National linebacker Ryan Wellman
