Signing free-agent Derek Dennis was a coup for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who know it usually takes a few years to build an offensive line.
So the Roughriders are taking a shortcut. They scooped Dennis away from the Calgary Stampeders.
Dennis plays the most important position on the offensive line – left tackle – and he was the CFL’s outstanding lineman in 2016. He announced last week he was less interested in loyalty than he was in feeding his family, so he walked away from a bona fide contender in Calgary to join a rebuilding team in Saskatchewan.
At least one CFLer – defensive tackle Shawn Lemon – ridiculed Dennis for his decision. The Roughriders needed a left tackle, so they recruited an all-star. They can afford his hefty salary, but there are still more question marks along the offensive line and they can’t afford to wait for all the answers.