Rob Bagg is here to stay

In case you were wondering, Rob Bagg isn’t going anywhere.

A fantasy football article published by 3 Down Nation yesterday implied that the Rider receiver would be playing in his last Labour Day Classic this weekend.

Bagg took exception to that.

“Whether it’s here or somewhere else I’m not going to stop playing ball anytime soon,” the receiver said defiantly on Friday afternoon.

Bagg has spent his entire career proving people wrong.

He was not selected in the 2007 CFL Draft, the Riders instead opting to sign him after the draft was over, something that he said still burns him even today.

His career, however, outlasted all of the people drafted in front of him except Chris Getzlaf.

Many didn’t think he’d recovery from his first knee injury, let alone the second and third, but he bounced back stronger than ever.

Given all of that, why do people keep doubting him?

“Probably because I’m 32, but I mean I just ask those people to watch the film. I stand by what I’m putting out there,” he said. “Just because we have such dynamic play makers doesn’t mean that guys who have been here before or guy that aren’t getting as may targets aren’t still excellent players. That’s just the type of system we’re running here right now.”

And his head coach doesn’t have any complaints.

“Rob’s had a real good year so far,” Chris Jones said. “In camp he had a couple of nicks and bruises and that kind of thing and (Nic) Demski had to fill in for him, but other than that, Rob’s played very solid football for us.”

Bagg’s caught 16 receptions for 156 yards. His average catch, however is 9.6 which is nearly a first down every time he touches the ball.

But success sometimes is more than what you see on paper.

“Sometimes you have your best games and you have no yards and sometimes you have the worst and you have 100 so I’m just going to try to grade out in the high 90s and wait for my opportunity,” Bagg said.

As for that article, besides the comment on his longevity, he took issue with one more thing.

“The fact that I’m a sleeper pick, I don’t think I’m ever a sleeper,” he said. “If I get the ball, I’m going to make plays.”

And truth is, everything negative or questionable thing Bagg hears about himself he uses has motivation to be better.

“I love it, to be honest with you, I love reading in the paper and everything when someone says you can’t do something,” he told reporters earlier this year.

“I’m proud to say that I am (still standing) and even prouder to say that I feel better than ever. I’m faster I’m stronger, more confident than ever and it’s fun to go out there with guys 10 years younger than you and show them that you still have it.”