Losses provide perspective for Riders’ Paul McRoberts

Paul McRoberts appears to have overcome the ailments that bothered him during the first week of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp.

Then again, the 26-year-old receiver has overcome a lot in his life just to get on the field at Griffiths Stadium.

McRoberts’ father, Paul Sr., died after suffering a heart attack when Paul Jr., was nine years old.

Then, before Paul Jr., went to training camp with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in 2016, his stepbrother, Maurice Parker, was shot and killed in St. Louis, Mo.

In other words, the sinus infection and toothache that sidelined McRoberts for much of the first week of Saskatchewan’s training camp were annoying — but he has faced worse.

“Coming from where I’m from, everybody’s looking for a way out,” the St. Louis product said after returning to the field for Tuesday’s training-camp session. “Sports is our way out from being from the ‘hood and in a dangerous neighbourhood.

“It’s already bad on top of that, a death happening, but I was already hungry. I was already wanting to get out, so that’s just an extra push.”

After Paul McRoberts Sr., died, his namesake starting looking up to his eldest brother, Leonard Triplett. Leonard was a star football player in high school, but a knee injury suffered in a car accident ended his career.

“That’s what really turned me onto football more because I was really a basketball player,” said McRoberts, who was in middle school when his brother was hurt. “I took that role like, ‘Hey, I want to play for you,’ in his honour.”

McRoberts eventually found his way to Southeast Missouri State University, where he played both basketball and football for the Redhawks. In 39 career football games, the 6-foot-3, 192-pounder had 175 catches for 2,435 yards and 29 touchdowns.

After he wasn’t selected in the 2016 NFL draft, McRoberts signed with the Rams, whose training camp was featured on the HBO show Hard Knocks.

During one episode, then-Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was shown consoling McRoberts in the wake of Parker’s death.

“It really hit me in the heart,” McRoberts said of the loss. “It was another motivation to keep pushing. Every day is a grind … You’ve got to keep pushing. Life is going to happen.”

Asked Tuesday if Parker’s murder has been solved, McRoberts replied: “I can’t really remember.”

“I’ve kind of moved on and stayed focused,” he added. “I always have him in my memory, but life goes on. There’s nothing I can do to bring him back.”

McRoberts played in two regular-season games with the Rams, catching one pass for six yards. He was waived by L.A. in December of 2017 and, after being out of football last season, signed with Saskatchewan in April.

His history apparently is a mystery in Saskatoon. Head coach Craig Dickenson didn’t know anything about McRoberts’ past.

“I know Paul loves football and I know that it’s important for him to make this team,” Dickenson said. “Sometimes as a coach you don’t want to know all of the story because that can affect your judgment of the guy or at least your critique.”

McRoberts put on a show in the early days of camp, making spectacular catches for a team that’s looking for receivers. People noticed and McRoberts seemingly had succeeded in accomplishing his stated goal of making an impression.

But then came the sinus infection, which put him out of commission for about a week. He noted that he wanted to come back sooner, but members of the coaching staff told him to get healthy — so he took their advice.

McRoberts is grateful for the opportunity he has with the Roughriders and said the CFL “brings joy back to the game for me.” It also could give him a chance to pay tribute to the family members he lost — and to one who remains.

“My mom is my everything,” McRoberts said in reference to Sherry Triplett. “She took on five kids by herself and even when my dad passed, she just (rallied) around me. She’s my everything, my best friend. I call her every day and we talk and laugh. She motivates me.

“She’s still working. My goal is to not have her working one day, so definitely I’m pushing.”

Tuesday’s Notes: Defensive end Chris Judge, Saskatchewan’s eighth-round pick in the 2019 draft, was helped off the field with a serious knee injury. Dickenson didn’t have an update on Judge’s status after practice … Defensive tackle Zack Evans (groin) and kicker Brett Lauther (hamstring) were among those who didn’t practise Tuesday. Dickenson was OK to be giving Lauther a few days off, as it’s expected that Felix Menard-Briere will handle the kicking duties in Friday’s pre-season game against the host Calgary Stampeders … There was a spirited scrap during practice between offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley and defensive lineman Chester Graves — a dispute that Dickenson said may have been caused by the heat. “Tempers were a little short today; we had a little skirmish,” the head coach said. “But it was good for the guys. We need to sweat. We need to feel what it’s like to be taxed a little bit, so I thought the heat was good today.”

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Wray Morrison