Former Riders receiver Bagg waiting for football opportunity

Rob Bagg is waiting for his phone to ring for one more opportunity.

The former Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver is at home in Kingston, Ont., waiting for a CFL team to come knocking for the 2019 season.

“Over the last six months, I’ve been doing a lot of different things but my focus has still been on training,” Bagg said on 980 CJME’s Green Zone on Thursday. “(I’m) hopeful that I’ll be given an opportunity as the season continues forward.

“Every day is a little bit further from that dream. Having said that, I feel great and I’m staying ready and if the right opportunity arises, I’ll jump all over it.”

Bagg spent all 10 seasons of his CFL career with the Roughriders and won a Grey Cup with them in 2013. He was a fan favourite with Rider Nation, amassing 4,705 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns.

“It goes without saying (Saskatchewan) feels like home to me now and (I’m) just incredibly grateful for the memories and experiences I had there,” Bagg said.

Bagg had a tough year in 2018. He suffered an ankle injury during training camp and was released on June 10. Bagg filed a grievance over the release with the CFLPA and he was re-signed in August.

While he suited up for four games, Bagg never caught a pass with the Roughriders last season.

Bagg said he doesn’t have bitter feelings towards the process he experienced in 2018.

“I think in a lot of ways it’s just the nature of the beast,” Bagg said. “I heard a wise general manager once say, ‘If you’re not trying to replace the bottom third of your team, you’re not really doing your job as a personnel developer.’

“I understand they’re always looking for younger and, in some ways, cheaper players. I still had a great time last year. I enjoyed the opportunity and I enjoyed getting to work with the guys that were on the team last year and watching some of those guys flourish just a little bit more.”

Bagg was a veteran among a bunch of rookies in 2018. Kyran Moore, Shaq Evans and Jordan Williams-Lambert were all in their first season in the CFL.

Bagg wasn’t re-signed following the season and continues to wait and see if his football career has another chapter to it.

“(It’s) kind of a glimpse into what retirement will maybe look like one day with being able to be around the kids a lot more,” Bagg said. “My son’s playing baseball and my youngest son is playing soccer so just getting to experience those things for the first time has been awesome.”

Bagg said he feels like he has kept his focus on remaining in football shape during the off-season and can be a contributor to a team looking to boost its receiving corps.

“I’m the guy that goes in every day and puts in the work. To be honest, this off-season has been mentally more challenging than most because in the past I’ve been fortunate enough to be under contract during the off-season so you know what you’re working towards,” Bagg said.

“This has been different and unique because I know there’s no guarantees out there.”

But he also knows how quickly the game can come to an end for a player. He recalled when former Roughriders receiver D.J. Flick went down with an injury, and that opened the door for Weston Dressler to step in and become the starter.

“D.J.’s career ends up ending at that point, probably before he anticipated it,” Bagg said. “But I look at how him and Jason Clermont handled that adversity (near the end of their careers) and you never really think about it but understanding that if you’re lucky enough to play that long, one day it could be you.”

In case he doesn’t get a call from a team, Bagg is preparing for life after football by working towards his real estate accreditation in Ontario.

“(I’m) hoping to have that in my back pocket as football does dwindle down here,” he said.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Warren Woods