Roosevelt excited to get to work with Alouettes

The Montreal Alouettes have reunited a quarterback-receiver pairing that once worked for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Literally once.

On Aug. 25, 2017, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., completed an eight-yard pass to slotback Naaman Roosevelt in the second quarter of the Roughriders’ 54-31 CFL victory over the Edmonton Eskimos.

That was the only completion Adams Jr., had in his brief career with Saskatchewan. He now is the starting quarterback of the Alouettes, who on Wednesday formally announced they had signed Roosevelt to a free-agent contract.

The 32-year-old product of Buffalo, N.Y., became a CFL free agent Feb. 11.

On The Green Zone on Thursday, Roosevelt said he chose the Als for the opportunity they offer.

“An unfortunate situation happened out there with one of their receivers,” said Roosevelt, referring to the recent marijuana-related arrest of Quan Bray in Texas. “(The Als and I) have been talking here and there throughout the free-agency thing and it was just something that I wanted to do.

“I feel like they’ve got a great team, a great defence, a great group of receivers (and) a great quarterback in Vernon. (Adams) hit me up as soon as he heard about (the team’s interest in me). He texted me and he’s like, ‘What’s up? What’s it going to take to get you out here?’

“Having a quarterback like that who wants to win and wants to get better every day, I feel like it was the best opportunity for me.”

Roosevelt spent the previous five seasons with the Roughriders, becoming a fan favourite for the work he did on and off the field.

In 67 regular-season games, he caught 301 passes for 4,134 yards and 20 touchdowns. In 2019, he recorded 77 receptions for 946 yards and a touchdown.

He had two seasons in which he exceeded 1,000 yards receiving (1,095 in 2016, 1,035 in 2017) and was named a West Division and league all-star in 2017. He was Saskatchewan’s nominee for the CFL award as most outstanding player in 2016.

Off the field, he helped raise funds for KidSport and got involved in other ways in the community.

“My time in Saskatchewan has been fun and I enjoyed every moment of it,” Roosevelt said. “I wish I could have brought a championship (to the province), but it was definitely fun.”

Over the past two seasons, he mentored younger receivers like Shaq Evans, Kyran Moore, Jordan Williams-Lambert, Brayden Lenius and Justin McInnis. Ultimately, though, their production and age likely cost Roosevelt his job.

He said Thursday there wasn’t much discussion with the Roughriders about a contract extension before or after he hit free agency.

“We talked a little bit here and there, but (there was) not really an offer – which is understandable,” Roosevelt said. “I get what was going on. When you’ve got a bunch of good receivers, somebody has got to go.”

Ironically, he nearly left five seasons ago.

In 2015, Roosevelt didn’t get to play until Week 10 of the regular season, forced to watch as other receivers played. He told The Green Zone he nearly didn’t return to Regina after a mid-season bye week.

“I had to really learn patience,” Roosevelt said. “I was definitely frustrated, but came to practice every day and worked hard. I had (receivers coach Jeremaine) Copeland telling me, ‘Man, just wait. Your time’s going to come.’ “

Convinced by family members and friends to stick with the Roughriders, he was inserted into the lineup for the next game – and remained a starter for the next five seasons.

This time, however, he’ll only be coming back to Saskatchewan when the Als are the visiting team. He leaves the Roughriders with five years’ worth of memories.

“Scoring my first touchdown at Taylor Field is probably the best experience I remember,” he said of the team’s former home. “Playing in that stadium, you could just feel the ground shaking …

“And then being able to be one of the few people who could play in the old stadium and play in the new stadium, it’s definitely something I’ll cherish forever.”