Carter steals the show ahead of Riders semi-final game

Duron Carter was the undoubted star of the eastern semi-final media conferences, but he’s hoping to also be the undoubted star of the eastern semi-final game as well.

The effervescent Carter decided to hang around after answering questions to ask questions of his own.

Seated three rows back and surrounded by Saskatchewan, Ottawa and national media, Carter took the mic and posed questions to his defensive teammates.

Very thoughtful questions! pic.twitter.com/KEzs1bGfhN

— Arielle Zerr 🌾 (@arielle_zerr) November 11, 2017

“We’ve been hearing a lot of talk about these Ottawa receivers and they might have, maybe the best receiving core in the league, where do you guys feel that your DB group ranks in the CFL?” he asked his teammates, Ed Gainey and Jovon Johnson.

Johnson responded with the same confidence and candour he would have if he was asked by a regular CFL beat reporter.

“I think our defensive backs are arguably the best group in the league in comparison to everybody that we’ve seen. From top to bottom we’re probably arguably the best but at the end of the day we don’t get credit for it,” Johnson said.

Carter’s turn behind the mic came after he took a few in front of it.

Just minutes before, Redblacks Antoine Pruneau was asked about Carter and his trash talk on the field to which he said he didn’t mind, but also brought up when Carter was in Montreal and made contact with Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell, an action he was suspended for in 2016.

“(The trash talk is) part of his game as long as he doesn’t push our coach or something and is going to stay respectful,” Pruneau laughed. “He’s a great player, you do have to keep an eye on him on the field.”

Carter first responded on Twitter, then expanded later in the media conference.

Yeah whatever! Last 3 times I played Ottawa I have like over 500 yards… flopping is probably the only way to stop me 😂😂😂 https://t.co/7zGxwx8eB0

— Duron Carter (@DC_CHILLIN_8) November 11, 2017

“It’s fun and jokes, it’s all in the past,” Carter said when asked about the tweet. “It’s a new game, new team. I’m just ready to go out and compete.”

Carter said the trash talking he does on the field actually makes him play better.

“At the end of the day they could stop me eight out of 12 times and I’m still going to have 4 catches for 100 and something yards and two touchdowns, so who really won? I just like getting in their head, under their skin. It’s fun.”

And Carter could be the difference maker for the Riders. The last time the Redblacks and the Riders squared off in October, Carter put up 231 yards.

Something he hopes to repeat again.

GAME NOTES

• Naaman Roosevelt makes his return to the lineup since suffering a concussion against Ottawa on October 13. Chris Jones said Roosevelt is excited to be back in the line up: “Naaman’s one of the best receivers in the league and on top of that he’s one of the best teammates I’ve been around.”
• Carter is expected to take all his reps at offence during this game, Jones told reporters Saturday. However, if a defensive back were to get injured in the game, Carter could step into that role.

Kick off for the eastern semi-final game against Ottawa is Sunday at noon.

The Green Zone’s 10-hour game day coverage begins at 8 a.m.