Rod Pedersen
CFL.ca
For Rob Bagg, November 29, 2009 will go down as one of the worst days of his life. Not only did his Saskatchewan Roughriders lose the Grey Cup on the final play against Montreal at McMahon Stadium, but the 25-year old wide receiver from Kingston, Ontario broke his collarbone on Saskatchewan’s final offensive play of the game.
Talk about adding injury to insult!
“Absolutely!” huffed Bagg. “I have a friend on the Alouettes that I played with in college (Queen’s) and I train with him too so it continued to resonate around workouts all winter. So I’m excited to get back to work and get that game behind us.”
Healed sufficiently from the broken collarbone, Bagg and the Roughriders announced a three year contract extension this week keeping him with the Green & White through the 2012 season.
“I’ve been hoping to get something done,” Bagg said. “With Fantuz, Getzlaf and Durant all signing new deals with the team, I knew I wanted to be a part of the Riders for the next few years for sure.”
Bagg’s injury in the Grey Cup was lost in all the hubbub of the last-second 28-27 defeat and he, along with his teammates, slinked home under the radar without discussing much about the game. However he says the injury is behind him.
“I broke my collarbone on the field there, but as far as the injury goes it couldn’t have been better because there was no muscle or ligament damage,” reported Bagg. “The rehab wasn’t bad because I took a lot of time off like most CFL players right after the season and that’s what was needed. My speed is up and I feel 100% and ready to go.”
Bagg suited up for all 18 games for Saskatchewan in 2009 and caught 59 passes for 807 yards and five touchdowns. He and his Rider teammates are looking for more in 2010, and to finish what they started with regards to winning the Grey Cup. Remarkably Bagg cracked the 2007 Rider roster but chose to go back to Queen’s to finish his degree so he missed out on the team’s last CFL championship. That has made him hungrier than ever.
“Absolutely,” Bagg mused. “I’ve kept in touch with my housemates during the season, Chris Getzlaf and Weston Dressler, and we’re all eager. We’re just excited to get back out there and bring a Grey Cup back to Saskatchewan.”
Bagg is returning to a Rider team which has undergone significant changes over the off-season. Gone are offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice, offensive line coach Bob Wylie and quarterbacks coach Jamie Barresi and in are new offensive coordinator Doug Berry and receivers coach Bob Dyce.
“I’m always watching the Riders’ website to see what’s going on and I had the opportunity to talk to Coach Dyce and I have a tremendous respect for Coach Berry and I know (head coach) Ken Miller will surround us with players who can make plays,” Bagg said. “Losing Coach LaPolice is tough but I think we’re gonna have a different look and I’m excited to get back and see what that is.”
There was a time when players from eastern Canada on the Roughriders couldn’t wait to sign with an East Division team once their contract is up but players like Fantuz, Bagg and long-snapper Jocelyn Frenette have shown that’s not the case anymore.
“Obviously guys want to come back to Regina,” Bagg revealed. “I’m a married guy and my wife is back home so there was some appeal to coming back to Ontario but what keeps you coming back to the Riders is your teammates. But they come and go. The main thing is the fans. I grew up watching Toronto and Hamilton but the atmosphere there just isn’t what you experience in Saskatchewan. At least not now. While I’m playing football I want to be in the best place in Canada there is to play football and that’s Regina and I love it there.”
