DRESSLER RESPONDS VIA TWITTER
Receiver Weston Dressler bid farewell to Saskatchewan Roughriders fans Friday, but not before taking a parting shot at the new coach who released him.
Dressler and veteran defensive lineman John Chick, both longstanding Roughriders and fan favourites in Regina, were released Thursday by Chris Jones, the team’s new head coach and general manager. In a statement, Jones said the players were let go after efforts to restructure their contracts were unsuccessful.
But Dressler, who spent eight seasons with the Riders, took to Twitter to disagree with Jones’ contention.
“The negotiations that took place, or lack thereof, led me to believe I was never in the Roughrider plans for the 2016 season and beyond,” the 30-year-old Dressler said in a statement. “I have come to terms with that and respect their decision.”
Dressler enjoyed a stellar career in Saskatchewan. He was the CFL’s top rookie in ’08 and cracked the 1,000-yard receiving plateau five times during his eight seasons in Regina. He also helped the Riders capture the 2013 Grey Cup.
“First, I will say that I highly respect Chris Jones as a coach in the CFL and believe he will be highly successful with the Saskatchewan Roughriders,” Dressler said. “A man in his position has many decisions to make and I have no hard feelings towards him or the organization for their decision to release me.
“With that being said, I am upset and saddened by the fact there wasn’t more effort put in by the organization to allow me to remain a Saskatchewan Roughrider.”
The five-foot-eight, 179-pound native of Bismarck, N.D., concluded his statement by thanking Riders fans for supporting him as well as his former teammates and coaches.
“Thank you Riderville for everything you have given back to me as a football player and as a person,” he said. “Thank you to all the people I have worked with and played with over the past eight years.
“Being a Saskatchewan Roughrider has allowed me to develop many friendships that will last a lifetime. It has truly been an honour to represent the Riders and all of Saskatchewan.”
Dressler leaves the Riders ranked third in all-time receiving yards (7,797) and fifth in receiving TDs (50). He’s currently a CFL free agent.
(Canadian Press)
I think Weston is correct.
He never figured in the Rider plans for 2016.
Good luck in all your future endeavours Weston.
I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and have no doubt Weston and John both will excel in the next chapter of their careers. However I will never get used to the cold calculated way people are ousted from their jobs, no matter what that job may be. If you have ever held a job with a large corporation it happens a lot. Call it downsizing or money related, call it moving in a new direction, call it age related, if you are the one that loses your job it is never easy and very hard… Read more »
Pure class
Sadly Im sure Chris Jones gave a dollar number to Dressler's agent with a take it or leave it mentality. That would be what Weston would probably consider a lack of negotiations.What most of us do not realize is that Taman had the Riders Salary Cap in a real mess. Even Oday almost threw Taman under the bus on a Sports Cage update several Months back. Basically saying the cam was a mess.Weston if you can get anything oround $150K with another CFL team. Take it, jump on it because your on the wrong side of 30 now.Best of luck… Read more »
I take that to read that the riders gave him a number they’d be willing to keep him at, and Dressler thought that there was negotiation room when there wasn’t.
Here's a life lesson to guys who have been coddled and enabled since they were little guys – you deserve nothing and you are entitled to nothing. Robb Bagg said it best you never know when your career ends and after 4 wins nothing is guaranteed.
It's take it or leave it – these guys had opportunities to sign elsewhere so this taking a hometown discount is for the birds.
In the final analysis, the fans are not paying their bills. It was never between you and them anyway.
Weston is much loved by the fans, but it must be said that he forever holds a special place in hearts of the women of Rider Nation, many coming of age as passionate fans since 2007. That he is set to marry soon may be more heartbreaking to many young ladies here than seeing him wearing another CFL uniform in 2016.
What made anyone think that Chris Jones has any class? Doesn't anyone remember that two years ago in Edmonton, after every game, he refused to shake hands with the opposing coach, regardless of whether his team won or lost? I remember that well. That was the beginning of my dislike for Chris Jones. Nothing since has changed my mind about him. Weston Dressler and John Chick have more class in their little fingers than Jones will ever have. Good luck to Weston and John. We love you in Rider nation. Unfortunately, I am afraid there will be many more classless… Read more »
Well we will see what his true value is. If taman wouldn't have offered him such a ridiculous contract, he would have left. There is no lyalty when it comes to money.
Weston and John can have class. Chris Jones and John Murphy have championship rings and they also have jobs to do. You don't like it go work for the government.
Weston's statement just confirms what I have thought for a long time about Jones – he can not be trusted. He is a liar who will say whatever he thinks is necessary to try and justify his actions. Jones has no respect for the rider players at all. The sooner the Riders get rid of Jones and Murphy the better off they will be. You can not have people like Jones around who can not be trusted in what they say or do – lying is not acceptable at any time and Jones has shown that he is a liar.… Read more »
Not sure where trust, loyalty and class are playing into this.
Above all else i want the Riders to win. If that means without Dressler and Chick, I support that 100%.
That's why I buy season tickets. And I am positive the LARGE majority of fans feel the same.
"Jones is a liar – get rid of him"
Gotta say this jilted Eskimo fan is getting a bit tiresome with his Jones bashing and his multiple posts. Give it a rest and worry about your own team. Take a hike!
To all the anti-Jones/Murphy/Reynolds folks:
I can assure you, beyond a reasonable doubt, that your fears are groundless and your complaints are moronic.
These men have more football knowledge and savy than you could ever hope for.
You're really worse than small children who just found out there is no Santa.
Shut your mouths, you are stupid and your opinions are poorly conceived and irrelevant.
Just buy your tickets and cheer when we are a power house the next few seasons, you slobbering Pavlov's dogs.
Wow…. A Liar? Not sure about that! I'd say a person that has a 3-15 mess to clean up. With Salary cap issues to deal with as well.
I don't like the fact that these guys are gone this way either. Would have hoped something could have been worked out for both, as they are more than just players in our community. They are part of us now in many ways.
Thanks boy's for everything you have done for us, and good luck in the future!
“Jones is a liar – get rid of him”
Really? I don’t ever remember Jones saying he was never going to cut Chick and Dressler. In fact I do remember him saying that there will be changes due to the salary cap.
The only reason Dressler and Chick were getting that kind of money in the first place was a because Taman couldn’t find talent and had to over pay free agents. A real GM would have had trouble signing 1 of them to that kind of contract let alone both of them
Dressler and Chick also have GreyCup rings… and class. Jones has Grey Cup rings but will never have class.
This will be his 5 team in 6 years – must be a great guy
To the last anon… Jones is not going anywhere. So waisting your time lobbying for the Riders to get rid of him is ludicrous. Jones has 4 Grey Cup rings in his short time in the CFL. There is no loyalty or class or anything likeable in a production based business. The Riders have had top tier players come and go over the last 50 years. In order to make a team that will have success year after year you can not have players 2 players eating up the salaray cap. Chick and Dressler are not worth a half a… Read more »
Weston is a generational player who is well-loved by Rider Nation…and that will never change. However, he's no different than the generational players before him, like Eddie Lowe and Bobby Jurasin who weren't able to leave on their own terms either. Any fan from that time, felt the pain of that loss…but we moved on. I can't see this as being any different. WD will always be one of ours. Emotions aside, Chris Jones isn't here to ruin the team. He's here to build a winner, and his track record supports that. Our team of loveable aging players played as… Read more »