DRESSLER CLEARS NFL WAIVERS
Let the Weston Dressler sweepstakes begin. The CFL announced Tuesday that Dressler had cleared NFL waivers and therefore was an unrestricted free agent. The former Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback was released Monday by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Riders released Dressler, 29, in January – roughly two weeks before he was scheduled to become a free agent – so he could explore his options south of the border. Shortly after working out for the Chiefs, Dressler signed with the NFL club but donned No. 13 in honour of Saskatchewan’s rabid football fans, affectionately dubbed the 13th Man.
The five-foot-eight, 179-pound native of Bismarck, N.D., spent his entire six-year CFL career with Saskatchewan, registering 442 catches for 6,531 yards and 43 TDs. He surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving plateau five times, including the last four years.
Dressler had five catches for a game-high 81 yards and a TD in Saskatchewan’s 45-23 Grey Cup victory over Hamilton last November at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium. A two-time all-star, Dressler was the CFL’s top rookie in 2008.
Dressler appeared in three exhibition games with Kansas City, recording a 19-yard kickoff return.
(The Canadian Press)
I expect to hear he's signed by the end of the day.
Ottawa can and will sell the whole farm, so I think Dresssler will be coming back to Sask – when the Redblacks play the Riders on September 21. Anyone who disagrees with this statement is in denial.
The 2015-16-17 cap hit for Durant, Chick, Brackenridge, Getzlaf and the CFL's best O-line does not enable the Riders to make the type of insane offer the Redblacks can make. Burris is their only big money cap hit. I am just glad it will not be a team in the western division.
I think you're the dreamer buddy! We can't afford not to make an offer of great substance. We need him LARGE right now.
PBB
There is no amount of money that Ottawa can pay anyone that would make them want to play there. The franchise will be defunct in five years.
I tend to agree with Wilf above. The O Line is far more important than Dress. Chick is more important. Also what happens when Dress ( American ) gets a huge pay day and Getz ( CDN ) becomes a free agent? He will want a huge raise as well and get it perhaps on a diff team. Keeping in mind the production last year between the two was identical. This can throw salaries and morale out of whack.I would love to have him but SJ Green could be a better option via trade if Ottawa throws 250k+ money at… Read more »
I Hope .Weston comes back, he knows how much we are missing him right now, but he needs to make the right decision for his future. Whatever choice he makes I wish him all the best.
What about the cap money that was freed up with the loss of sholo and Geroy? Thats some significant cash there.
Come home, Weston….come home
Also the trade of Dwight Anderson plus the other 15 players that left this past off season. Non of which were replaced with free agents. So all of the new players are on CFL minimums. There is cap room for Dressler. But not at $250K… I can see $180K plus $20K in incentives, Bonuses and stuff. If Dressler signs somewhere else I will be very surprised.It will take an extra $30K in living expenses to go to Ottawa. Dressler has a house here with his GF. Not to mention a 2.5 hour drive home. His heart lies with the Riders.… Read more »
Durrant gone – with Willie and Sunseri, gives us Butler back and Dressler and zero downgrade at the quarterback position. Durrant did not have the team in the red zone for 120 minutes. Are you telling me that Willie and The other guy would be any worse?
The guy with the "Durant gone" comment is an idiot and a fool (to put it mildly)! He/she has to be a troll from outside Sask because he/she has no clue as to what Durant means and has meant to this franchise starting with three (3) Grey Cup appearances and a victory. Durant's performance in 2013 was outstanding and his leadership is off the charts. He has the team on a five (5) game wining streak, avoiding turnovers, managing an offense with the best running game in the CFL (that includes rushing yards from Durant) etc. etc. What the heck… Read more »
Sorry to hear that Dressler didn't really get the opportunity. Would have been nice to see him have NFL success.
But it would also be nice to give Durant, Getzlaf and Bagg the familiar face and reliable target.
Can we offer him a % of all Dressler'ed chips and #7 jersey sales instead of a raise? How many SK endorsements crop up to sweeten the deal?
To the guy who thinks that we saved money by losing all those free agents plus Simon retiring and Anderson traded; well David Lee was signed and makes more than Z Evans. Both Swain and Schilins didn't come from the NFL to make league minimum. Durant had his contract tore up and got a 125 thousand raise. Plus all our other guys we re-upped got raises like Getz, Bagg and Picard.
I don't believe the Riders have as much cap space as a lot of fans think.
In response to the last guy. Getz and Picards contracts were extended last offseason so they weren't FA after this year. Baggs contract may have not been worth much more then his last one since he didn't have much success last year. Also they lost Geroy in the 150 range range and shologan 120. If u think schilizens or swain are making much more then the min I think your tripping. The problem with signing dressler will b his contract in the coming years not this year
ITS OBVIOUS THAT DRESSLER IS JUST PLAYING GAMES THERES NO WAY HE SIGNS ANYWHERE BUT WITH THE RIDERS AND IM AN ESKIMO FAN SAYING THIS ,ZERO CHANCE HE SIGNS ANYWHERE ELSE BOOK IT YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST I GARUNTEE HE STAYS IN RIDERVILLE
its gonna be interesting to watch the fallout when he signs somewhere else.
Leave it to Taman to find a way to make this work and bring Dressler back to Rider Nation.
Have you guys seen this. Wow!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGSCUQ2MU6I&feature=youtu.be
Aside from money (which does always seem to be the only thing considered in sports) look at the football reasons to play in SSK vs. OTT. Ottawa's QB is an old man having a terrible year on a terrible team. Demarco is now down with an injured ACL. Who is going to throw Dressler the ball? You can't be an elite receiver if you don't have a QB to throw it to you. OTT won't be good for a long, long time. SSK will at least be battling for legit playoff spot (OTT could always squeeze in with 5 wins… Read more »
I knew he was not going to make the NFL
Bob Nixon
To Bob Nixon I say no you didn't. Dressler had two things against him. Age and size. He has ability but so do other younger taller rookies. The Chief's want to bring along younger players. Read their website. Unfortunately for Dressler they found some younger guys and decided to keep them instead.
In my opinion he didn't stand out against these younger guys so the Chiefs went with younger and maybe cheaper guys.