RIDERS, CHARLESTON HUGHES APPROACHING STAND-OFF?
Contract talks between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and star defensive end Charleston Hughes don’t appear to be going smoothly.
On Friday Riders GM Jeremy O’Day addressed the media on a Zoom conference call to provide an update on the team’s plans heading into free agency on February 9.
“I don’t want to get too detailed on where we are but, just like any other year, we’re going to get some of our players back and every year we’re not going to get all of our free agents back,” O’Day said.
“In some cases, you wish you could just bring the team back from where you were, but that’s not the reality of the environment that we’re in and we have to make some decisions.”
It’s been widely reported that Charleston Hughes, the CFL’s sack leader in each of the past four seasons, has been presented with a large paycut on his next deal. O’Day was asked for an update on those talks.
“With Charleston, I’d say that the conversation was ongoing up until early this week, which was the last time we spoke,” O’Day answered. “It really has to be a mutual agreement where a team has to offer a contract and a player has to want to be back with your organization. We’ll continue to monitor that and we’ll keep working through it.”
Late Friday evening Hughes Tweeted from his account @sackatchewan: “When everyone ready to hear the truth let me know.”
Hughes is scheduled to appear on The Rod Pedersen Show on Tuesday. The show airs live at 11 am Sask Time (CT) on Game+ Network which is now available on SaskTel Max TV (Channel 427), BELL Satellite and a myriad of other cable providers. It’s also simulcast live on YouTube and Facebook.
O’Day has stated it’s either Elimimian or Hughes. Let Hughes go & we can get 2 good players we need or 1 great player. Drop Elimimian & we get a younger MLB for about the same amount of cash. We’ve lost Moncrief & Judge is iffy to be back. He’s looking at the NFL & CFL Insiders say the Montreal-born Judge may be heading east to the Argos. So our LB situation looks like this. Foster is 32 & hasn’t played since 2018. He replaces Moncrief @ SAM. Who would replace Elimimian & who takes Judge’s place? We need two… Read more »
Sometimes it’s Time to move on, it’s time to get younger at certain positions. JOD can save some cash from their contracts and get some good young guys . The Riders scouting staff will find us talent not worried .