RIDERS LOCK UP T-GEORGE
REGINA (CP) – Tearrius George said there was a lot more than money behind his decision to stay with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The CFL club announced Friday that it had signed George to a contract extension. The all-star defensive tackle said the unique community in Regina made the decision to stay an easy one.
“I don’t think you can go anywhere else in the CFL and find a community like this and a team like this, so that factored in a whole lot,” George, who was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 10, said at a news conference Friday.
“There’s a lot of community support. I’ve got people like my landlord Randy, he’s a pretty cool guy. A lot of people in the community who make sure you’re OK, and I don’t feel like you can find that too many places.
“You might find more money but I don’t think you’ll find that.”
The six-foot-four, 277-pound native of Fayetteville, N.C., will enter his fifth season with the Riders after originally signing with the team as a free agent in February 2011.
The 32-year-old was named a West Division all-star for the second consecutive season after recording career highs with 37 defensive tackles and 12 quarterback sacks while starting all 18 games in 2014.
His 31 career sacks with the Riders are the fourth-highest total in team history.
George said he’s confident that the Roughriders will be able to sign some of their other free agents on defence, a list that includes Canadian defensive end Ricky Foley.
Regardless, there will be changes to the Roughriders defence next season after their 2014 campaign ended with a 18-10 loss to Edmonton in the West Division semifinal. The team is looking for a new defensive co-ordinator after announcing that Richie Hall will not return to the role. Head coach Corey Chamblin has gone on record saying he wants a more aggressive defence.
“That’s good, because I’m an aggressive guy,” George said.
The Roughriders also face an aging defensive core. George, star defensive end John Chick and Foley, if he re-signs, will all be in their early 30s on opening day.
While all three players are still playing at a high level and look to have a few good years of football left, George noted how quickly that can change.
“If you’re a smart football player every year you come in thinking this could be my last for any reason – injury or not playing well or a younger guy or whatever it is,” he said. “That’s a mentality I’ve carried all my career.”
Good signing. Nice to see the commitment on both sides. Maybe not as flashy as Chick and Foley, but just as hard to play against. Can play any where on the D-Line. Welcome back.
He isnt as flashy because he is bigger and plays a less flashy position on the inside and for a DT to get 12 sacks is unreal and about as flashy as it gets in the middle. Definatley one of if not the most important resigning
TGeorge has done nothing but get better and better – love this guy! Good job BT
excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
huge signing! And getting it done now allows the front office to focus on the next guy on the list. Great score!
Heard today Lapolice was in Regina last week and visited one of his two properties that he still owns … hard to believe he made a trip to Regina to just check on the house.
Secondly, I find it more than coincidental that Chamblin takes over the defence and Kavis Reed shows up. Looks to me like it was the first part of the change.
Please NO, not Kavis Reed!!! I just had a horrible nightmare and I'm wide awake!
RP – Tino is not mobile enough to do well in the CFL
Great to have him back in Green & White. Solid D line player who as it was said seems to be getting better with age.
Why not Kavis Reed? Sometimes good coaches are just not Head Coach material.Let the people who actually know something about football decide.
you all are missing the point. It will be Kavis Reed because he won't be the DC. Chamblin will take the reigns and Kavis will be the DC Assistant, if you will.
Maybe Kavis Reed showed up to finally apologize for the fiasco that has sent many of Rider faithful (coaches, players and fans), all to lifetime counselling, for the extra man on the field.
Thanks Kavis… and welcome back … I think.
Kel
Kavis Reed is the 13th man!
Kavis Reed is the only person I can think of that wouldn't be an improvement on Richie Hall. So instead of a marshmallow defense we'll just play 13 men? Do you suppose they'll notice?
It appears to me that CC is doing his best to alienate the Rider Nation. Kavis Reed? Who's next, Trevis Smith as linebacker coach?
SC
"Consequences, there's got to be consequences!"
It can't be 13th man !
Kavis Reed? Does no one remember the temper tantrums he had on the sidelines when he was in Edmonton? If we pick him up, I will then know that we have truly regressed. OMG! Now I know for sure that Chamblin has lost his mind!
Imagirl
I'magurl
Kavis took the blame for a player mistake. For that I give him credit. As Coach he aught to have made sure everyone knew their assignment. Obviously one or two didn't. One incredibly bad mistake. What about the rest of the year? Was the Rider defense good? Seems it got us into the Grey Cup. Yes this 13th man was bad for Rider fans but does anyone really think that will ever happen again? Jeez the 13th man is history. Let it go already.
Kel sounds like Woz. Maybe they are one in the same.
Many of the regulars sound similar could they all be the same person?
Reed will never be forgiven for that blunder. The only blunder worse would be for Chamblin to even contemplate bringing him back. Watch the fans turn on CC if he ever did anything that raw. That's an open wound that hasn't gone away yet. Why not bring Greg Marshall back if you want a DC. It makes the same amount of sense!
To whoever is saying how good the defense was in '09 let me remind you that was Gary Etchevary's defense. Kavis was in charge of the special teams and they made the biggest blunder in 102 years of Grey Cup history.
But it wouldn't surprise me if the 'Soup Nazi' decides to hire him.
Not Impressed