RIDERS REACT TO ADDITION OF JOSEPH

Facing a long week before Monday’s Week 16 game at Montreal, the Saskatchewan Roughriders held an extra day of practice on Wednesday.  Quarterback Kerry Joseph did not workout with the team as he arrived in Regina late Wednesday afternoon.  However his signing with the team is expected within the next 24 hours and the plan is for him to be on the field for Thursday’s workout.  Head coach Corey Chamblin was asked the reasons behind bringing in the 41-year old former league MVP.

“A lot of it is part of the process,” Chamblin explained.  “There’s still faith in the young quarterbacks but like anything else, they need time.  When we look at the depth of it, we need someone with veteran experience.”

Some observers feel the move could be viewed as a slap-in-the-facte to the team’s young stable of quarterbacks but sophomore Tino Sunseri said that’s not the case.

“It’s a blessing,” Sunseri revealed.  “Whenever they bring in a guy that’s had success, won a Grey Cup, been in the league and seen all the defenses, has all the experiences, it’s something that adds to our quarterback room.  We can pick his brain and see what he’s thinking on certain things to help us as individual players and help our team be better.”

Chamblin said the team has not yet named a starting quarterback against the Alouettes and Sunseri said he’s content to compete for the starter’s job each week.

“I feel like every single day you have to go out and prove that you’re the person,” Sunseri shrugged.  “I was watching football the other day and they were asking for Tom Brady to get benched down in New England.  For them to say that, I think that’s pretty ridiculous but that’s just the mindset you have to have as a quarterback, that you’re always evolving, getting better, to produce and play to the best of your abilities and get your team the win.”

It’s unreasonable to assume Kerry Joseph would be given consideration as the starting quarterback on Monday given the short time frame.  In fact Chamblin said they’re still in the evaluation stage.

“It’s really once we see him, see what type of shape he’s in and what he can do,” Chamblin continued.  “We don’t have any initial plans on what he’s set to do.  We need to see him move around and go from there.”

The Riders could be looking at a handful of roster changes for the Montreal game.  Veteran offensive guard Chris Best has come off the 6-game injured list (thumb) and Chamblin said he may suit up this week.  Meanwhile veteran CFL linebacker/DB Diamond Ferri was added to the practice roster on Wednesday and Chamblin said he could be activated since he knows the team’s defensive and special teams schemes.

Chamblin also said after the team’s second half offensive success in Friday’s 31-24 home loss to Calgary, they have a renewed sense of optimism and the “gloom and doom” attitude from their recent spate of adversity could be behind them.