RIDERS SIGN EDDIE STEELE *UPDATE WITH COMMENTS*
The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced on Tuesday national defensive lineman Eddie Steele has signed with the team.
Steele (6’2 – 280) joins the Riders after spending the last four seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos. Last season, the 28-year-old played 18 regular-season games, starting five, the East Semi-Final and East Final.
Through six CFL seasons, Steele has registered 108 defensive tackles and 13 quarterback sacks in 90 regular-season appearances. He won his first Grey Cup in 2015 as a member of the Eskimos.
He played his first two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after the team had selected him in the third round (22nd overall) of the 2010 CFL Draft.
Steele appeared on 620 CKRM’s SportsCage on Tuesday. Here are some of his comments:
ON BEING CUT BY EDMONTON LAST WEEK:
ES: I didn’t see it coming at all. Throughout the off-season Ed Hervey had gone to people in the locker room about paycuts but I’d never heard anything on my end. So I thought I was good. I was due a bonus on March 1 so in my mind, that cheque was in the bank already. My wife and I are expecting a child in five weeks so that money was crucial. I wasn’t expecting it at all, until it went down. But it’s a business.
ON DECIDING WHERE TO SIGN
ES: It’s been a back-and-forth thing. I’ll give my agents – Tim Fleiszer and Rob Fry – a lot of credit because they took care of it. I tended to my wife and worked out and sat at home weighing my options. I’m so happy how it ended up.
ON THE RIDERS’ DESIRE TO SIGN HIM
ES: Coach Jones and I have a great relationship. I love him as a coach and I don’t mind saying it. I’ve had a lot of success under him and I believe in what he does. We talked and texted and he’s real excited to get me there. I’ve been in his system, had success, and he really wants me to come in and bring my attitude into the locker room.
It’s a different system. It’s very unique. You’re not just rushing four all the time. Guys are expected to do a lot of different things but I consider myself very versatile. So I like doing extra things. I’ve covered tailbacks in the flats or dropped 10 yards or more for Coach Jones. I don’t mind using my skillset.
WHY SIGN IN SASKATCHEWAN?
ES: I’m excited. There’s so much going on. I believe in what Coach Jones is doing, I know some guys personally on that team and four of them are from Winnipeg so we train together. A new stadium! Why wouldn’t you want to open up a new stadium? And #1, the Rider Nation. I know what it’s all about. I’ve never received such a welcome on social media as I have from Rider fans. This is something very special going on in this province.
