Could the stars please align and bring Kory Sheets back in Rider Nation?
Early last week, the Oakland Raiders made it clear that the former Saskatchewan Roughrider wasn’t in their plans. That announcement sparked rumours and provided much debate about the 2013 Grey Cup MVP, first in social media, followed closely by the news media.
Any time a high profile name becomes available in the CFL player market, fans start to speculate; sometimes the teams themselves get in on it, too.
Sheets, who spent the 2014 season on injured reserve with the Oakland Raiders, is currently rehabbing the second ruptured Achilles’ tendon of his six-year career.
Yesterday, the diminutive running back became the topic of much discussion on the voice of the Riders, Rod Pedersen’s Sports Cage radio show in Regina.
Just re-listened to Chamblin intvw. He said Sheets had issues "character-wise" upon his exit that didn't show up while he was a Rider
— Rod Pedersen (@rodpedersen) March 10, 2015
In a recent interview with Pederson, Head Coach Corey Chamblin was asked about Sheets. He said, “as he exited, there were some things ‘character-wise’ that didn’t expose themselves or show when he was here.”
Pederson also mentioned that General Manager Brendan Taman had once said about Sheets, “he’s on strike two and a half.”
It’s well known that the Riders’ modern regime operates with a three strike policy for players. It was part of the club philosophy instituted by retired Rider President and CEO Jim Hopson, who had been in the role for eight years.
The Riders’ current CEO, Craig Reynolds, has what must be the greatest management job in pro sports, sitting on a profitable team that’s been a perennial Cup contender. He’s likely to stay the course. And the continuity of the philosophies and staff is potentially bad news for Sheets’ opportunities in Saskatchewan.
In conversations with Kory Sheets, I learned that he was doing his best to deal with his past actions and his pending legal issues. “Hell, I know I let a lot of people down doing that,” he said. “And that’s why it ended that day.”
His doctor has not cleared him to play football yet, and that will be a big factor in any action around Kory Sheets. Some questions also remain about his ability to come across the border and work.
Upon confirmation that he can do both, the Riders appear interested however slightly. None of the other eight teams in the CFL have officially shown an interest in Sheets yet. That is a matter of time.
And so are the days of our lives in Rider Nation.
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