By Richard Obrand
MontrealAlouettes.com
Bad break for Saskatchewan
The 2009 season has yet to begin and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are already a man down.
Last Thursday, the club announced that tackle Wayne Smith will miss the entire upcoming season with a ruptured left Achilles tendon.
The injury occurred while Smith was working out; he underwent surgery that very night.
“Our hearts go out to Wayne after suffering such a tough injury,” Roughriders head coach Ken Miller said in a statement.
“Wayne is a consummate pro and is a leader in our locker-room. While it will be tough for Wayne and the entire team to lose him on the field in 2009, we look forward to having his positive attitude and influence in the locker-room throughout the year.”
He is 29.
In other Rider news, Wednesday, Miller added three new players to the secondary by signing import defensive backs Daniel Francis and Jerron Wishom, along with non-import defensive back Joel Lipinski.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Wishom is the only one out of the three with any CFL experience. The cornerback joined the Alouettes during week-six of last season.
Dickenson preparing for next gig
Throughout Dave Dickenson’s 11-year CFL career, he was always a student of the game with a determined will to learn. And despite gathering large portions of knowledge all through his hall-of-fame career, it’s because of that drive to learn, that he is now the teacher.
It’s been a very hectic off-season for the defending champions Stampeders. Constantly in the Canadian sport news with flurries of signings, none amassed more attention than the late April announcement that he’d be joining the Stamps as an offensive assistant coach.
After suffering a season ending injury during Calgary’s Labor Day Classic matchup against Edmonton, Dickenson’s role on the resilient Stampeders squad quickly shifted locations.
From taking snaps to taking notes, the then 34-year old was made into an unofficial coach.
“Really, (the Stampeders) created a spot for me,” admitted Dickenson. “I think it will be interesting when the season starts. Even last year I heard the occasional ‘Watch what you say, Dicky’s a coach now,” reads CFL.ca.
“I foresee myself being a head coach,” he said, “but I don’t know at what level. It might be high school because I really like helping kids to understand and get better, “ he added.
Dickenson’s official coaching career begins at home against the Als in a Grey Cup rematch, on Canada Day.
Eskis and Bombers swap impact players
The Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have swapped veterans.
Last Friday, the clubs completed a deal that saw defensive-end Fred Perry and defensive-back Kelly Malveaux switch locations.
Malveaux joins the Eskimos after a solid 2008 campaign with the Blue Bombers where he tallied 63 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack. Edmonton will be his fifth CFL destination, after spending time in Saskatchewan, Calgary, Montreal, and Winnipeg.
Perry arrives in Winnipeg after a short season in Edmonton that saw him play in just seven games, recording just one sack in the process.
“Last season in Edmonton, I watched him put great effort into his play,” said Blue Bombers’ head coach Mike Kelly in a statement.
“Over the last three seasons Cam Wake, Gavin Walls, and Fred Perry have been at the top of the quarterback sacks category in the CFL. Wake is now playing in the NFL and the other two are playing in Blue and Gold.”
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