Saskatchewan Roughriders legend Darian Durant spent 12 years in the CFL and there was one free agent signing that stood out above the rest.
“This is going to be shocking -- in 2015 we signed Jamel Richardson,” Durant explained on The SportsCage. “I was thinking that this was the sleeper or steal of the decade by signing him because he still had some juice in the tank. Reliving all the memories of him killing us over the years -- I never really had that big, physical presence, putting fear in defensive backs from a physical standpoint.”
That was Richardson's second stint with the Green and White after he initially started his CFL career in Saskatchewan from 2003 through 2006. In 2007, he went to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys prior to coming back and playing for the Montreal Alouettes from 2008 through 2013. The following season in 2014, the six-foot-three, 226-pound pass catcher was sidelined after tearing ligaments in his left knee.
During those years with the Als, Richardson was named a CFL all-star three times. He helped Montreal win two Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010, both against the Riders. The Syracuse, NY native was named the 98th Grey Cup MVP after catching eight passes for 109 yards in the CFL championship game.
During the 2015 season, the Roughriders finished with a 3-15 record, last place in the West Division. Durant only played one game that season due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon suffered in the season opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“It was sad because once I got hurt, Kevin Glenn, he came in and he played well, but then he got hurt as well,” Durant explained. “We really didn't have anyone to get [Richardson] the ball and he was released, before week nine. That was the time when the veteran contracts were guaranteed, he was released right before that.”
Richardson played six games in 2015 for the Riders, recording 19 receptions for 266 receiving yards. That was his final season in the CFL.
Besides reminiscing about his playing career, Durant gave his thoughts on the CFL commissioner search.
“I think they're doing their due diligence to find the right guy,” Durant said. “I'm not here to downplay that role, but it's not really that significant of a position. The league is in a good state and they'll be in good hands, so I'm not overly worried about it.”
