He was nicknamed ‘Blink’ — as in blink and you might miss him — and yet Charles Roberts career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was precariously close to being over before the end of rookie training camp in 2001.

Yes, his hall of fame career might have been kaput before he found traction and in the blink of an eye.

“When I first got up there, I really had to stick with it because in the first week, week and a half, I was ready to go home,” Roberts told bluebombers.com in an interview in 2024. “It was a different place, and I had never been so far away from home.

“I was always considered ‘the guy’ when I was playing in college and when I got up there it became real that I was just someone trying out for the team. And being the littlest guy on the field, I didn’t even think I had a chance, so I was ready to leave but somehow, some way, I stuck with it and here we are now.”

Here we are now is with Roberts considered among the best ball carriers in Canadian Football League history and certainly in the annals of the Blue Bombers, where he ranks first in all-time rushing yards and leads off the latest in our ’10 Lists in 10 Days’ series.

A star at Sacramento State, Roberts came north as NFL teams shied away from his diminutive stature at 5-6, 175 pounds. He arrived in Winnipeg to see a depth chart crowded with Troy Mills, Eric Blount and Robert Pollard.

The Blue Bombers, seeing Roberts’ immense skills, opted to keep three running backs and asked him to augment his role as a part-time running back as the kick returner. He fought off his initial doubts to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player Award in 2001 while being a runner-up in the Most Outstanding Rookie Player department.

“When you get up there it’s easy to think that there isn’t anybody in your corner,” Roberts recalled. “You’re in the rookie locker room at the old stadium and that wasn’t a pleasant place to be. It just wasn’t what I envisioned as a pro but a week later they moved me into the main locker room, and I got a little bit more comfortable.

“It was having that fear of failure, or not wanting to be a disappointment for everyone that had been looking forward to me doing great things. It was mentally difficult for me to make the decision to stay. When I think about it, Lyle Bauer (then president and CEO) – rest in peace – was instrumental in talking to me and reassuring me. They didn’t tell me I was going to make the team, but he and Brendan Taman (Assistant GM) and Coach Ritchie – also rest in peace – really helped me.

“It’s super-sad that Lyle and Coach Ritchie are gone now because they were so instrumental in my success. I’m appreciative of all those guys for that.”

And when Roberts subsequently staked his claim to the starting running back chores in his second year, he wasn’t going to loosen his grip as he rushed for over 1,000 yards for six straight seasons from 2002-07. He led the Blue Bombers in rushing seven times, won three CFL rushing crowns (2003, 2005, 2006) and was a CFL all-star seven times.

Roberts became the franchise’s all-time leading rusher in 2007 and still ranks second in Blue Bombers history to Milt Stegall with 79 career touchdowns, with his 64 along the ground topping the franchise’s list.

Roberts was named to the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 2013 and a year later was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Interestingly, one of the fans Roberts thrilled for years was a young Winnipegger by the name of Brady Oliveira, the Blue Bombers current starting tailback. Oliveira already ranks sixth in franchise history and with 444 yards rushing this coming season could move into third spot.

“I got Charles’ jersey last year (2024) and got to meet him on the same day he was inducted into the Ring of Honour. That was such a cool moment for me,” Oliveira said last season. “I mean, I grew up watching him. Always heard the Charles Roberts name everywhere you went. You turn on the TV or go to Bomber games as a kid, and it was always about Charles Roberts.

“Then when you start to hear your name in the same sentence as him… I mean, wow. I know what I’m capable of doing, but I never really think of stuff like this because I do have so much appreciation of the guys that came before me. I have so much respect for them now knowing how hard it is to do what they did.”

Blue Bombers all-time rushing yardage leaders:

1. Charles Roberts, (2001-08) — 9,987

2. Leo Lewis, (1955-66) — 8,861

3. Willard Reaves, (1983-87) — 5,923

4. Jim Washington, (1974-79) — 5,736

5. Gerry James, (1952-63) — 5,541

6. Brady Oliveira, (2019- ) — 5,480

7. Andrew Harris, (2016-21) — 5,402

8. Fred Reid, (2007-11) — 4,505

9. Dave Raimey, (1965-69) — 3,917

10. Charlie Shepard,(1957-62) — 3,768