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Roughriders general manager Jeremy O\u2019Day looked at the list of potential free agents and circled the name of Blue Bombers lineman Jermarcus Hardrick.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe question was are we going to get an opportunity to talk to him,\u201d O\u2019Day was saying on Grey Cup media day at the convention centre on Wednesday. \u201cProbably a long shot.\u201d<\/p>\n
That shot hit the bull\u2019s-eye, and with the stroke of a pen the Riders had not only improved themselves, but delivered a hard blow to the Bombers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou would consider that,\u201d O\u2019Day said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to play against him anymore, so that helps. And certainly if it\u2019s a division rival. You look back at the tough years that we\u2019ve had and we really struggled on the O-line.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can remember the moment when he agreed to his contract, and we were pretty damn excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
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On Sunday the rejuvenated Riders will square off with Montreal in the 112th Grey Cup \u2013 in the Bombers\u2019 back yard.<\/p>\n
Why would an American O-lineman be such a priority and pay off so handsomely?<\/p>\n
Start with attitude, finish with size, blocking ability and enough exuberance to fill a locker-room and you have the West Division nominee for this year\u2019s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were tired of him pushing our guys after the play was over,\u201d O\u2019Day said. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of a joke, but it\u2019s not, really. We wanted to become more physical. So we identified players that played with an edge, played to the whistle \u2026 constantly seeing him after plays laying on a guy or pushing the envelope, never getting a penalty but always riding the line a little bit, that was the type of players we wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Head coach Corey Mace, himself a recent addition to the Riders at the time, loves what he calls the \u201ctrench dogs,\u201d the behemoths along the line of scrimmage.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is the junkyard dog of the trench dogs,\u201d is how Mace described Hardrick. \u201cI think you know. He\u2019s an annoying presence for an opponent. What makes it so annoying is more times than not, you can\u2019t really do too much about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way that he openly celebrates with his teammates in front of his opponent and how he carries himself \u2026 he is the heartbeat of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
A heartbeat that\u2019s become a little less strong in Winnipeg since he left.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving coached against him, I thought: \u2018Well that\u2019ll be a nice little marriage,\u2019 \u201d Mace said. \u201cHe\u2019s not a very nice player on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Soon after he arrived in Regina, Hardrick reminded Mace the two had actually faced each other in a game, years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to go back and watch, and I did,\u201d the coach said. \u201cThe same stuff he\u2019s doing now, he did to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take Hardrick long to seal his role as a leader in Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, no. It was instant,\u201d Mace said. \u201cI just saw how he galvanized a group in his previous location. I encouraged him to be himself. And it was quick. Right away. You can\u2019t come to practice half-assed around Jermarcus Hardrick. Or it\u2019s going to be some bad tape for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Day credits his coach with convincing players such as Hardrick to sign with the Riders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult,\u201d the GM said. \u201cHe\u2019s with a great organization that has a great head coach. They\u2019re having a lot of success \u2013 how does that happen? And the answer is just Corey Mace. He\u2019s a guy that players want to play for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hardrick says it was a gut-wrenching decision to leave Winnipeg. But he was ready for a new chapter and a bigger paycheque.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to do what\u2019s best for me,\u201d he said. \u201cLove Winnipeg, nothing bad to say from the top down. When I look back on it after I retire, that\u2019s what it\u2019s going to be about. I enjoyed the hell out of my time in Winnipeg.\u201d<\/p>\n
He will this week, too.<\/p>\n
paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca<\/p>\n
X: @friesensunmedia<\/p>\n
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Back when he was a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick hammers home a point during a team practice. Photo by Kevin King \/Winnipeg SunArticle content<\/p>\n