The CFL’s regular season is to begin on June 5th, when the Roughriders and Ottawa REDBLACKS collide. The May 30th and June 5th home games both begin at 7 p.m.
Following next weekend’s game in Winnipeg, training camp will move to Regina and conclude at Mosaic Stadium.
Peyton Manning adds a new title – professor at his alma mater Tennessee Peyton Manning the five-time NFL MVP and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame has a new title..
Peyton Manning, the five-time NFL MVP and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has a new title.
Just call him Professor Manning.
The University of Tennessee announced Monday that Manning has been appointed a professor of practice at the College of Communication and Information starting this fall. Manning graduated from Tennessee in 1997 with a degree in speech communication.
He said in a statement his time as a student there was a foundation for teaching him critical skills and techniques he still uses almost daily.
“I look forward to working with the college’s talented faculty, and directly with students in an effort to ensure they are well prepared for their future careers,” Manning said.
Sunny Saturday scrimmage included Payton manning a receiver spot.
SASKATOON — It was heavy and lighthearted, all at once.
Offensive tackle Payton Collins (6-foot-7, 301 pounds) ran a pass pattern against defensive end Benoit Marion (6-4, 260) during an unconventional, unforgettable receiver-versus-DB showdown on Green and White Day.
“We were just keeping it fun,” Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace said on a sunny Saturday after fans were treated to one hour of on-field activities at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.
“Just looking at Payton, he wasn’t exactly sure how to waggle. It was just fun to see.
“Benoit swears he’s an athlete, so we put him out there (in coverage).
“And he almost got got! Big Red — Payton — had a chance to catch it.”
Most opportunities to make a catch were seized when the Roughriders ran plays from scrimmage — 39 in total — in 12-on-12 situations at SMF Field.
Trevor Harris, Jake Maier, Tommy Stevens and Jack Coan combined to complete 20 of 29 passes for 248 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Harris, the starting quarterback, went 7-for-9 for 95 yards. He threw touchdown passes to Samuel Emilus (28 yards), Kian Schaffer-Baker (18) and first-year CFL running back Trent Pennix (3).
Maier put the other TD on the board when he found D’Sean Mimbs for a five-yard score. That was the sixth completion in seven attempts for Maier, who produced 76 aerial yards.
Mimbs was the leading receiver, with five catches for 70 yards.
Three players had two receptions — Dohnte Meyers (for gains of 12 and 10 yards), Tommy Nield (16, 5) and Drae McCray (8, 6).
Emilus and Daniel Wiebe were tied for the longest reception of the day (28 yards). Schaffer-Baker was next in line with an 18-yarder.
Pennix, Mario Anderson, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, Dhel Duncan-Busby, KeeSean Johnson and Brayden Misseri each caught one pass.
The defence also had its moments — most memorably on interceptions by Rolan Milligan Jr. and newcomer Eddie Heckard.
Heckard and veteran linebacker Jameer Thurman added pass breakups.
The 12-on-12 sessions also included seven handoffs. Anderson had three carries. Bertrand-Hudon and A.J. Ouellette each had two. Pennix ran the ball once. Harris and Coan also took off on quarterback scrambles.
“It’s kind of tough without true tackling, but I thought there was some efficiency out there with the quarterbacks,” Mace said. “They found the receivers in the holes and in some of the soft coverages that we had going on.
“I thought we challenged the receivers (defensively) and came away making a couple of turnovers.”
On a generally upbeat day, there was tough news to report regarding three-time All-CFL centre Sean McEwen, who was on crutches following Tuesday’s Coors Light Training Camp workout at Griffiths Stadium.
“Unfortunately, Sean suffered an injury that’s going to keep him out for a while,” Mace said. “It sucks. It sucks for him, more than anything.
“You feel for Sean, but he made it very clear that he wants to get his finger sized (for a Grey Cup ring), so he’s going to do everything he can to help us and remain with us in some form or fashion. He’s a heck of a mind.”
McEwen signed with Saskatchewan in February after spending time with the Toronto Argonauts (2016 to 2019) and Calgary Stampeders (2020 to 2024).
“He said, ‘I know I’ve only been here for X number of days, but there’s something different here,’ ” Mace said. “It’s good to hear that validation coming from somebody looking from the outside in.
“(The injury) is just an unfortunate situation and, unfortunately, part of football.”
The Roughriders return to the practice field on Monday, when the first of this week’s four 8:30 a.m. sessions is to begin at Griffiths Stadium.
The team will hold a walk-through on Friday before flying to Winnipeg for the May 24th pre-season opener against the Blue Bombers.
On May 30th, Saskatchewan will play host to Winnipeg in the pre-season finale.
The CFL’s regular season is to begin on June 5th, when the Roughriders and Ottawa REDBLACKS collide. The May 30th and June 5th home games both begin at 7 p.m.
Following next weekend’s game in Winnipeg, training camp will move to Regina and conclude at Mosaic Stadium.
About The Author
