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Roughriders making tough decision at quarterback

Oct 18, 2011 | 5:13 PM

The status of quarterback Darian Durant is as clear as mud as the team approaches their third to last game of the season.

Roughriders Head Coach Ken Miller made an emphatic statement that Durant will start on Friday in Calgary.

Just minutes before, Durant was a little more vague on whether he'll play or shut it down for the remainder of the season.

“It's something I'm going to have to sit down with Coach Miller a little bit more and talk about. I think we're in the process of giving some guys some looks all across the board.”

Durant says he was just heading into a meeting to sort out what the game plan will be for the Roughriders starter for the remainder of the season.

Miller isn't so sure sitting Durant down for three games is the greatest idea.

“He doesn't have all the experience in the world. Every snap that he takes he learns something. If you think about 2012 and beyond, any growth that he makes in the next three games is going to be beneficial. That doesn't mean he has to take every snap for the remainder of this season. But he's our starting quarterback and he's going to start in this coming football game.”

The backups

Miller did say he would like to give Ryan Dinwiddie another look before the season is out. He also says third string quarterback Cole Bergquist could see some time in short yardage scenarios to get him in and give him a feel for the game.

“I don't know what the parameters are going to be exactly. It would be good to see those other two quarterbacks.”

Miller has no issue putting Dinwiddie back in after his three interceptions performance two weeks ago in Edmonton.

“He didn't operate near his potential. We have seen him do much better than that. Certainly he is capable of playing much better.”

News and Notes

Andy Fantuz, Jerrell Freeman, Lance Frazier and Wes Cates did not practice on Tuesday.

Miller also discusses the future of Andy Fantuz with the Roughriders, hinting a deal may be close to agreement. He also says the decision on his future is weighing on him '100 percent'.