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Kory Sheets Still in the Wind

Mar 10, 2015 | 12:49 PM

It is NFL free agency day and among the names being dropped is 2013 Grey Cup MVP Kory Sheets by the Oakland Raiders.

Sheets went down in pre-season with an Achilles tear and while the injury cost him a season with the Raiders, his release has sparked an interesting reaction at Riderville Central Headquarters in the City that Rhymes with Fun.

Rider Coach Cory Chamblin went on air saying while the Riders would have to look at whether or not to bring Sheets back, there were some character issues that came up in his exit interview with the Riders before he went down to the Raiders that would bear further scrutiny.

It can be argued successfully that not only did the Riders screw up their back-up quarterbacking last year; they also did the same with their running backs, being unable to settle on a back, never mind a pair, and shuffling them in and out like it was a Kaiser Card tournament. Add to this the benching of a running back for a fumble and the Riders have a running crew that was running scared more often than for first downs.

Chamblins’ comments about Sheets were not unusual in that there were signs in 2013 that Sheets could be a high maintenance back in the Rider system. Darian Durant mentioned how he had to get Sheets to study film to get better because if Sheets knew what was coming, he could be more effective.

Add to the mix a marijuana bust in the off-season and a domestic violence charge that was stayed, and on paper it would seem Sheets is more problem than what he is worth. Then you look across the locker room to Taj Smith and his various legal problems and you really have to wonder if the Riders practice any sort of consistency in dealing with players in difficult situations.

I would think the real problem would be with what Sheets would be asking for in salary, combined with his injury situation and his age. Ben Heenan going to the Indianapolis Colts doesn’t mean he will stay down there, and if he comes back, he will be a free agent and worth a lot as a starting Canadian offensive lineman. You would have to think the Riders have money stashed aside to make Heenan a decent offer if he comes back from the NFL.

If Sheets is looking for six figures, that would throw out plans to be able to compete for Heenan on his return. Factor in Sheets being 31-32 years old, which is the tipping point for running backs, never mind backs coming off of injury, and how many years from Sheets would you realistically expect versus years from Heenan anchoring an offensive line.  The other name to bear in mind here is Brent Jones, the former Calgary Stampeder who might not make the New York Giants. Jones has a local connection with the Riders, coming from Weyburn, and he did play with Brendan LaBatte, and the idea of those two being the new Poley and Aldag is a pretty attractive one. But again, you need money set aside in order to make one or both of them great offers to come back to Saskatchewan.

So if Sheets is given a lower number, but his contract has incentive clauses which translates into the more he does on the field, the more he will be rewarded, that is an option that does work for the Riders. The Riders may be happy with Anthony Allen, who almost had 1000 yards last season if it wasn’t for the Riders bizarre player management style and who seems to have his head on straighter than Sheets.

On the open air lines, the consensus from some former Riders was not to re-sign Sheets unless there is a hot tub time machine that can take us back to 2013. Ignoring the opportunity to score a cheap point on their part, the former players seem to agree with Chamblin that while a look should be made towards Sheets, if he is seriously looking for a six figure contract at this stage, that doesn’t seem to be likely unless he earns it.

The problem with the Riders in 2015 will be a number of players coming off of injury and no idea if they are recovered and ready to build on past performances. If some of these injury prone players get nicked again, the Riders will again have to consult travel agents to orchestrate an airlift and depending when these injuries hit, Sheets may be more palatable at that time.

I don’t think Sheets will last that long on the open market. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are in a position to take a chance and signing the Riders Grey Cup MVP from 2013 would be another way to take a satisfying jab at the Riders and rile up their fan base. And if Kory Sheets has an MVP year with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and leads them to a Grey Cup win in their home stadium, then Cory Chamblin has a lot of explaining to do, starting with why he let his ego get in the way of a Grey Cup win in 2015.

Other than the waiting for Sheets, Shomari Williams has signed with the Calgary Stampeders after a mini bidding war that included the Riders. It seems Williams at 120 K is too much, but at half the salary makes for a perfectly good back-up.