Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo. (File photo courtesy of the Saskatchewan Roughriders)

By Britton Gray/ CJME News

Fajardo looks to take next step as starting quarterback

Dec 1, 2021 | 6:29 PM

Not all rings are equal — just ask Cody Fajardo.

Fajardo has a Grey Cup ring from when he was the short-yardage quarterback with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 2017 behind starter Ricky Ray.

“It’s collecting dust until I retire or if something happened where I was back in Toronto. You can’t wear an opposing team ring when you’re out playing for another team,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders pivot said Wednesday.

“A starting quarterback ring means a lot more than being a backup even though I was a contributor to that Grey Cup-winning team.”

One ring Fajardo is always sporting is his wedding ring.

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“My wife likes it when I wear my ring and it kind of pops and shows. I switch it up because I have two of them — I have a white one and a green one. We’ve been pretty hot with the green one I’ve been wearing so I wear the white one for practice,” Fajardo said. “It’s just the little things as an athlete, those superstitions you go through.”

Fajardo has a chance to add to his legacy and get closer to adding another ring to his collection on Sunday in the West Division final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kickoff for the game is set for 3 p.m.

“This is the top game in my career. My whole life as a CFL quarterback has been trying to get to the Grey Cup and be a Grey Cup-winning champion as a starting quarterback,” Fajardo said. “It means a lot when you are a part (of a championship) team but I think it’s going to mean so much more when you are a starting quarterback.”

Fajardo and the Riders overcame one of their hurdles to making the Grey Cup after beating the Calgary Stampeders 33-30 in overtime in the West semifinal last Sunday.

After the game, Stamps quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell shared some words of encouragement with Fajardo.

“Talking to Bo after the game, it was pretty cool when he said, ‘Go get you one,’ and I just kind of processed it. (Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros) has one (and) Bo has himself one,” Fajardo said. “To be elite in this league and to be a consistent starting quarterback who plays at a high level, you’ve got to go out and win yourself a Grey Cup.”

While the Riders emerged victorious in the West semifinal, it wasn’t easy sailing for the quarterback. He was intercepted four times in the win, with three of those coming in the first half.

“It probably wouldn’t have been all sunshine and rainbows (if we lost),” Fajardo said. “People might have been calling for my head and maybe it’s a different story at starting quarterback.

“I’ve seen it over and over again: If you don’t perform in high-pressure situations and you don’t find a way to win games, the organization moves on.

“I feel like I’ve done enough here to win football games and I want to be here as long as I can and help this team win a lot of football games.”

A major challenge awaits Fajardo and the Riders in Winnipeg. The Bombers have been the CFL’s top team throughout 2021 and dominated the two regular-season games between the teams: Winnipeg won 23-8 at Mosaic Stadium and then 33-9 at IG Field the following week.

Now a game away from returning to the CFL’s biggest game, it’s an opportunity Fajardo has been waiting for.

“That has been my goal when the season was cancelled (in 2020) and in 2019 when I hit the crossbar (in the West final against Winnipeg). My goal was to get back and get into a West final game to give myself an opportunity to be in a Grey Cup,” Fajardo said.

Notes: Slotback Duke Williams (turf toe) and linebacker Micah Teitz (foot) both didn’t practise Wednesday. Head coach Craig Dickenson said Williams is probable to play but Teitz was more 50-50 … Defensive lineman Micah Johnson didn’t practise as he attended a virtual service for his dad, who passed away recently … Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther was nominated for the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award. The award recognizes a Canadian CFL player who demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans: Strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship, and contribution to Canadian communities.