‘It’s not a fun day’: Watford, Butler among Roughrider cuts

He said there’s conversations to be had over every move and the team takes a gamble with each one.

“You have an older guy right now and you choose to go with the older guy and the (rookie) gets picked up and then three years from now you’re looking at an all-star you already had on your team,” O’Day said.

Watford, who signed with the Roughriders in October 2017, was one of the team’s backup quarterbacks for the entire 2018 season. He finished the year completing 15 of 22 passes for one touchdown and two interceptions. He also had 18 carries for 93 yards.

In his only 2019 pre-season action, the 25-year-old went eight for 12 for 65 yards with one interception in a 37-1 loss to the Calgary Stampeders. Watford didn’t play in the team’s final pre-season game on Thursday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Thank you Rider Nation for the opportunity 🙏🏾 on to the next now! pic.twitter.com/MTT0oQvDmf
— David Watford (@DWatford_) June 8, 2019

“I don’t want to discount the amount of time that we’ve had David here and the amount of development that he may or not have had with us,” O’Day said. “(I) sat down together with coach (Craig) Dickenson and the whole staff and went through the whole roster and got the coach’s input into that. Ultimately Craig and I sat down and made those decisions.”

With Watford and Ty Gangi’s release, the Roughriders now have three quarterbacks on their active roster: Zach Collaros, Cody Fajardo and Isaac Harker.

Defensive back Crezdon Butler was also among the cuts. Butler signed with the Riders in June 2017. The 32-year-old played in 26 games over two seasons. He recorded 70 tackles and two sacks during his time with the team.

He recorded two tackles in Thursday’s game. Butler didn’t play in the team’s first pre-season game.

“Crezdon was another one of those conversations over a younger player versus a guy that’s a little bit later in his career,” O’Day said. “You’re trying to predict where the ceilings at and my job is too look at the now and also look at the future as well.”

Defensive lineman Chad Geter was also among the cuts. He signed with the team last April. The 24-year-old played in 18 games in 2018 and registered 17 defensive tackles, 17 special teams tackles and three quarterback sacks. Geter appeared in both pre-season games, recording three tackles and one special teams tackle.

It’s been real Rider Nation. pic.twitter.com/jRBjDneMY6
— Chad Geter (@ChadGeter_38) June 8, 2019

O’Day said it was hard to move on from a young talent like Geter.

“Usually you don’t like to move on from those guys but we just felt right now that Lavar Edwards earned that spot right now through training camp, through the pre-season games. He has a little bit of flexibility and unfortunately the rosters aren’t big enough,” O’Day said.

While today means the end of some players’ time with the Roughriders, others have been told they are sticking around.

One of those players is wide receiver Paul McRoberts, who earned himself a practice roster spot. After only one catch for 19 yards in the first pre-season game, he exploded for four catches, 83 yards and a touchdown in the game against Winnipeg.

Huge Shout Out To All Of The Roughrider Fans & The Community!!We Bleed Green Baby! 💯🔥🤑💚 🙌🏽#UniteInGreen

— Paul McRoberts«T€€Z¥ (@PtGoingPro) June 8, 2019

Another talent who impressed O’Day and the coaching staff was running back Jamal Morrow. Morrow finished the pre-season with 47 yards on eight carries. He also hauled in two catches for 24 yards.

“It was a pleasant surprise because we had saw him in mini-camp and to be quite honest, he was just OK in mini-camp,” O’Day said. “He’s a different guy even four weeks later than what we saw.”

The Roughriders will return to practice Sunday as they prepare to travel to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats to kick off their 2019 CFL regular season.

The full list

Released:

International defensive back Valentino Blake
National defensive lineman Mathieu Breton
International defensive back Crezdon Butler
International running back James Butler
International wide receiver Kyle Davis
National defensive back Jacob Dearborn
International wide receiver Austin Ellsworth
International quarterback Ty Gangi
International defensive lineman Chad Geter
International wide receiver Donald Gray
National defensive back Jacob Janke
National linebacker Christopher Judge
International linebacker Deon King
National defensive lineman Tresor Mafuta
International wide receiver Sebastien Olvera
International offensive lineman E.J. Price
International defensive lineman Gerald Rivers
International defensive back Stephen Roberts
National offensive lineman Vincent Roy
National kicker Sean Stenger
International offensive lineman Travis Vornkahl
International quarterback David Watford
International wide receiver Malik Wilson

Practice roster

The following players have been added to the practice roster:

International offensive lineman Rene Brassea
International defensive back Blace Brown
National defensive lineman Charbel Dabire
International defensive lineman Jeremy Faulk
International defensive back Javier Garcia
International defensive lineman Chester Graves
International wide receiver Carlos Henderson
International defensive back L.J. McCray
International wide receiver Paul McRoberts
International running back Jamal Morrow
National wide receiver Mitchell Picton
National offensive lineman Braden Schram

The following players have been returned to their respective junior clubs:

National offensive lineman Logan Ferland
National defensive back Colton Holmes
National wide receiver Greg Lamb
National offensive lineman Mason Ochs

by Britton Gray

‘It’s not a fun day’: Watford, Butler among Roughrider cuts

The full list

Practice roster

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