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Weston Dressler signs with Bombers, speaks about his release by Roughriders

Weston Dressler: 'I was never in the Roughrider plans' for 2016

Weston Dressler is moving on from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but staying on the prairies. Since the surprising decision earlier this month by new Roughriders' head coach and general manager Chris Jones to cut the veteran slotback, there had been rumours that Dressler was headed to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and those came true Tuesday with the team officially signing him to a two-year contract. Dressler also made further waves this week, speaking to Rob Vanstone of The Regina Leader-Post in his first interview since being cut and discussing his feelings on the Riders letting him go after eight seasons and with three years still left on the extension he signed last January.

Dressler issued a strong statement on Twitter on Jan. 15, the day after he was cut, saying amongst other things that "I am upset and saddened by the fact there wasn't more effort put in by the organization to allow me to remain a Saskatchewan Roughrider." He told Vanstone this week he's still upset, but hopes to have a better relationship with the Riders' organization down the road:

“I’m not really going to get into it,” replied the five-time 1,000-yard receiver, who noted in his statement that he respected Jones and, ultimately, the decision that was made.

“I had a very good conversation a few days after the release with Craig Reynolds, the president-CEO, and he definitely knows how I felt about the whole situation. For me, as long as he knows it and the people within the organization understand it, I will keep that between us and use that to kind of move on from it and hopefully be able to mend the relationship a little bit in the future.”

Reynolds initiated the discussion shortly after Dressler, who had been a Roughrider since making his CFL debut in 2008, was released.

It's understandable that Dressler was upset, as he'd frequently committed to Saskatchewan instead of exploring other possibilities. In particular, he headed back to the Roughriders in August 2014 after being cut by the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, opting to take less money on a one-year deal there instead of going to Ottawa. Dressler could have tested free agency that offseason, but instead signed a four-year extension with Saskatchewan before hitting the open market. He told Vanstone that extension showed he had every intention of staying with the team, and he plans to still live in Regina this offseason despite the release and appreciates all the support he's received from fans:

“If anything, it just reinforces to the fans in the community here that I did want to be here and that I wanted to be in the plans here,” Dressler said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. I think my past actions showed that I wanted to be here.”

And he still wants to be here.

Regardless of the next destination, Dressler will spend the rest of this off-season in Regina, where his fiancée resides.

Despite the once-unfathomable turn of events with the Roughriders, the 30-year-old product of Bismarck, N.D., will seize every opportunity to express his gratitude to people who have helped to make Regina his adopted home.

“There’s only so much you can say,” Dressler said. “I can’t really get my point across in words how thankful I am for everything they’ve done for me.

It's notable that plenty of fans are still supportive of Dressler, too, despite the team's decision to go a different way. Here's Murray McCormick of the Leader-Post on how "The Weston Dressler" isn't leaving a local menu any time soon:

Carlo Giambattista, whose family owns the Italian Star Deli, was stunned by Dressler’s release. In 2014, Giambattista attempted to attract Dressler back to the Riders by promising him a panini a week if he signed. Giambattista named the sandwich “The Weston Dressler.’’ It remains on the menu even though Dressler is no longer a Rider.

“We’re not taking that down,’’ Giambattista said. “When he comes back as a Tiger-Cat or a Redblack, he’s still going to have a sandwich. We’re not going to stop that.’’

...“I’m pretty sure that he’ll sign with someone,’’ Giambattista said. “Then he will come in and (score) two long ones on us.’’

The Riders' decision to go a different way isn't completely illogical, as Dressler was set to make $240,000 this season, and the new regime may want to use that cap hit somewhere else. However, Dressler was very productive throughout his time in Saskatchewan, posting five 1,000-yard receiving seasons in eight years and coming close again this season with 941 receiving yards despite the Riders' often-brutal quarterback play. Winnipeg GM Kyle Walters' comment that "Adding a veteran player with his skill-set was really a no-brainer for us" shows how Dressler's perceived around the league, and at 30, he may have several good seasons left. We'll see how he does with the Bombers, but he'll certainly have a chance to prove Saskatchewan's management wrong.

(Correction: this post initially had Dressler's 2016 salary with Saskatchewan as $260,000. It was $240,000.)