REGINA – The Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders released all-star slotback Weston Dressler on Thursday.
The move wasn’t a surprise. Dressler, 28, was scheduled to become a free agent Feb. 15 and was exploring his NFL options.
This allows Dressler, who earlier this month worked out for the Kansas City Chiefs, to sign an NFL deal immediately.
“Ever since the first time I touched a football its something I dreamed about, is having an opportunity to play in the NFL on the game’s biggest stage,” said Dressler. “Money wasn’t a factor for me in this decision. Its a decision based on an opportunity. A situation that I feel that I have a very good chance to make a football team.”
Riders assistant GM Jeremy O’Day said this all could happen very soon.
“Weston and his agent were very up front they were going to go through the process and we were made aware of a possible situation coming up in the next couple of days where Weston was more than likely going to get an opportunity,” O’Day told reporters. “From our standpoint it’s tough to lose such a good player that’s been here for a long time, is a leader in the locker-room.
“But again, you’ve got to feel happy for him that he gets that opportunity. He hasn’t gone through the process of being in the NFL and as any competitor you just want to see how you compare with the best available players. We wish him the best.”
The five-foot-eight, 179-pound native of Bismarck, N.D., has spent the past six seasons in Regina, having registered 442 catches for 6,531 yards and 43 TDs. He has surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving plateau five times in his career, including the last four years.
Dressler had five catches for a game-high 81 yards and a touchdown in Saskatchewan’s 45-23 Grey Cup victory over Hamilton.
Dressler is a two-time CFL all-star and was the league’s top rookie in ’08. He says he hopes Rider fans will continue to cheer him on in his career.
“I would like to say that the team I am talking with I’ve mad a request for a certain jersey number,” he told reporters. “I requested jersey number 13 because I wanted to kind of show my respect to the 13th man of Ridernation. If everything works out the way that i’m hoping, I’ll be able to wear 13 on Sundays and Rider Nation will be out on the field with me.”
“For the team obviously it’s not great news,” O’Day said. “But it’s our job to find good players and hopefully we’ll be able to replace him.”
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