After their streak of six games undefeated ended with a game to forget on last Saturday, the Ottawa Redblacks have made some moves that have left many confused.
On Tuesday, the team announced the release of star running back Ryquell Armstead.
“We want to control our own destiny.” Is a statement often repeated by Ottawa Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce.
Turning over the ball and taking penalties are what the team feels is costing them most. This was underlined after 12 penalties cost them 144 yards in their 38-12 loss to the BC Lions on Saturday in Victoria.
The team was without two key receivers and two top defender because of injury. To add insult, the team lost returner Devonte Dedmon and defensive back Adarius Pickett during the game.
Cutting the running back with the fourth most yardage in the Canadian Football League is obviously not related to the player’s performance.
Though the team took the moral high ground, there seems to be more to this than meets the eye.
“We felt that this was in the best interest of the team,” said Head Coach Bob Dyce “We tried, as did he, to make this work but in the end it didn’t. I thank him for his efforts and the energy he brought to practise and games this season.”
Armstead was fined twice by the league this season for verbal abuse during games and was even ejected from a game against Calgary on July 26.
Rookie receiver Kalil Pimpleton and Dedmon have taken handoffs as running backs this season, however both are on the injury list for Saturday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts.
The choice is now between two new to Ottawa backs Khalan Laborn and Jamal Morrow. Professional sports are all about opportunity and these two are hoping to get theirs.
Laborn, 25, is a CFL rookie describing himself as “an all purpose back, someone that can pancake a blocker and also catch the ball and run down the field to take it long.
“It’s my favourite thing to do apart from catching the ball,’ he said. “I love pancaking someone.”
“I’ve been waiting for [this opportunity] for a long time, my family has always told me to stay ready.”
The Florida State University and Marshall University alumnus attended the San Francisco 49ers’ training camp last year.
Morrow, 29, on the other hand had played four seasons for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, recording 907 yards in 2023. He signed with the Calgary Stampeders this season before being released recently after failing a medical test as he was still healing from wrist surgery.
The Washington State University product was approached by the Redblacks as soon as Armstead was released.
“You can’t rush things,” he said. “It’s not the first time I had to wait and be patient for an injury to heal. … Once I got cleared, I stayed ready and I got the call and now I’m ready to go.”
Laborn was taking first team reps at practice and it is likely he will start for the Redblacks, back at TD Place Saturday against the 6-5 Toronto Argonauts.
