THE CANADIAN PRESS
The Great Dane has landed.
On Friday, May 13 the Saskatchewan Roughriders issued a news release stating the club had signed three players: defensive end Eric Norwood, receiver Clarence Denmark and receiver Alec Lemon.
Wait … what? Clarence Denmark?! Are you serious?!?
That was my reaction when the news release email first hit my inbox.
I was a huge fan of the Arkansas-Monticello product over his five-year stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was stunned when the Blue released him this off-season (reportedly for budgetary reasons).
And frankly I thought because of his talents and All-Star pedigree, he would be out of Saskatchewan’s price range. We’ll get into that in a minute, but let’s bask in the glow of the fact that one of the CFL’s premier receivers is now in Green & White.
“Man I’m just happy to a part of the winning side for a change,” Denmark smiled on 620 CKRM’s SportsCage this week.
Over the course of this column you’re truly going to learn how happy Denmark is to be jumping over the Saskatchewan/Manitoba line but first, the Jacksonville product said he was never concerned that his career might be over when Winnipeg set him free this winter.
“I knew there was gonna be a call,” Denmark said via phone from his home in Florida. “I played all games last season and I ended the year healthy. I’ve still got a lot of football left in me.”
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He should. Denmark turns 31 in September and should still have several quality years of football remaining. Yet we’re all still a little surprised that they’re going to be with Saskatchewan.
“It’s a crazy league and it’s crazy how things happen,” Denmark smiled. “Saskatchewan had some things happen (Maurice Price’s retirement) which opened up an opportunity and when I got the call, it was a no-brainer. I’ve got a lot of respect for the coaching staff over there, the team and the fans, so I was happy.”
Denmark plays bigger than his 5-foot-11 frame and should be an inviting target for quarterback Darian Durant at the wide receiver position. However right now he hasn’t put too much thought into it.
“Just coming in and playing a role,” Denmark said of his immediate plans. “I won’t figure out what that role is until we get there but I’m willing to play whatever role they want me to play. I feel like I’m a good receiver to add on to what they have already.”
And of course, he’ll be happy to be on the other side of the Saskatchewan-Winnipeg rivalry. Those September long weekend visits to Regina turned into a nightmare for the Blue and Gold.
“Oh man it’s rough,” Denmark admitted. “We always had that date circled on our calendar but it was a bad taste in my mouth every time because we never won over there. It was always that feeling of ‘Oh man here we go again’. It wasn’t a good feeling going over there.
“It’s just gonna be a great opportunity to play with a staff that you know can get it done,” Denmark conceded, although he’s never played for Chris Jones before. “Not saying anything bad about my previous place but there was just always something going on.
“It was always guessing, ‘Can we win?’, ‘Are we gonna win?’ Now you know everybody has a job to do but you’re playing with guys that are proven and can get it done.”
“Now you know everybody has a job to do but you’re playing with guys that are proven and can get it done.”
Clarence Denmark
Part of this Roughriders staff includes receivers coach Markus Howell who played for the Stampeders when Chris Jones was there, and was Denmark’s position coach in Winnipeg the past five years.
“Very excited,” Clarence said of the chance to work with Howell again. “That was a big part of it. He called me and told me the deal. That’s one of the things that’ll make me the most comfortable. But he works very hard and he expects that out of the whole group and I know it’s going to go well.”
One of the nice things about the Saskatchewan Roughriders is that their locker room has always had an inclusive nature so it was no surprise that Denmark had already been contacted by his new teammates within days of signing with the club.
“A few guys reached out via Twitter and just welcomed me in,” Denmark reported. “A whole lotta fans did, the Rider Nation, and I already knew about the fans because of being on the other side of it for so long. So to be a part of it now, it feels good man.”
This really seems like a good fit doesn’t it? Denmark’s trademark No. 89 will already be waiting for him in his locker after it was vacated by Chris Getzlaf this winter. I asked Denmark if he views this new era in Saskatchewan as a new beginning, or simply a continuation of what’s been a very solid career.
“I think a little bit of both,” said the former Jacksonville Jaguar. “I’m going to be the same player. Obviously I’m going to be better, taking in the coaching and being around a different atmosphere. That’s going to be good. And it gives me an opportunity to win.
“That’s what we all play for. We want that Grey Cup.”
