Photo: Jason Clermont | Aug. 05, 2009 The BC Lions decided to cut ties with seven-year vet Jason Clermont in December, and the 30-year-old, who makes his return to BC Place on Friday with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, may have given the Lions a bit of bulletin board material by telling Blake Price the Leos 1-4 start to the season was to be expected.
"Am I surprised that they're 1-4? No, not really. It's unfortunate for some guys on that team, and I still have some friends there, but what I am surprised about is that there's a different attitude coming out of there. Some guys are losing their jobs and getting sat down, and there's a bit of disarray in there and that's just unfortunate."
Listen: Jason Clermont with Blake Price - Wed, Aug 5th.mp3
But in the next breath, Clermont made some minor amends by using the old "wounded animal" routine.
"But what I realize from having been in that locker room is that we were 1-5 in my rookie year (2002) and Steve Burratto lost his job and Adam Rita took over. And we've been on skids in the past with Wally Buono as coach where we'd lose two, sometimes three games, and guys backs would be against the wall and we'd have to fight for our lives. So we know that we're going to be facing a beast coming in to BC Place and having the Lions with their backs against the wall."
Listen: Clermont - on Lions slow start.mp3
Saskatchewan has started 3-2 and sits on top of the Western Division while the Lions sit in the CFL's basement at 1-4, but the 8-year vet knows an 18-game season leaves plenty of time for both teams to see those positions shift.
"I'll go back again to my time as a Lion, and it's something Wally would re-iterate over and over again. You've got to wait until week 10 or week 12 to separate the contenders from the pretenders. That's when things start to clear up a little bit and you can gauge which teams are on a roll and which team's have developed chemistry. But I think it's a little early to start and judge that stuff right now. Even if somebody was 5-0 and another team was 1-4, there's still a gap that can be bridged over an 18-game season. So it's a little early to be doing that."
Listen: Clermont - too early to handicap Western race.mp3
Clermont has not been the hometown saviour the Rider faithful have been hoping for, as he's grabbed just seven passes in five games, for a grand total of 81 yards.
But Clermont figures he'll find his groove with the team soon enough.
"It's a different role. In BC I was usually second-look most of the time and here they have two outstanding slotbacks who have proven themselves time and again to the organization, to the community, and to the coaches in Weston Dressler and Andy Fantuz. I came into a role that was a little different for me, playing a different position, and I'm just trying to work that out. I definitely think the best is yet to come. I'm looking forward to contributing however I can. The coaches have all communicated that they're happy with what I've been doing with the role that's been asked of me. I just want to continue to earn their trust and be asked to do more and have more responsibility.
/contentfiles2/Clermont - I'll find my game.mp3
Listen: Clermont - Not upset at his slow start.mp3
Saskatchewan beat the Lions 28-24 in the season-opener in Regina.
TEAM1040 pregame gets going 6:00 Friday. Rick Ball and Giulio Carravatta have the call at 7:30. |
