Roughriders kick off training camp in Saskatoon

For the first time since 2006, Darian Durant's name is nowhere to be found on the Saskatchewan Roughriders depth chart.

The Riders have moved on from the quarterback who led them to a Grey Cup Championship in 2013. But it's not like he was replaced by an up and comer, a rising star.

That would have been ideal.

No, the Riders have pinned their hopes on someone even older. And if Kevin Glenn doesn't win the job in camp, maybe it will be Vince Young.

Kevin Glenn and Vince Young have a combined age of 71 years. 

"That's a lot of numbers," laughed Glenn, when asked if it was the oldest quarterbacking tandem he has been a part of.

By the time camp breaks, Glenn will have celebrated his 38th birthday but the veteran quarterback likens himself to a student.

"As players we're grown men but we're still students, we still have to come in and be humble and understand that we've got to learn."  

Glenn is marking the start of his third stint with the Riders. 

He started his CFL career in Saskatchewan in 2001; he started nine games for the Riders in 2015 before he was traded to Montreal. 

Now he's back after signing as a free agent during the off-season, but for the first time with Saskatchewan, he begins training camp pencilled in as the number one quarterback.

He expects to improve a club that managed only five victories last season.

"The guys came in prepared, they came in ready. I think everybody has the mindset we're going to change some things around here and get back to some winning football."

But it wasn't Glenn drawing all the attention from the fans on Sunday morning at Griffifths Stadium.

At six foot five inches tall, Vince Young is not hard to spot. He towers above the other quarterbacks in camp. But despite all his experience, he has the most to learn.

"This is not new to me. I've played football before," said Young during his first training camp scrum with the media.

"It's all about getting back into the rhythm, taking off the training wheels and getting back on the bike and play football."

Young is attempting to resurrect a career that began with as much fanfare as anyone coming out of college could have.

After leading the Texas Longhorns to a National College Championship in 2006, Young enjoyed two Pro Bowl seasons in the NFL, before stalling out. He hasn't played in a game since 2011, but he brings celebrity status north to Saskatchewan, as much as tried to play that down on Sunday.

"I'm just trying to be a Roughrider right now," he said.

Vince Young is so far saying all the right things and is as eager to learn as the Riders' youngest quarterback hopeful, 23-year-old Maty Mauk.

Young gave himself an 'OK' grade after day one of camp in Saskatoon, admitting his timing and terminology were the biggest things he needs to work on.

"One of the good things, I did run a west coast offence when I was in Philly, so some of the routes and concepts are similar."

He will also have to get used to a Saskatchewan breeze which did not disappoint on Sunday, making it tough for all the quarterbacks.

"Each one of them with this wind had their challenges," said head coach Chris Jones after the first session.

"I just want Vince to be Vince and just go out and do the things he has done since he was a young kid."

Big Blue back in the fold

Even a stolen bicycle couldn't wipe the smile from the face of Brendon LaBatte, easily the happiest player on the field on Sunday.

All the Roughriders at training camp in Saskatoon try to get their hands on a bike to make the trek easier from the field at Griiffifths Stadium to the cafeteria on campus.

Someone made off with LaBatte's mode of transportation but no matter for the veteran offensive lineman. He is back on the field for the first time since last July.

"I had a couple good helmet-to-helmet collisions and it didn't flare up so feeling good," said LaBatte after his first practice in nearly a year since suffering a bruised nerve in his neck in a game early last season.

"I thought I was done playing football, just the way it slows you down. I couldn't do day-to-day life things and I was kind of thinking 'that's a wrap' and hoping it goes away so I can get on with living a normal life."

But after receiving a proper diagnosis, LaBatte gained confidence to get back in the gym and regain strength in his neck.

"I've got so much rust on me right now," said Labatte.

Now it's just a matter of shaking it off and reclaiming his guard spot on the left side of the offensive line.

Extra points

• The Roughriders were caught off guard by the sudden retirements of National safety Marc-Olivier Brouillette and National running back Aaron Milton.
• Chris Jones said they were both 'family related' decisions.
• With a plethora of receivers on the roster, the Riders traded Armanti Edwards to Toronto in exchange for depth on the offensive line, acquiring Peter Dyakowski from the Argos.
• The Riders top draft pick Cameron Judge is a no-show at camp. Jones says they are very close to coming to a contract agreement with the linebacker who they selected second overall in the May draft.
• Jones said Judge would not have been here anyway this week as he is writing final exams at UCLA.
• Offensive Lineman Derek Dennis and receiver Bakari Grant have been placed on the Riders' suspended list. Both have been subpoenaed to give testimony in the case of the man who is alleged to have killed Calgary Stampeders player Mylan Hicks last year. Dennis and Grant are expected in camp by Wednesday.