Riders Trade Durant
R iders trade Durant on Friday 13th, full moon and coldest day of the year
I first became aware of Darian Durant in 2008 as the Riders were looking to move past trading the league MVP Kerry Joseph and losing the Grey Cup winning coach in Kent Austin.
Contending to replace Joseph were Marcus Crandell, Steven Jyles, Drew Tate, Teale Orban and Durant. Durant’s first start came in the third game of that season against Hamilton and he threw for over 300 yards, two touchdowns and a win. He also beat Montreal before going down with injury and the Riders did a stupid trade to bring in Michael Bishop.
Durant came back the next season and won the job and led the team to the Grey Cup in Calgary where I sat in stunned disbelief at the play which shall not be named. What I liked about Durant was something I had heard Ron Lancaster say that the only thing that mattered about the quarterback was whether he won.