Former Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Amari Henderson explained why he left the Green and White in CFL free agency.
"Contract talk, trying to come back, the numbers weren't right," Henderson explained on the Riders Broadcast Network. "I decided I had to have a change of scenery and Ottawa was the team that hollered the most."
Henderson spent time in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Minnesota Vikings from 2020 to 2021. He made the trip north to play for the Riders in 2022 through 2024. Last year, he suited up in eight games for Saskatchewan, registering 33 defensive tackles and two force fumbles.
"I got a lot of love for Sask, they gave me an opportunity to come up here and play this beautiful game. I remember my first game, I almost shed a tear coming out of the tunnel because it was so amazing for me," Henderson said.
"It's so profound knowing that I've been cut from the NFL, being able to get an opportunity to come up here, hear the fans yell and scream. Saskatchewan is a community-owned team, the community is definitely big. Being able to reach out and be in the community was big for me, seeing those fans, it's an amazing thing."
Henderson recalled memories with one Riders fan in particular.
"Her name is Miranda. Before every game, she would be outside of the doors before we walked in and she would always give me a hug before and after the game," Henderson said. "That was one thing that stuck out because she didn't have to do that. She doesn't have to be there every single day, but she takes the time out of her day to show love and support."
According to Henderson, the Redblacks and Calgary Stampeders were the teams he talked with during free agency.
"It was a different experience being able to choose a team," Henderson recalled. "It felt like the recruiting process again, trying to figure out what coaches I mesh well with, what schemes I mesh well with. Ottawa, they're defensive coordinator now, he came from Toronto and coach [Corey] Mace and coach William [Fields], they came from Toronto. It was a similar defensive scheme, so I felt like I would fit in pretty well. "
During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Fields served as the Argonauts' defensive backs coach, working under Mace who was the defensive coordinator. In their first season together, the two coaches won the Grey Cup in 2022. Since Henderson was familiar with Mace's defensive schemes, it gave him a leg up on the competition with the Redblacks.
"During training camp, whenever we installed the defences, I already knew a lot of the defences coming in, a lot of the defensive schemes," Henderson said. "For me, it was easy. I know last year I played a lot of cornerback, going into this field halfback spot, learning different zone drops, it was pretty natural for me."
The Roughriders travel to Hamilton to face the Tiger-Cats on Saturday. Catch the pre-game show with Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates at 2 p.m. which includes exclusive interviews while Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 5 p.m. You can hear everything on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
