Dressler earns CFL all-star nod
REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Weston Dressler was his typical humble self after being named a CFL all-star for the first time in his career.
“I’ve never been one for personal goals,’’ Dressler said Monday during a media conference at Mosaic Stadium. “I always have team goals in mind, like making the playoffs and getting to the Grey Cup. When you’re working hard towards those things, that’s when the individual stuff will come along and you’ll be recognized that way.’’
Dressler’s fifth season with the Riders was worthy of recognition. He finished the year with career highs in receptions (94) and receiving yards (1,206) and led the CFL with 13 touchdown receptions. It was the fourth time in five years that Dressler had more than 1,000 yards in receiving.
He also recorded 11 carries for 56 yards. He had 20 punt returns for 229 yards, including a 66-yard return for a touchdown in a 34-28 loss to the visiting Montreal Alouettes on Sept. 16.
In 2012, Dressler dressed for 18 regular-season games and the Riders’ 36-30 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division semifinal. Dressler felt one of the reasons for his all-star season was being relatively injury free.
“That was huge,’’ said Dressler, who was a West Division all-star in 2012, 2011 and 2009 and the CFL’s most outstanding rookie in 2008. “Anytime you can play a full season in this league, you’re thankful to be able to stay healthy for the whole time. You also need to be lucky throughout the season as well. I was very fortunate.’’
The timing of Dressler’s all-star nod may also be fortuitous. Dressler is heading into the option year of a three-year deal that he signed with the Riders in 2011.
“I’m just going to let that play out as it plays out,’’ said Dressler, who was the Riders’ nominee for the CFL’s most outstanding player award. “I’ll let the frontoffice people and my agent take care of that stuff. I really don’t do much with that kind of stuff. I let them work it out and I make the final decision at the end of the day.’’
Dressler was the lone member of the Riders named to the CFL all-star team, which was selected by fans, members of the Football Reporters of Canada and CFL head coaches. Riders slotback Chris Getzlaf and guard Brendon LaBatte were both selected West Division all-stars.
“There were a lot of guys on team worthy of making the list,’’ Dressler said. “There were guys on other teams who were worthy of it too.
“When you look at it, there are only a few who can get on there and it seems that every year there are guys who get left out.’’
The offensive players selected to the 2012 all-star squad were Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo, running backs Jon Cornish of the Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the Lions, Alouettes centre Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, guards Scott Flory of Montreal and Dimitri Tsoumpas of Calgary, tackles Josh Bourke from Montreal and Jovan Olafioye of B.C., and receivers Nik Lewis of Calgary, Chad Owens of Toronto, Edmonton’s Fred Stamps and Dressler.
The defensive all-stars were ends Charleston Hughes of Calgary and Keron Williams from B.C., tackles Armond Armstead of Toronto and Bryant Turner of Winnipeg, linebackers Adam Bighill of B.C., Shea Emry from Montreal and J.C. Sherritt of Edmonton, Lions halfbacks Korey Banks and Ryan Phillips, cornerbacks Joe Burnett of Edmonton and Pat Watkins from Toronto, and Als safety Kyries Hebertl.
The special-teams all-stars were Stamps punter Rob Maver and placekicker Rene Paredes, and Hamilton returner Chris Williams.