When Jermarcus Hardrick left the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to sign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in February of 2024, his decision went beyond the numbers on the offer sheet.

The then-32-year-old coveted right tackle — who had grown accustomed to long playoff runs and appearances in the Grey Cup, playing in four straight with the Blue and Gold from 2019-2023 — had bought into the words of newly minted head coach Corey Mace and the culture he was trying to build within a franchise that hadn’t sniffed the big game in more than a decade.

“They said they were looking to start something new,” Hardrick said. “They wanted to play a physical brand of ball, and they wanted to have fun. Sounded like everything I wanted to do.”

On Sunday, approaching two years since he agreed on a pact to become t

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