Saturday January 24th the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Toronto Argonauts pulled off a player for player trade: two Canadian players who play different positions, both on defence. The Riders received middle linebacker Shea Emry; the Argos got defensive end Ricky Foley for a second stint in Toronto.

Shea Emry is a former first round pick for the Montreal Alouettes, where he started his career. Last season he accumulated 72 tackles and played all 18 games for the Toronto Argonauts.

In acquiring Shea Emry, the Riders intend to fix a problem they had last season: the lack of a physical presence at middle linebacker. It’s also worth noting that by gaining a Canadian starter at MLB, Saskatchewan frees up some ratio, enabling them to go after a import DE to fill the spot that was Foley’s last season.

Losing Foley does hurt the Riders’ front four. The York University product had 54 tackles and 12 sacks while playing for the green and white along side the likes of John Chick and Tearrius George in 2014. However, the team may be looking for a signing after the free agency deadline on February 10th.

For now, the Riders have addressed their needs while giving up a great player. They have depth on the defensive line, so losing the one player won’t hurt too badly. The Roughriders’ Jeremy O’Day was quoted as saying, “In order to get a good player, you have to give a good player.” That’s exactly what happened.

The Argos, meanwhile, have gained experience as well as talent at the DE position. Ricky Foley is now a three-time Grey Cup champ, and often a lot to handle for opposing linemen. He will likely be paired opposite last year’s most outstanding rookie award winner, Tristan Okpalaugo, who equalled Foley’s 12 sacks last season.

So who wins in this deal? There is no loser in this trade. The Riders addressed a need, and the Argos shore up their line up front, though they are now weaker in the middle. Both clubs have improved, just at different positions and in different ways.

The one downside of a deal in the CFL is that it reminds us that the league is a business first. Emry spent just one season in Toronto and is now on the move again, and Foley, who spent two seasons in Saskatchewan, is now going back to Toronto not long after signing an extension with the Regina club.

In a media conference call, Ricky Foley addressed questions about how excited he is to play in Toronto again, although he also expressed how being traded can affect a player on a personal level.

Asked the most challenging part of being part of a trade, Foley’s response was short but clear: it’s tough. “It’s leaving your friends the people you built relationships and go to work every day with, it’s finding a place to live and starting over.”

This trade reminds us that CFL players are not just warriors on the field; they have to be mentally tough off the field as well. It’s out of their control where they play from one season to the next. A player will have to learn a new system, come into a situation with new faces and build new relationships with their teammates.

Playing football is a dream, and only a talented and select few get to take part in the game they love at a professional level. However, we as the media and fans of those players need to sometimes be reminded that these masked men are also humans too.

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