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His career ends with 10,026 receiving yards (16th best all-time) and 61 touchdowns. He played his first eight seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and is an icon in Regina.

“From watching Weston from the other side, he was obviously an explosive player,” Bombers running back Andrew Harris said. “He did a lot of dynamic things, whether it be running, receiving or in the return game.

“But you know what? Once I got to play with him, just looking at his process and how he attacked the game and just how great of a pro he was, there’s very few guys that you get a chance to be around that are that great of professional athletes and they’re that focused and that tuned in the way Weston was.”

Dressler had a likely Hall of Fame career as a receiver despite being only 5-foot-7 (generously) and 168 pounds. He earned widespread respect for his courage and toughness as a little man playing a big man’s game.

“Dude, I miss that guy,” Bombers receiver Drew Wolitarsky said. “He’s a freaking mentor to me. He was the first guy that I really connected with on the team and sat and watched film with and got to know as a person. I felt so much respect for him. To be able to do what he did, under the circumstances, and to play for so long and to be such a smart player and such a great guy, so humble, it was just great for me to see and say ‘I want to strive to be like that.’”

Bombers coach Mike O’Shea was not ready to close the book on Dressler until he sees that he has filed his papers — Dressler has already started work at his new job, however — but sometimes wishes he could clone him.