Eskimos OL Bond playing with ‘vengeance’ after Riders release

Offensive lineman Travis Bond was expecting to be suiting up for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2018, but after the Riders cut him after training camp he’s found a new home in Edmonton.

“Coach [Chris] Jones made a business decision up in Saskatchewan. It came as a shock and they made a business decision, I guess they thought the team was better off without me,” Bond said.

He was released by Saskatchewan after inking him to a one-year contract with a signing bonus worth between $20,000 and $30,000 in free agency in February.

The 27-year-old started 16 games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season and he was a CFL all-star at guard in 2016. Bond has tremendous size at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds. He was watching television at his Regina apartment when the Eskimos call came.

“It sucked watching games on TV Week 1. It was kind of aggravating not playing, not being able to be physical for a week,” Bond said.

“Some people are going to have to watch out because there is a vengeance now. It kind of pissed me off.”