Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

Andrew Greene won’t be wearing green on Sunday.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive lineman, who was perennially an all-star with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, is poised to oppose his former CFL team in the 95th Grey Cup.

“It’s amazing how things go and how things work,” Greene marvelled after the Blue Bombers practised on the Rogers Centre turf Wednesday. “It is what it is and this is what’s in front of us.”

Greene spent nine seasons with Saskatchewan before being released due to salary-cap considerations after the 2006 season. He ended up signing with Winnipeg.

“Obviously, it’s tough leaving,” Greene said. “It’s almost like being kicked out of your house. I went to Winnipeg and I was accepted there and everything is turning out pretty well right now. I’m liking where I’m at.”

What’s not to like? Greene is preparing for his first Grey Cup appearance since 1997, when he was with Saskatchewan.

“It’s so hard to get back here,” said Greene, who endured a 47-23 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in the 1997 CFL final. “Some people luck out and maybe get one in their first or second year, or get two or three rings or something like that. I’ve been trying to get one for the last 10 years. It’s hard to get to this point, so you’ve got to cherish it.”

The 1997 season was Greene’s first with Saskatchewan. After a one-year stint with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, he returned to the Roughriders in 1999 and was a mainstay at guard through 2006.

He was named a CFL all-star in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and a West Division lineman-of-the-year in 2000 and 2003. In the latter year, he also captured league honours.

Greene is poised to return to the Bombers’ lineup after missing the East Division final due to illness. Kyle Koch replaced Greene for Sunday’s 19-9 victory over the host Toronto Argonauts.

“I came out with a stomach virus and I couldn’t put anything in or keep anything down,” Greene recalled.

“I was completely drained all week. Even on the day of the game, I hadn’t eaten anything for the last five or six days. I was completely wiped. I had a couple of IVs before the game and everything.”

Greene said he is feeling much better now. Regardless of the circumstances, he would not miss a Grey Cup game.

“They’d have to take me off the field in an ambulance,” Greene said with a laugh.