Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

Roy Shivers knows exactly what he’ll do Friday night when he makes his first return visit to Regina’s Mosaic Stadium for the B.C. Lions’ preseason CFL game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team that fired him as general manager almost two years ago.

“I don’t want any controversy until we play them there in September. I want to go back then, and I’m going to give them a sellout,” he said, grinning. “I’m going to be invisible.”

Yeah, right. Invisible like steroids in a baseball clubhouse, or Maxime Bernier’s girlfriend. As invisible as you get when you show up to your first day at Lions training camp this week wearing prescription glasses bearing the Riders’ logo.

“The ‘S’ stands for Shivers,” the Lions director of player personnel said.

Fine. It also stands for still savvy, as evidenced by the collective rookie import talent level the straight-talking 66-year-old has assembled this spring.

Being in virtual retirement prior to rejoining the Lions in January forced Shivers to concentrate more on his craft that at any previous point in his personnel life.

It did not, however, change his approach, apparent success rate, or relationship with head coach/general manager Wally Buono. Nobody with the Lions, outside of president Bob Ackles or owner David Braley, can get away with the straight-up manner in which Shivers talks to Buono.

“I respect him. I’m just not going to let Wally influence me; that’s why we get along,” Shivers said when asked about assessing player talent. “I’ll bring them, you pick them, ’cause it’s (Buono’s) ass on the line.”

Read More..