Kevin Glenn says returning to the Riders is like coming home

The relationship between the Roughriders and Kevin Glenn started way back in 2001 when he was just 21 years old.

Sixteen years later and he’s embarking on his third stint with the green and white, and he’s no less excited.

“I keep getting the Twitter and social media messages (about) coming back home and that’s kind of what it feels like,” Glenn said from his home in Detroit Tuesday afternoon.

His journey back to the Riders began earlier this year when he was released by the Blue Bombers in January. Glenn said he started talking to a few teams including the Roughriders after that, but talks really picked up after Darian Durant was traded to Montreal.

The club announced he had been signed on Monday afternoon.

“But I’m not here to try to replace Darian,” Glenn insisted. “I’m here to be Kevin Glenn, I think that’s one thing I’m content with … I’m here to help the team win games.”

It seems general manager and head coach Chris Jones is also content with who Glenn is and what he can bring to the team.

“He’s kind of selfless,” Jones said from his home in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. “He’s taken the backseat role numerous times and you don’t hear in the locker room that he’s a complainer or somebody who’s going to rock the boat when he’s not necessarily the number one option. There’s something to be said for somebody with that type character.”

Jones also stressed that Glenn is not the default starter, he’ll have to earn that spot like every other player on the team.

“We don’t have a number one. We’re going to make it an open competition and whoever wins the job wins the job,” Jones said, adding that even with Glenn signed he’s still out scouting for quarterback talent.

And while Glenn said he’s comfortable taking on a mentorship role on the team whether or not he’s the starter at the beginning of the season, he’ll still be fighting hard to be the quarterback that opens new Mosaic Stadium.

“I’m there to compete,” Glenn said, but added the depth chart never really meant much to him.

“I don’t ever get caught up in the ‘hey you’re the one, you’re the two, you’re the three’… I know this is the ultimate team sport so I’m going in to do whatever I need to do to help the team win.”