It’s become increasingly clear that quarterback Darian Durant and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have very different versions on how his retirement went down.
Durant announced his retirement Friday morning on his personal website, posting a message that said all kinds of nice things about Rider fans. But shortly after, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – with whom Durant signed as a free agent in January – issued their own statement saying the move caught them by surprise and that they were “extremely disappointed” in the decision.
It soon emerged that the Bombers had paid Durant $70,000 in upfront money and that the quarterback planned to keep it, telling Saskatchewan radio host and Riders’ play-by-play man Rod Pedersen “I deserve that.”
But it was something else Durant said to Pedersen that caught the attention of long-time Bombers director of communications Darren Cameron.
"It's something they've (#Bombers) known. My agent has been in touch with their GM for the last 3 weeks. They knew that." – Darian Durant #CFL #Riders via @rodpedersen
— CFL News (@CFL_News) May 11, 2018
Cameron took to Twitter Friday night, shortly after the interview aired, to strongly refute that statement.
Simply not true. Yes, they’ve been in touch about it being a possibility since shortly before mini-camp, but we never did receive a comfirmation or notification about a retirement, including in a convo last night w his agent. Our statement is 1000% how it unfolded. Bottom line. https://t.co/nosNqVX6wc
— Darren Cameron (@Darren_Cameron) May 11, 2018
Fast-forward to Sunday morning when Durant – who has changed his avatar from a Winnipeg ‘W’ to a photo of him as a Rider taken on the night old Mosaic closed – hopped on social media and told Cameron to shut it.
please stop throwing that out there. My agent told Kyle. Kyle said he was on vacation and would call me. He never called so I announced. If u don’t have all the info please stay in your lane.
— Darian Durant (@dariandurant) May 13, 2018
This is the first version of the story that involves Durant’s agent, the well-respected Dan Vertlieb – who the Bombers are saying they talked to the night before Durant’s announcement – and Winnipeg general manager Kyle Walters being on vacation.
Durant also took the time to respond to a few fans who reached out on Twitter, some to say nice things or give him personalized licence plates from their deceased family members and others to criticize the timing and nature of his decision.
???? your handle is DELUSIONAL for a reason
— Darian Durant (@dariandurant) May 13, 2018
well this “business” is different. Stay in YOUR lane and I will do the same…
— Darian Durant (@dariandurant) May 13, 2018
I’ve also see the way your team has played for decades. Every players run comes to an end. When are u guys gonna win? Crickets?
— Darian Durant (@dariandurant) May 13, 2018
This is some Grade A – or should we say Double D – CFL Twitter beef.
