Top CFL draft pick Josiah St. John finally a Roughrider

Better late than never, the Saskatchewan Roughriders finally have their top draft pick in camp after coming to terms on a contract last week.

The Riders made Josiah St. John, an offensive tackle from Oklahoma, the first overall selection in the CFL draft in May.

But St.John wanted to be paid more than what the Riders were offering, so he stayed home while the teamwent to camp.

St.John's holdout lasted all through training camp and the pre-season until St. John finally told his agent to get a deal done.

"I said man we gotta get something worked out. This has gone on a little too long. I'm just happy everything got hashed out,I'm here now," St. John said.

I'm not going to be here complaining- Josiah St.John

Headmittedhe went through football withdrawal.

"It was weird seeing everybody else working out, my old college team they're back working out in pre season. I was just home doing my workouts here and there, I was eager and itching watching the game on tv, it was like I just want to be there so bad."

So now St.John will pay for that holdout. He has five weeks of catching up to do and to thenew coach he's trying to impress, it doesn't matter he showed up in shape.

"Not showing up for camp and not being ready to play pro football are two separate things. There's a whole lot better players in the CFL than there are at Oklahoma." stated Riders' head coach Chris Jones who reminded the media, St.John is just a rookie and to lower expectations.

"He's being asked to go learn a play book, a professional play book for the first time. He's being asked to go up against guys that are better than the guys he's gone up against at college. We're goingtake it slow with him and when he's ready to play he will play."

In the meantime, St.John will be on his best behaviour, hoping Jones forgets all about that holdout which caused a distraction for his football team.

"I'm not going to be here complaining. I will do what I can to contribute to the team even if its being a backup or going on defence to give the offence a different look. I want to be an addition to the team instead of a headache right now."

Lemon gone

The Riders got rid of a potential headache over the weekend trading disgruntled defensive end Shawn Lemon.

Lemon, was one of the Roughridersbig off season acquisitions, quickly slid down the depth chart during the course of training camp and the pre-season.

Lemon reportedly asked to be traded. During last Thursday's season opener against Toronto, he was on the field for only eight defensive plays.

After the game Lemon was traded to the Argonauts in exchange for quarterback Mitchell Gale and offensive lineman Matt Sewell.

Gale was on the practice field today, one of six quarterbacks the Riders now have under contract.

Sewell was nowhere to be seen.Jones didn't say why.

"The only people I will comment on are the people that are here in uniform." said Jones after practice.

The Riders play in Edmonton this Friday night.