Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Charles Roberts gets wrapped up by Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Terrence Patrick and Markeith Knowlton in the first half of their CFL game in Winnipeg on Aug. 14, 2008.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will honour the franchise’s all-time leading rusher next month.
Seven-time all-star Charles Roberts, who led the CFL in rushing in 2003, 2005 and 2006, will be inducted into the team’s ring of honour during the Sept. 7 Banjo Bowl against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Princess Auto Stadium.
“This is a big deal for me, I’m humbled and I’m very appreciative that I’m being honoured as one of the legends of the organization,” Roberts said Monday in a release. “All those years ago when I first came to Winnipeg it never dawned on me that I’d receive a call 20 years later informing that I’d be saluted in this way by being added to the ring of honour.
“So many guys come up to Canada and want to use it to get back to the NFL. After my first year in Winnipeg, I didn’t want to be anywhere else because I was so comfortable thanks to the fans, my teammates, and the people in that community. I had found a home.”
Roberts made his debut with the Blue Bombers in 2001 and spent most of his eight-year career with the team. He was the CFL’s most outstanding special-teams player in 2001 and was a finalist for the league’s top rookie honour.
The running back was also a finalist for the CFL’s most outstanding player award in 2006.
Roberts had six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons for Winnipeg and finished with 9,987 career rushing yards as a Blue Bomber. He had 64 touchdowns for Winnipeg, which ranks second all-time behind Milt Stegall (79).
Roberts, who finished his career with the B.C. Lions, is sixth on the CFL’s all-time rushing list with 10,285 yards. He’ll become the 16th member of the Blue Bombers’ ring of honour.
“Congratulations to Charles Roberts, a welcome addition alongside the other icons of our franchise,” said Blue Bombers president and chief executive officer Wade Miller. “The Winnipeg Football Club is absolutely thrilled to add such a spectacular player to our ring of honour.”