REGINA - The Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders shored up their backfield Friday by signing former NFL running back Quentin Griffin to a two-year deal, plus an option.
The five-foot-seven, 195-pound Griffin was a fourth-round pick of the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2003. He spent two seasons with Denver, appearing in 16 games (five starts) and set a club record in 2004 for most rushing yards in a season opener with a career-high 156 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the seventh week of the '04 season. Griffin returned to the Broncos the following year, but found himself well down on the depth chart behind Mike Anderson, Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne. He was released in September 2005 and came back for a few weeks before being let go for good the following month.
Griffin signed with Kansas City in March 2006 but was released six months later.
Griffin went on to play for Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europe last year.
Griffin played his college football at Oklahoma, rushing for over 3,400 yards and scoring 40 touchdowns in 38 games.
''Quentin is a very talented young man,'' Riders general manager Eric Tillman said in a statement. ''His quickness, pass catching skills and return ability are all perfectly suited for the Canadian game.
''And, just as importantly, Quentin is the kind of character guy we are building this franchise around.''