Ken-Yon Rambo spent seven seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, carving out an impressive career where he twice topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark and helping the team capture the Grey Cup in 2008.
Now a member of the Toronto Argonauts, Rambo won't be shying away from a little trash talk with his former teammates, even though he won't be suiting up for the Argos on Sunday.
"It's going to be a good game," said Rambo. "I have some good friends over there, but we're going to put it on them; I'm going to talk some trash, too."
Rambo, who's currently on the team's injured list, said he'll act as a player coach for the 100th Grey Cup. He admitted that no player needs any extra motivation this late in the season, before taking one more friendly swipe at his old team.
"It's the Grey Cup; period. Calgary."
"Playing against a team that I just left? It's weird, but we're going to put it on them on Sunday. I hope we smash them," Rambo added with a laugh.
Offensive lineman Tony Washington, another former Stampeder who will start for Toronto on Sunday, said he has been a little more low-key than his teammate.
"I did sneak in a little trash talk," Washington said. "But I'll let those guys have their week and I'll have mine and whoever wins, we'll get together after."
But make no mistake, Washington wants this win every bit as much as Rambo.
"I would be lying if I said I wouldn't enjoy beating them, I can't guarantee anything – we do have to win – but I think it'd be sweeter than beating any other team."
The Argos have one other high profile former Stampeder on staff – defensive coordinator Chris Jones. Jones' move from Calgary to Toronto was highly publicized at the time, and while he wasn't available for comment on Wednesday, middle linebacker Robert McCune acknowledged a win would likely be a little more special for Jones as well.
"We haven't really talked about it but at some point, it comes to where you're thinking, 'I want to beat this team.'"
Rambo, Washington, and Jones take on their former team, the Stampeders, in the 100th Grey Cup on Sunday. Coverage begins at 1pm et/10am pt on TSN.
