Harris returning for unfinished business with Redblacks
Had he waited for CFL free agency in February, chances are Trevor Harris could have gotten more money.
But Harris will return as the Ottawa Redblacks’ starting quarterback for at least one more season, on Wednesday agreeing to a one-year deal believed to be worth about $450,000.
For Harris, it was an easy decision to return to Ottawa, a place he hopes to spend a few more seasons. It’s about unfinished business.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to be anywhere else,” Harris said. “I came to Ottawa to deliver a championship as a starting quarterback. It was a pretty quick negotiation, it was a very easy call. I don’t see myself anywhere else. I’ve got chemistry with (offensive co-ordinator) Jaime Elizondo and with (receivers) Greg (Ellingson) and Brad (Sinopoli) and the other guys we had.”
Had Harris waited for free agency, the Alouettes, B.C. Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders could have been among the teams lining up.
But Harris, who will be 32 in May, wanted to get everything settled long before then.
“By no means was it about money,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to squeeze dollars out of them.”
His contract is in the upper echelon of quarterback paydays, with his salary falling behind elite pivots like Zach Collaros and Mike Reilly.
In his second season with the Redblacks, Harris finished fourth in the CFL in passing yards with 4,679 despite missing three games due to a separated shoulder. He finished the year tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with 30. Harris recorded 3,301 passing yards and 16 touchdowns in his first season with Ottawa in 2016 while sharing quarterback duties with Henry Burris.
“I’m going to be a better quarterback, I’m going to continue to grow,” said Harris. “I’m going to be better in every single facet of the game.”