FAJARDO CALLS FRANCHISE DEAL ‘A REAL BLESSING’
Quarterback decides not to test free agency and stay in Saskatchewan for two more years
On election day, the refrain in Saskatchewan quickly became, “Two more years!”
Such was the response Monday after the Roughriders announced that quarterback Cody Fajardo had signed a two-year contract extension, carrying through the 2021 CFL season.
“I never thought I would be signing a franchise deal, to be honest,” Fajardo said. “I always thought I would be signing these one-year deals and hopping around and waiting for my opportunity. Just to have that opportunity is a real blessing. God’s got my back through it all.”
Leading up to the consummation of the deal — valued at approximately $450,000 per annum, according to TSN’s Farhan Lalji — Fajardo made it clear he did not want to become an itinerant CFLer.
After spending two full seasons with the Toronto Argonauts and one year with the B.C. Lions, the former third-stringer has blossomed into a star in Saskatchewan.
Considering the manner in which Fajardo has performed in Saskatchewan, he could have tested free agency next February and incited a bidding war.
But, very quickly, he proved to be a perfect fit in this football-crazed province.
“It’s good to be at a place where you’re wanted, as opposed to just liked,” Fajardo said. “I feel wanted here and that’s really big for me and my family. When my father had the opportunity to come up here and my wife had the opportunity to come up here, they said, ‘This is the city. This is it. This is where we want to be.’ Everyone welcomed them with open arms.
“Obviously, we’re winning football games, so it’s a little bit easier. With that being said, it was a no-brainer for me. I never wanted to test the free-agent waters. I never wanted to look into playing down south. With my skill sets and what I can bring to the table, the CFL’s my league. Without the CFL, I wouldn’t be playing football right now.”
Fajardo’s skill set transcends football. Factor in his winning, genuine personality and the Roughriders are blessed with a phenomenon.
“(The extension) is really beneficial for me in being able to get out there and just shake hands and be the person that I am — sign autographs and take pictures,” he said. “That’s what I want to be. I want to be known as the guy off the field more than the guy on the field.”
The 27-year-old Californian is right out of Central Casting
— an affable on-field leader who endears himself to fans in a manner that is reminiscent of early-1950s sensation Glenn Dobbs.
“My wife’s favourite story is from when we went to dinner and this little boy said, ‘Hey, I was in my front yard saying that I was Cody Fajardo, throwing the ball,’ and my wife started crying,” Fajardo said.
“That was one of the biggest things. It was pretty surreal because, growing up, that was me. I was trying to imitate Brett Favre. Now to have little kids doing that about me, it’s pretty special. Honestly, it means a lot to me that people look up to me and I can be a role model in the community.”
Who could have imagined this at the outset of the season?
When the Roughriders began training camp, Zach Collaros was seemingly entrenched as the starting signal-caller. Fajardo, who signed as a free agent in February, was battling with returnee David Watford for the No. 2 spot.
Everything changed on the third play of the regular season, when Collaros was concussed due to an illegal hit administered by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ Simoni Lawrence.
Just like that, Fajardo ascended to No. 1 on the depth chart. He has seized the opportunity, helping the Roughriders post an 11-5 record and mount a rare challenge for first place in the West.
“If you would have told me that, by Week 20, I would be signing an extension with the Roughriders, I would have said, ‘Wow. That’s pretty incredible. What kind of dream are you drawing up?’” Fajardo marvelled. “For me to be here in this situation, I’m truly blessed and truly thankful.
“I couldn’t do it without my teammates and coaches.”
Spoken like a true franchise quarterback — whose salary is now commensurate with the role. rvanstone@postmedia.com Twitter.com/robvanstone