Spencer stays with Redblacks
CFL’s top pending free agent re-ups for next season, as does MacMillan
One of the Canadian Football League’s most dynamic players in 2017, Diontae Spencer expects to be even better during the coming season.
He’ll get that opportunity in an Ottawa Redblacks uniform after agreeing to a one-year contract extension on Wednesday. The Redblacks are also bringing offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan back for another season.
Both would have become CFL free agents next Tuesday.
“I had a great year (in 2017), my best year, but I feel that wasn’t my best football,” Spencer said. “I’m coming back to a situation where I know the quarterback, I know the guys around me. It’ll be another year in that system. There’s no way I shouldn’t excel.
“I feel like, if I’m playing my best football, I could have an MVP type of season. Ottawa gave me the chance, the Redblacks believed in me, this is where I want to be.”
Spencer, the CFL’s top pending free agent, had a breakout season. Not only did the 25-year-old record 922 yards on 71 receptions in his first year with Ottawa, but he also proved to be a dominant kick returner. Including a recordbreaking performance against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in October — he had 496 all-purpose yards — Spencer finished with 929 puntreturn yards, 607 kickoff-return yards and 260 yards returning missed field goals.
“It was important for us to bring him back because of what he does, both on offence and special teams,” Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins said. “(Last year) we obviously had high hopes for him. That’s why we went in that direction instead of re-signing Chris Williams. It took him a while to get up to speed, but once he did, it was pedal to the metal down the backstretch.
“(Speed) is very important. That’s why he was one of the priorities for us from the get-go.”
Spencer worked out for three NFL teams in the off-season: the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints.
“I definitely feel like I’m NFL talent and worthy of playing in that league,” Spencer said. “But it’s a business. What I have here is a good opportunity to play football. I’m 25 years old, I’m still young. I still have a lot to learn. I didn’t want to put pressure on myself to play down south. Once it came back to returning to the CFL, I knew where I wanted to be.”
“If the player’s offered something to sign (in the NFL) and he signs, but doesn’t get enough (money) up front, he misses out on half his CFL salary potentially,” Desjardins said. “So that’s a big risk for the player.”
MacMillan has been with the Redblacks since their inaugural season in 2014 after being made the franchise’s first draft pick, ninth overall, in 2013. The Arnprior native has appeared in 54 games and has been a regular at many community events.
“We want to have flexibility to be able to start four Canadians on the offensive line. Not saying we will, but we want to have that as an option,” Desjardins said. “He’s also a guy who can play guard and tackle, so there’s flexibility there, too.”