Roughriders boast array of quarterback talent
James Franklin has completed more contract negotiations (two) than practices (zero) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The consummation of Franklin's latest one-year deal with the CFL team was announced Tuesday, when the ranks of the Roughriders' quarterbacks swelled to five.
Franklin had originally signed with the club in February, only to have the 2020 season wiped out by COVID -19.
Leading up to Tuesday's announcement, it was reasonable to wonder whether Franklin's services would even be required.
After all, the Roughriders' roster already included franchise quarterback Cody Fajardo and understudies Isaac Harker, Mason Fine and Justice Hansen.
Yet, Franklin is back with the Roughriders for, ummmm, a second first year in green.
So, what are they going to do with all these quarterbacks?
It is, of course, an enviable problem to have.
Rewind four years, for example, when the Roughriders traded legendary passer Darian Durant to the Montreal Alouettes.
Sans Durant, the Chris Jonesled Roughriders brass seemed to be scrambling.
Veteran Kevin Glenn was soon signed as a free agent, but he was not proclaimed to be the answer by the front office. Brandon Bridge, who was virtually untested at the time, was also under contract.
Jones, who had vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in pursuit of a quarterback, delivered on his promise by unearthing a fossil — former NFL and NCAA star Vince Young. Such was the state of desperation at the time.
Young, who would turn 34 by the time the Roughriders' 2017 training camp began, proved to be the antithesis of his surname. He injured a hamstring in a scrimmage and soon returned to Texas.
Glenn and Bridge went on to form a productive tandem, combining to give Saskatchewan the league lead in touchdown passes (35) and helping the 2017 edition post a 10-8 record. It had been difficult to envision such an outcome in January of that year.
As for this January, the scenario is discernibly different.
Fajardo, a CFL all-star and the West Division's most outstanding player in 2019, recently signed a contract extension that will keep him in green until 2022.
Harker was the victorious rookie signal-caller when Saskatchewan defeated Edmonton 23-13 at Mosaic Stadium on Nov. 2, 2019, to clinch first place in the West. Fajardo missed that game due to injury.
In Harker's first pro start, he completed 23 of 28 passes for
213 yards — including a 29-yard connection with fellow freshman Justin Mcinnis to set up what proved to be a game-winning field goal by Brett Lauther with 1:30 remaining.
The presence and potential of Harker did not deter the Roughriders from signing Franklin, who is approaching 30.
To this point, Franklin's CFL career is most noteworthy for the 14 rushing touchdowns he scored for the 2018 Toronto Argonauts. He tied a league single-season record for TDS by a quarterback that was originally established by the B.C. Lions' Doug Flutie in 1991.
Fine, a former North Texas standout, recently signed a three-year contract with Saskatchewan.
Hansen, a former Arkansas State standout and a collegiate teammate of Mcinnis, has been under contract to Saskatchewan since November of 2019.
However, Hansen is himself an intriguing prospect. According to a scouting report that appears on 247Sports.com, Hansen once completed the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds — a brisk time for a quarterback.
Who says the wheels of Justice move slowly?