Redblacks QB Harris hopeful to remain in Ottawa

Trevor Harris knows there will come a day when he won’t agonize over losing the Grey Cup, but for now it haunts him in his sleep.

“I’ve had dreams both nights I’ve gone to sleep that it’s half time again and I got insanely overjoyed because ten points is nothing and we’re going to come back and win this,” the Ottawa quarterback told reporters Tuesday morning as the Redblacks cleaned out their lockers. “Both times I’ve woken up and it’s hurt worse. I’m assuming I’ll continue to have dreams like that, but it hurts because it means so much.”

The Redblacks were defeated 27-16 by the Calgary Stampeders Sunday night in Edmonton in the 106th edition of the CFL championship game. While the loss still stings, Harris is already thinking about next season.

Harris is set to hit free agency, but is hopeful to reach an agreement with the Redblacks on a contract extension.

“I don’t plan to enter free agency and find who the highest bidder is,” Harris said. “When I came here in 2016 I took less than what I was offered elsewhere. I’d like to finish my career here if I could.”

Harris signed a one-year deal shortly after last season ended, but with labour uncertainty at the forefront with the collective bargaining agreement expiring the day before the 2019 training camps open, the 32-year-old is unsure how things will proceed.

“It’s tough with the CBA, that’s kind of the hang-up with everything,” Harris said. “The sooner we can get the CBA done the better for both sides. I think it’s best for the players, best for the organization and the league most importantly. Hopefully we can get that done and I think once that gets done we can get the ball moving on that.”