Argos sign Arbuckle to 1-year contract
Roundabout exchange with Redblacks ends up with Nichols in Ottawa
The Toronto Argonauts signed quarterback Nick Arbuckle to a one-year deal Monday, a day after cutting QB Matt Nichols. The Argos also agreed to terms with receiver Eric Rogers after acquiring his rights from Calgary on Sunday.
The Arbuckle signing completed a roundabout exchange of quarterbacks between the Argonauts and the Ottawa Redblacks: The Argos cut Nichols; he was picked up by the Redblacks; Ottawa released Arbuckle; and he signed with Toronto.
Both quarterbacks find themselves with familiar coaches. Ottawa head coach Paul LaPolice coached Nichols and Toronto’s Ryan Dinwiddie coached Arbuckle as the Calgary Stampeders’ quarterbacks coach.
Arbuckle reportedly received a $150,000 signing bonus from Toronto. A league source said the Redblacks released Arbuckle a day before he was due a $150,000 roster bonus. Coincidentally, Nichols’ deal with Ottawa reportedly included a $200,000 signing bonus.
The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as the bonuses have not been divulged.
Ottawa acquired the 27-yearold Arbuckle from Calgary in January 2020 but he didn’t suit up in the nation’s capital after the season was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arbuckle won four of seven games as a starter for Calgary in 2019 while star Bo Levi Mitchell was injured. He completed better than 73 per cent of his passes for 2,103 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019, while adding another four TDs on the ground.
Toronto will still be looking to add to its depth at quarterback. Canadian Michael O’Connor is the only other one on roster
Rogers, 29, had 85 receptions for 1,080 yards and 10 touchdowns on route to being named a CFL west all-star in 2019. He has caught 217 passes for 3,176 yards and 27 touchdowns over 45 career CFL games.
The Stampeders dealt the rights of Rogers, defensive lineman Cordarro Law and defensive back Robertson Daniel to the Argos on Sunday, with teams also exchanging picks in the CFL and global drafts. Daniel and Law are due to become free agents Feb. 9.
Edmonton names coach: Jaime Elizondo was hired as the head coach of the Edmonton Football Team on Monday and will also serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. He replaces Scott Milanovich, who resigned as head coach and offensive co-ordinator last week and is expected to be named the quarterback coach of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
The move reunites Elizondo with Brock Sunderland, Edmonton’s GM, and starting quarterback Trevor Harris, who had worked together in Ottawa, where Sunderland was the assistant GM and Elizondo the offensive co-ordinator.
“(Elizondo) and I met in 2016 in Ottawa and we immediately connected due to our passion for football and also how we feel building a championship program is done,” Sunderland said during a video conference.
Elizondo resigned his post with Ottawa in April 2019, eventually joining Marc Trestman’s coaching staff in the XFL. The move came roughly three months after the Redblacks prevented Elizondo from interviewing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders head-coaching job after Chris Jones left to join the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.