Black-and-blue QBS would be good for REDBLACKS
Expansion team closely watching CFL starters, second-stringers
CALGARY Contrary to popular belief, Marcel Desjardins does not sit in his office all day sticking pins in voodoo dolls bearing likenesses of Drew Tate, Darian Durant or Ricky Ray.
However, the Ottawa REDBLACKS general manager admits to exacting a degree of satisfaction out of watching starting quarterbacks on the bench in the first three weeks of the CFL season. Nothing personal, of course “You don’t want guys to get hurt,” says Desjardins, who was at Montreal’s Molson Stadium last Friday for the game between the Alouettes and visiting Calgary Stampeders.
“But what’s in our best interests is what’s happening so far early here. Guys are getting nicked — the starters are getting nicked — and we’re getting a chance to see the second-string quarterbacks. “That’s to our benefit.” Under the rules of the December expansion draft that will yield 24 players for the REDBLACKS, every current CFL team is allowed to protect one quarterback.
That will give the REDBLACKS the opportunity to raid the Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts or any other organization of a big name or an up and(Ottawa will select a total of two quarterbacks, but they can’t come from the same roster.)
So if Ray leaves the game early, that gives Desjardins the opportunity to see Argos backup Zach Collaros in live action. Same goes for the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Durant limping off the field to be replaced by Drew Willy, or Kevin Glenn lining up under centre for the Stampeders in place of an injured Tate.
Desjardins, however, politely declines to discuss specifics about the quarterbacks who might be available in December.