Redblacks retain another reliable starter

Antoine Pruneau admitted he had done a poor job of disguising his desire to remain with the Ottawa Redblacks, so a “fair” offer was all it took to entice one of the team’s original members to sign a new contract with the Grey Cup champions.

“I could have waited to see what opportunities (were available), but I’m happy where I’m at right now. I live a good life and I didn’t see the point of changing that if I could get a fair offer,” Pruneau said Wednesday after the announcement a twoyear extension would keep the 27-year-old Montrealer from becoming a free agent in February.

“I just wanted Marcel (Desjardins, the Redblacks’ general manager) to give me an offer where I felt respected for what I did and that happened and that’s why I re-signed.”

Pruneau is the third starter to re-sign with the Redblacks in recent weeks. Offensive tackle SirVincent Rogers and defensive lineman Connor Williams also received two-year extensions, keeping them off the free-agent market.

Signing them now allows the Redblacks to charge some of their 2017 compensation against the CFL’s 2016 salary cap of $5.1 million, which only cuts off Dec. 31.

The fourth pick overall in the CFL’s 2014 draft from Université de Montréal, Pruneau was bumped from the starting position at strong-side linebacker in mid-season this year, but worked himself back into a starting role at safety and stayed there throughout the successful run to the Grey Cup.

“We have built a lot and I want to keep building what we have here, solidify what we did last year,” Pruneau said. “I think this first edition of the Redblacks, there’s still a couple of guys here and it’s something that I hope we can be remembered for: this whole process of starting a team.”

Pruneau played 17 of 18 regular-season games in 2016, producing 58 defensive tackles, a team-best 11 special-team tackles, one interception and a quarterback sack. He added six total tackles in the East Division final against the Edmonton Eskimos and two in the Grey Cup game.

The signing of Pruneau and the recent release of defensive tackle Cleyon Laing leaves the Redblacks with 29 potential free agents.

A handful, including wide receiver Greg Ellingson and defensive backs Mitchell White, Forrest Hightower and Jeff Richards, have been working out for NFL clubs.