Harris the heir apparent in Ottawa?
CFL: Ex-Argo quarterback jumps ship to join aging starter Burris and the Redblacks
The biggest fish landed back in Hamilton on the first day of CFL free agency, as Canadian defensive tackle Ted Laurent cashed a huge cheque to return to the Tabbies.
Perhaps the most significant move of the day, however, occurred in the nation’s capital, where Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins finally started his team’s succession plan at quarterback.
The Redblacks scored the best free agent quarterback, landing former Argos starter/backup Trevor Harris shortly after the window opened at noon EST. It was the move that made the most sense when you consider Ottawa’s starter, Henry Burris, will be 41 when the season starts in five months.
TSN’s Matt Scianitti reported the second year of Harris’ contract will pay him $400,000, and Burris’ contract is expected to expire at the end of this season. That doesn’t necessarily mean the baton will be passed next off-season, but the option for that to happen will be there.
Harris filled in for the injured Ricky Ray last season in Toronto, and he did a good enough job to lead the Boatmen to the playoffs. Harris started 16 games, posting a 9-7 record and completing a league best 71 per cent of his pass attempts. Harris topped the league with 33 touchdown passes — seven more than Burris, who was voted the league’s most outstanding player, but his 19 interceptions were also a league high.
Considering each CFL team used an average of three starting quarterbacks last season, the Boatmen better hope Logan Kilgore is a viable option, because losing Harris on Tuesday means they’re now without a battle tested backup.
The Schooners?
In a normal year it would be strange to see so many big names still there for the taking nearly 12 hours after the free agency window opened.
This is no normal year, though. It’s a buyer’s market, and there are likely a few good players out there starting to wonder what they’re going to get — if anything.
Some of the notables who, as of Tuesday night, were still free to sign anywhere were receivers Jeff Fuller (Stampeders), Chris Getzlaf (Roughriders), Bakari Grant (TigerCats) and Chad Owens (Argos), defensive ends Justin Capicciotti (Redblacks), Justin Hickman (Tiger-Cats) and Tristan Okpalaugo (Argos), linebackers J.C. Sherritt (Eskimos), Otha Foster (Eskimos), Taylor Reed (Tiger-Cats) and Greg Jones (Argos), defensive tackle Cleyon Laing (Argos), defensive backs Aaron Grymes (Eskimos) and Emanuel Davis (Tiger-Cats), and kicker Swayze Waters (Argos).
Maybe the CFL should just send all those players to Halifax and put a 10th team on the field this season.
Going hard
The Bombers, who haven’t made the playoffs in four years, were the busiest bees on the first day of free agency, signing six players and reportedly agreeing to terms with a seventh.
They inked four badly needed Canadians — running back Andrew Harris (Lions), defensive tackle Keith Shologan (Redblacks), offensive lineman Jeff Keeping (Argos) and running back Pascal Lochard (Lions) — along with three imports: kicker Justin Medlock (Tiger-Cats), slotback Ryan Smith (Roughriders) and defensive tackle Euclid Cummings (Argos).
There is immense pressure on the Blue and Gold to turn things around, and it’s clear they’re trying to do it through free agency.
Smart signing
You can never go wrong when you sign a Canadian offensive lineman, because it covers two of the most important prerequisites for a CFL player.
The Argos got the best of the bunch on Tuesday, luring left tackle Josh Bourke away from the Alouettes in a surprise transaction. That’s because Bourke had been with the Alouettes for the first nine years of his CFL career and was a seven-time East Division all-star.
He’ll turn 34 this season and his best years are likely behind him, but he’s been durable and dependable and he’s a good signing for the Double Blue. They need to keep Ricky Ray upright this season, and Bourke should be able to do that.
Thinking big
Their contracts didn’t expire on Tuesday, but the Roughriders announced the signings of two new receivers they hope will offset the departures of Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith.
The Green and White inked former Argos pass catcher John Chiles, a speedster who left the CFL last winter to sign with the Chicago Bears. They also agreed to terms with 6-foot-6 Jeremy Kelley, who had a cup of coffee with the Tiger-Cats a few years ago before departing for the NFL as well.