Argos must figure out quarterback issues
Ricky Ray hopeful for a return, but team may go with younger Trevor Harris next season
Impending free agent Ricky Ray wants to return to the Toronto Argonauts next year.
“I’d love to be back here,” the veteran quarterback said Monday as the players cleaned out their lockers at Downsview Park. “I enjoy playing here.”
Head coach Scott Milanovich believes that Ray played well despite a 25-22 playoff loss Sunday to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Ray completed 22 of 34 passes for 220 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
“You guys know I love Ricky and what he’s done,” Milanovich said. “He’s a great player and a great teammate.”
Ray will be 37 next October and in his 14th season, but he believes he has plenty left in the tank.
The Argo quarterback situation is complicated by the fact that Trevor Harris is also a free agent and he believes he has earned a chance to lead a team from start to finish. And at age 29, his time is running out.
In a salary-cap league, the Argos may not be able to afford both of them.
Asked if he sees a scenario where Ray and Harris are back next season, the coach said: “I would hope so, but that’s going to be up to those two and the decisions they make.”
Ray, who missed almost a calendar year of action following off-season shoulder surgery, said he wants to play at least a few more years.
Ray wants to continue his career under Milanovich, who, along with GM Jim Barker, signed a three-year extension earlier this year with the new team ownership group, which takes over at the end of the year.
“I would like to keep playing for him,” Ray said. “I just really enjoy this offensive system.”
Ray is also excited about the chance to play next season in the team’s new home at BMO Field, which will also be the site for the 2016 Grey Cup game.
Ray will take the off-season to continue to strengthen his shoulder, which was slow to heal.
“Obviously, I want to be back playing,” Ray said. “I’ve still got some improving to do on it (shoulder).”
This was a breakthrough season for Harris, who started16 games and was the team’s nominee as the East Division’s outstanding player. But when the team bogged down at the end, Ray’s number was called.
Ray was 1-2 in his three starts, including Sunday’s loss.
“I really enjoy playing with Trevor,” Ray said. “We’ve been here for four years together and we’re roommates on the road and we talk a lot of football. He’s a great guy to have on the team. Obviously, I’d like to have him back and have his support and all that stuff and help each other out, but we’ll just wait to see what happens.”
Ray and the Ottawa Redblacks’ Henry Burris, who is 40, are the two highest-paid quarterbacks in the CFL.
In a league where so many starting quarterbacks were lost to injury this season, the Argo coach believes having two quality ones to lean on is critical.
“It would be great for us to have them both back,” Milanovich said.
Ray and Harris are the most prominent impending Argonaut free agents, but there are many more, including veteran slotback Chad Owens and defensive end Ricky Foley. Milanovich hopes off-season changes are kept to a minimum because he believes continuity is important in football.
“The last two seasons, we’ve pretty much rebuilt our personnel,” Milanovich said. “What I would hope is there is not much turnover.”