Harris said a signing bonus prevented the deal from getting done. And he tried meeting with our GM but the meeting never happened.
As good as Harris was for us $700,000 is an huge over payment.That's such a weird story. I just don't get how the GM soured on Harris all of a sudden over the course of the off-season. His demands weren't wildly out of line - in fact, he could have been had for essentially what he made last year. Why would you not jump all over that deal? Instead, we lose our starting QB and dressing room leader, and sub in a guy in Jennings who is, to put it nicely, a reclamation project. If Jennings can return to his 2016 form we have ourselves a top QB, but that's a huge "if". You don't win without a strong QB in this league, and Desjardins knows that full well. This is a huge gamble - Desjardins either comes out of this looking like a genius or a complete chump who needlessly outsmarted himself...
As good as Harris was for us $700,000 is an huge over payment.
That's such a weird story. I just don't get how the GM soured on Harris all of a sudden over the course of the off-season. His demands weren't wildly out of line - in fact, he could have been had for essentially what he made last year. Why would you not jump all over that deal? Instead, we lose our starting QB and dressing room leader, and sub in a guy in Jennings who is, to put it nicely, a reclamation project. If Jennings can return to his 2016 form we have ourselves a top QB, but that's a huge "if". You don't win without a strong QB in this league, and Desjardins knows that full well. This is a huge gamble - Desjardins either comes out of this looking like a genius or a complete chump who needlessly outsmarted himself...
He got 525k in Edmonton, I believe - it's Reilly who got 700+ in BC .(Bo Levi Mitchell probably also hit close to 700 in Calgary.)
Is 525k an overpayment for Harris? Probably. Ken Evraire (former Rough Rider player, now guests on TSN 1200) makes a good point in that there is no other league bidding for these QBs, so CFL teams are insane to be paying them this kind of money relative to other position players. Still, though, it's such a QB driven league that without a good one, your team is dead in the water.
Jennings is getting 200k in base pay, but if he hits all his incentives for playing time, performance, etc. he could hit 400k. Apparently Dominique Davis, our backup from last year, also signed an incentive laden deal. Clearly the REDBLACKS are going with a different model this year, letting two guys compete as opposed to having one guy as "the man". Like I say, if it works our GM is a genius, and gets to invest the savings in bolstering his roster elsewhere. (Paying a prominent guy who gets cut from the NFL in late August, for example.) If, however, we are floundering badly at mid-season with an offence that can't score, he's going to have some explaining to do to fans and the brass at OSEG.
Weren't they not that hot on extending him for big money last time around?
What QBs are coming up as free agents next year? Is it possible that we are trying to position ourselves to acquire a specific QB in 2020? Jennings is only signed to a 1 year deal. Harris would have required 2.
Any thoughts on new OC? Pretty late to find one.
Any thoughts on new OC? Pretty late to find one.
Can't help but think next season is going to be very hard to watch any team in the east.
That's such a weird story. I just don't get how the GM soured on Harris all of a sudden over the course of the off-season. His demands weren't wildly out of line - in fact, he could have been had for essentially what he made last year. Why would you not jump all over that deal? Instead, we lose our starting QB and dressing room leader, and sub in a guy in Jennings who is, to put it nicely, a reclamation project. If Jennings can return to his 2016 form we have ourselves a top QB, but that's a huge "if". You don't win without a strong QB in this league, and Desjardins knows that full well. This is a huge gamble - Desjardins either comes out of this looking like a genius or a complete chump who needlessly outsmarted himself...
A Saskatchewan CTV reporter predicted the Redblacks to go 2-16. Btw, that is the record we went in the inaugural season.
I'm used to the Redblacks getting no respect but that's a little much. We have a solid D, still, and Davis is a wildcard (don't forget, we also have Jennings on the bench). 2-16 seems like an absolute worst case scenario and I'm not sure we're even THAT bad.
I predict we get in between 8-10 wins. Probably sneak into the playoffs still.
The RB's pulled that win out of a hat. Sure didn't look like it for a long time but the RB's hung around. Madu had a very good game.