Quick Slants: Looking at the CFL Drug Policy, Collaros’ Contract, and Darian Durant
Published: Friday, Jan 19th 2018, 4:01am
by Greg McCulloch (@GregOnSports)
Quick Slants looks at some of the weekly stories in the CFL and beyond.
Talking Drugs
Soon to be Rider Free agent Offensive Lineman Bruce Campbell was busted for PEDs this past week for failing an offseason drug test. Campbell will be suspended for the first 2 games of the regular season wherever he signs, well if he doesn’t go back into retirement.
Unlike the NFL’s drug policy, the CFL program only looks at Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) not illicit drugs. Which was why the Calgary Stampeders raced to put Josh Gordon on their neg list while he sat out of 2 years waiting for reinstatement.
There are 2 ways you can look at drugs and sport: 1) I want all athletes on a level playing field and clean, or 2) Just entertain me with moon shots and blinding speed.
Option 1 will always be difficult with the money, fame, and glory that comes with being an athlete. There will always be someone finding new ways to be bigger, faster, and stronger and the drug testers are always a step behind.
Collaros’ is just looking for a trim
If TSN reporter Matthew Scianitti sources are correct the haircut that Zach Collaros was going to take on his league highest contract is going to be more of a trim than a buzzcut.
Scianitti reported on Twitter that Collaros is going to be making more than Ottawa RedBlack starting QB Trevor Harris, who recently just signed a 450k extension.
Scianitti also stated that the deal isn’t as incentive-based as the deals Chris Jones and Co. gave to Darian Durant and Kevin Glenn. Which if you can read between the lines means Collaros is going to be put ahead of Brandon Bridge on the depth chart and is his job to lose in camp.
The deal is also reportedly for 1 year, which like Bridge and Harris, Collaros is looking to see what the new CBA will hold in 2019. However, those 3 won’t be alone looking for extra money Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly’s contracts are also up for renewal in 2019.
The Riders did a great job the last few seasons making their QBs accountable and earn their keep, this seems like a step backwards in strategy.
Doubles Trouble
Hard to believe that barely a year ago, the Riders traded Darian Durant to the Alouettes for nothing (that became Eddie Meredith and Zach Collaros) and he signed a 3-year big money deal with the Alouettes.
And now he is looking for a job…
But where will he end up?
Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Edmonton are definite “No Thanks”. Unless they want to bring him in as a camp body to compete they are pretty much set at the QB position.
BC and Toronto are both have franchise legend QBs in Travis Lulay and Ricky Ray. However, Lulay is looking at free agency with the emergence of Jonathon Jennings and Ray is contemplating retirement after his Grey Cup win.
Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Hamilton all supposedly kicked the tires on Kevin Glenn when he became available and are in the market for a veteran CFL back up.
Which leaves a return Montreal and their 3-headed monster of Antonio Pipkin, Matthew Schlitz, and NFL castoff Josh Freeman. No real CFL experience among them.
If I had to put money on a team Bombers would be the favourite.
Then again, signing the QB you just released would be something the Alouettes would totally do.
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