Ok. His contact has a big bonus due on Feb 1. Anyone want to guess how this shakes out? Does he manage a re-negotiation, get released or traded? Even without the early bonus, the Elks my not want to pay the contract for a # 2 QB.
Maybe a package deal with his brother out East? lol
I'm not sure anyone wants him. How does he fit in??
He may go with very little interest and become a couch sitter. I would not be against offering him a super lowball deal (like Strev money). It may come down to that or the couch.
If I were him, I'd choose the couch, because QB injuries always start to stack up by mid-season. And a desperate team is a team that will open the wallet.
Not sure why Edmonton wou1d want to pay the bonus for a p1ayer not capab1e of p1aying the game. hes a1ways been over hyped and over rated, I think he needs to re-negotiate his contract or be re1eased
Quote from: Tecno on January 27, 2026, 05:48:48 PMI'm not sure anyone wants him. How does he fit in??
He may go with very little interest and become a couch sitter. I would not be against offering him a super lowball deal (like Strev money). It may come down to that or the couch.
If I were him, I'd choose the couch, because QB injuries always start to stack up by mid-season. And a desperate team is a team that will open the wallet.
Because of his athleticism. How many games has he actually started and he was also playing on a bad team? SMS is an issue.
I don't know if T. Wilson has a future but he's complete 12 passes. T. Ford has completed 359.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2026, 05:27:29 PMOk. His contact has a big bonus due on Feb 1. Anyone want to guess how this shakes out? Does he manage a re-negotiation, get released or traded? Even without the early bonus, the Elks my not want to pay the contract for a # 2 QB.
Maybe a package deal with his brother out East? lol
I would really like to see this happen.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2026, 05:27:29 PMOk. His contact has a big bonus due on Feb 1. Anyone want to guess how this shakes out? Does he manage a re-negotiation, get released or traded? Even without the early bonus, the Elks my not want to pay the contract for a # 2 QB.
Maybe a package deal with his brother out East? lol
We know he wants to be a QB, but does he Sinopoli sooner than later?
What is his alternate position? Is he a DB like his twin brother? Can he do returns? Is he a scatback WR?
Can he get a bigger paycheck as a rostered NAT starter than a backup QB?
They don't have as much invested in their starting QB, maybe they can financially just keep him around to be the back-up.
Quote from: theaardvark on January 27, 2026, 06:44:39 PMWe know he wants to be a QB, but does he Sinopoli sooner than later?
What is his alternate position? Is he a DB like his twin brother? Can he do returns? Is he a scatback WR?
Can he get a bigger paycheck as a rostered NAT starter than a backup QB?
That would be a stretch to think he might be able to switch positions and earn more than the $352K he was getting as a QB.
The Elks can probably afford him but the signing bonus seemed to be a problem. OTOH, why would they keep him is more of the question. That's a lot to pay for a # 2 QB even if you think he has a future. I'd think that would be the 2nd highest salary on their roster.
He's in a tough situation losing the starting role and a probable demand to reduce his salary.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2026, 05:27:29 PMOk. His contact has a big bonus due on Feb 1. Anyone want to guess how this shakes out? Does he manage a re-negotiation, get released or traded? Even without the early bonus, the Elks my not want to pay the contract for a # 2 QB.
Maybe a package deal with his brother out East? lol
The hour is growing late, I expect the Elks are trying to re-negotiate his contract before bonus day comes, which means they probably want to keep him. Fajardo is pretty close to ending his career, he contemplated retirement before re-signing the one year deal below.
"includes a $190,000 signing bonus to ink his one-year extension with the Elks. He has a $135,080 base salary, $35,000 in marketing money, a $20,000 travel allowance, and $15,420 in housing to equal $395,500 in hard money."
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2026, 07:09:24 PMThat would be a stretch to think he might be able to switch positions and earn more than the $352K he was getting as a QB.
The Elks can probably afford him but the signing bonus seemed to be a problem. OTOH, why would they keep him is more of the question. That's a lot to pay for a # 2 QB even if you think he has a future. I'd think that would be the 2nd highest salary on their roster.
He's in a tough situation losing the starting role and a probable demand to reduce his salary.
Not saying he can beat his Current deal as a position player, but if he gets cut, can he get more as a Nat position player than as a backup QB? That was my question.
Sinopoli not only continued to play after his QB dreams ended, but he made more as a Rec than as a backup QB. And in today's market would have made even more.
Most teams would take Ford at a backup QB price. No team is going to pay him his current contract.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 27, 2026, 07:13:59 PMThe hour is growing late, I expect the Elks are trying to re-negotiate his contract before bonus day comes, which means they probably want to keep him. Fajardo is pretty close to ending his career, he contemplated retirement before re-signing the one year deal below.
"includes a $190,000 signing bonus to ink his one-year extension with the Elks. He has a $135,080 base salary, $35,000 in marketing money, a $20,000 travel allowance, and $15,420 in housing to equal $395,500 in hard money."
As I suggested aside from the SMS do they have a better option for a # 2 QB? Powell, T. Adams, D. Crum? I can't imagine any of those 3 to get more than $200K so there is a substantial delta on whether to keep him if he doesn't take a drop.
As the post above me said, most teams would take him as a # 2 QB at a #2 QB price.
Quote from: theaardvark on January 27, 2026, 07:17:10 PMNot saying he can beat his Current deal as a position player, but if he gets cut, can he get more as a Nat position player than as a backup QB? That was my question.
Sinopoli not only continued to play after his QB dreams ended, but he made more as a Rec than as a backup QB. And in today's market would have made even more.
The difference being is that Ford is being paid as a starting QB. Not at the top level but much more than a backup QB.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2026, 07:20:56 PMThe difference being is that Ford is being paid as a starting QB. Not at the top level but much more than a backup QB.
Yes, he is NOW. But we all know, that time is over, and he's not getting another starting QB contract, and not likely to keep his current one.
His brother made $230k in hard money the first year of a 2 year deal. No idea what bonuses were last year, or what they and salary will be in year 2, but usually its more. Might even have a guarantee, usually something that is part of a 2 year deal.
That more than a QB2 usually makes, unless they get to start and get sames started bonuses.
I was a huge fan of Tre but after watching him last year I think that experiment is over.
If he became available, I would pass.
Quote from: blue_or_die on January 27, 2026, 07:31:02 PMI was a huge fan of Tre but after watching him last year I think that experiment is over.
If he became available, I would pass.
Probably but as I said T. Wilson has completed 12 passes in 2 seasons. He may not even make the roster. I don't know if we make a run at Powell as an example, but our # 2 QB situation doesn't look good.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2026, 07:36:36 PMProbably but as I said T. Wilson has completed 12 passes in 2 seasons. He may not even make the roster. I don't know if we make a run at Powell as an example, but our # 2 QB situation doesn't look good.
Yeah, I'm not advocating we stand pat at Wilson either. I'm hoping we shore up a good QB stable behind Collaros. Ideally it would be an experienced, know-what-you're-getting vet and a prospect who is exciting, if only someone we could be excited about in the future.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2026, 07:36:36 PMProbably but as I said T. Wilson has completed 12 passes in 2 seasons. He may not even make the roster. I don't know if we make a run at Powell as an example, but our # 2 QB situation doesn't look good.
Powell will only be availble once, can't afford not to go after him with so many QB's ageing out at the same time. If Sask. signs him instead of the Bombers I'm switching colours!
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 27, 2026, 07:41:24 PMPowell will only be availble once, can't afford not to go after him with so many QB's ageing out at the same time. If Sask. signs him instead of the Bombers I'm switching colours!
I'm with you. Powell is the next "Dru Brown" up'n'comer who gets a chance to start & be a franchise guy. The question is, which team. The neat part is, he's not really "proven" yet so anyone wanting him can still get him for #2 money and try to lock him into 2 or 3 years.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2026, 07:36:36 PMI don't know if we make a run at Powell as an example, but our # 2 QB situation doesn't look good.
With huge swathes of SMS spent on retention, I think we have to go cheap in the QB room once again to stay within budget. I can't even recall the last time we had a #2 making decent money (like Maier in SSK or Cody was in EDM before he became starter).
Our QB room mantra seems to be "blow it all on #1 and skimp on everyone else". While bringing an heir to Zach in now (Powell) makes perfect sense, I think we stay budget and bring in the Zach replacement at the exact moment Zach leaves.
Quote from: theaardvark on January 27, 2026, 06:44:39 PMWe know he wants to be a QB, but does he Sinopoli sooner than later?
Tre may have crap hands. Maybe even worse hands than his DB brother. That could be why a switch to WR/scatback (or even DB) is impossible.
Didn't C.Jones try to turn that Loxley QB kid into a QB/WR in EDM? That dude was like a (weaker) mirror image of Tre: tiny, athletic, fast, ostensibly a QB.
It certainly would be handy if Tre could be a REC option and you lateral to him so he has the option of pass or run.
Quote from: Tecno on January 27, 2026, 11:10:26 PMWith huge swathes of SMS spent on retention, I think we have to go cheap in the QB room once again to stay within budget. I can't even recall the last time we had a #2 making decent money (like Maier in SSK or Cody was in EDM before he became starter).
Our QB room mantra seems to be "blow it all on #1 and skimp on everyone else". While bringing an heir to Zach in now (Powell) makes perfect sense, I think we stay budget and bring in the Zach replacement at the exact moment Zach leaves.
This could be the year Zach finally gets el kabonged and ends up on the 6 game, if that happens slim chance they make the playoffs. As is CFL stats say he only played in 13 regular season games last year, which seems low, I can remember 2-3 games he got knocked out of mid-game.
To secure Powell, Zach would have to make a generous sacrifice of salary and accept he can't play forever. What I remember of Powell from 2-3 years ago is that he played like a Zach protege, not a natural runner but made good use of his legs when forced to run.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 27, 2026, 11:40:31 PMThis could be the year Zach finally gets el kabonged and ends up on the 6 game, if that happens slim chance they make the playoffs
To secure Powell, Zach would have to make a generous sacrifice of salary and accept he can't play forever.
That's the chance we take. Build a top OL to minimize that risk.
And why would Zach take a big pay hit to "train his replacement" so he can be
for sure supplanted in FA27? Literally nothing in it for him. It would be nice if he would, but he won't.
Quote from: Tecno on January 27, 2026, 11:55:31 PMThat's the chance we take. Build a top OL to minimize that risk.
And why would Zach take a big pay hit to "train his replacement" so he can be for sure supplanted in FA27? Literally nothing in it for him. It would be nice if he would, but he won't.
Zach has sucked the team dry and under performed the last few years, time to give something back.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on Today at 12:40:53 AMZach has sucked the team dry and under performed the last few years, time to give something back.
Not true imo. Zach has been one of the primary reasons we have preformed well over the last few years. Tough year last year. Overstated on the negative but I get it, it's your posting style about him. Looking for a bounced back if we can rebuild the OL.
I think with the right coaching, Tre Ford is a capable QB. Certainly has more upside than Streveler.
Quote from: BLUEBOMBER on Today at 03:02:48 AMI think with the right coaching, Tre Ford is a capable QB. Certainly has more upside than Streveler.
He reads a defense about as good as Streveler if we're comparing.
Ford has many talents and skills. Hasn't been able to put it together. I think he still might but likely a decent #2 that might turn into a 3 if he can't improve. I have always liked him. Agree can't read a D.