THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — One of the most productive backs in recent franchise history is about to become one of the most prolific players on the free agent market.
Lions GM and head coach Wally Buono revealed the news on TSN Radio Tuesday evening before Harris confirmed on Twitter that the tailback’s days in BC are over, as the Lions will not extend a contract offer to the dynamic dual-threat running back.
“Well I guess that’s it BC Lions fans,” Harris tweeted. “Thanks for all the love and support throughout my journey here in BC!”
Gonna miss my @BCLions #teammates most of all.. You all know who you are.. When you shed blood, sweat and tears.. That’s BROTHERHOOD! ??
— Andrew Harris (@andrewharris33) February 3, 2016
An eight-year CFL veteran, Harris joined the Lions in 2008 and won a Grey Cup in his first season as a starter in 2011. Now 28, the Winnipeg native has 4,259 career rushing yards to go with 2,639 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns.
After being sidelined by injury through part of 2014, Harris bounced back with one of the best years for any running back in 2015, placing second in the CFL in yards from scrimmage with 1,039 yards on the ground and 484 through the air to go with nine touchdowns in total.
Buono confirmed the news in an interview with TSN Radio Vancouver, stating that it’s time for the team to move in a new direction.
“Obviously last year was a very difficult year for him, and I think it was very difficult for the football club too,” said Buono. “At this point I’m not saying that we’re going to make him an offer — I don’t believe that we will.
“I think at this point it’s time for the club to look at doing things differently.”
Harris, a ratio-breaker who can make just as big an impact in the passing game as he can in the ground game, is considered an elite free agent entering what’s already being touted a strong 2016 class. The 5-foot-11, 213-pound back is ranked near the top of many free agent lists out there, including CFL.ca’s list of the Top 30 Pending Free Agents where he sits number one.
Moving on, Buono suggests, although difficult, should be beneficial for both sides.
“Sometimes you just need to change the scenery,” Buono said in the same interview. “I believe it excites you again, it stimulates you again and it refreshes you.
“At this point I believe for both of us that might be the best thing.”
Sometimes you just need to change the scenery. I believe it excites you again, it stimulates you again and it refreshes you. At this point I believe for both of us that might be the best thing.
While Harris has been linked to his hometown Winnipeg, a Bomber team that’s already been active in free agency and does have a void at running back, the Lions are left with some lingering questions but also flexibility heading into Feb. 9. Quarterback Travis Lulay is also a pending free agent and while the Lions say they hope to have him back, an extension has not yet been reached.
In the backfield, meanwhile, the shifty Chris Rainey is a pending free agent while the Lions could look to lean on sophomore running back Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, a 22-year-old speedster from Scarborough, Ont. drafted in the thrid round of last year’s CFL Draft.
Either way, Buono expects to be busy these next few weeks.
“We’re sitting down now as a coaching staff, looking at all the options and we’re going to meet again Thursday on the free agent option,” Buono said. “How we want to build our football club, how we want to build our ratio — obviously you have to take all of this into consideration.”
Harris joins linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis, Cord Parks, Khreem Smith and Courtney Taylor as other key Lions slated for free agency, while Emmanuel Arceneaux, Kirby Fabien, Eric Fraser and Jovan Olafioye are pieces that have already extended.
