Mark Masters
National Post

The only homegrown quarterback in the Canadian Football League expects to be back next season.

Danny Brannagan plans to attend the Toronto Argonauts training camp in June. The 24-year-old rookie spent most of the 2010 season on Toronto's practice roster.

"The season was something that was pretty cool," said Brannagan. "It was a big step for me in my life and it was an experience I really enjoyed."

The Burlington, Ont., native played in only one game--the regular-season finale against the Montreal Alouettes when both teams rested their starters to prepare for the playoffs -- completing two of four passes for 32 yards.

"It was tough at times, but going into the season as a rookie you just have to know that you're probably not going to be the man right off the bat," Brannagan said. "It's something where you just got to go out and help the team get better from practice to practice. That was my role and that's something I accepted.

"During the game last month in Montreal it was nice to go out there and show that I can compete in a regular-season game at that level. I wasn't out of place."

Brannagan spoke with head coach Jim Barker following the season and received assurances he remains part of the team's plans.

"We had an exit interview and he reiterated the fact that he feels I was brought in because I'm a quarterback and not because I'm Canadian. He expects me to come out and compete and be ready to go next June."

Barker has said there will be an open competition for the club's No. 1 quarterback job next year. Cleo Lemon, Dalton Bell and Ken Dorsey are the other quarterbacks on Toronto's roster.

Brannagan, who graduated from Queen's University with a commerce degree, will work for the PricewaterhouseCoopers accounting firm in Hamilton from January to June before rejoining the Argos. He has a full-time job lined up with the company once his football career is done.

During the season, Brannagan received more attention than the average fourth-string quarterback because he is the lone Canadian quarterback in the league.

When an injury sidelined Lemon midway through the season, Brannagan rose one spot on the depth chart and was able to dress in his first game. Barker used the occasion to criticize the CFL for not doing enough to encourage the development of Canadian quarterbacks.

A Canadian quarterback has not started a game in the CFL since 1996 when Giulio Caravatta played for the B.C. Lions. Last month, Brannagan became the first Canadian quarterback to play for the Argos since Frank Cosentino in 1969.

Coaches, who face pressure to win immediately, have turned to more seasoned American quarterbacks in the past rather than taking the time to develop a Canadian.

CFL game-day rosters consist of 42 players: 20 Canadians, 16 imports, three designated imports who can play special teams and substitute for another imports, and three quarterbacks of any nationality. Barker thinks CFL teams should be allowed to include a quarterback among the 20 roster spots reserved for Canadians. The other position that had been reserved for a third quarterback could then go to a fourth designated import.

The league has said it will look into possibly changing the rule during the off-season.

Meanwhile, Brannagan said he does not mind the additional attention he receives as the current standard-bearer at the position.

"The current rules don't encourage teams to develop Canadian quarterbacks. I think a lot of people would like to see that changed and if I can help the cause then I'm fine with that."