January 11, 2016

Roughriders acquire Maurice Price from REDBLACKS

Johany Jutras

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders added some speed to their receiving corps on Monday, acquiring receiver Maurice Price from the Ottawa REDBLACKS in an off-season trade.  The Charleston Southern product has since signed a contract extension with the Riders, the club announced Tuesday.

The 30-year-old heads to Saskatchewan along with a sixth round pick (52nd overall)  in the CFL Draft in 2016 in exchange for a sixth (45th overall) and seventh (54th overall) round pick in 2016.

Price was acquired by the REDBLACKS last off-season in a trade for linebacker Jasper Simmons after spending the first three years of his career in Calgary. Part of the league’s most explosive receiving corps, the Orlando, Fla. native fell on the depth chart behind four 1,000-yard receivers.

Watch: Price scores his first as a REDBLACK

Yet while registering only one touchdown, Price’s 58 catches were a career-high while his 603 receiving yards marked the second-highest total of his career. A graduate of Charleston Southern, Price has registered at least 400 yards in each of his four CFL seasons, averaging throughout his career 49.8 receiving yards per game over 47 contests.

While the REDBLACKS are set to return Chris Williams, Ernest Jackson, Brad Sinopoli and Greg Ellingson, all 1,000-yard receivers a year ago, Price should have a chance to make a substantial impact with his new team. Rob Bagg, Chris Getzlaf and Ryan Smith were all key contributors in 2015 now due to become free agents for the Green and White.

Price was a consistent performer in Ottawa’s magical run to the Grey Cup this past season, catching five passes for 77 yards in an Eastern Final win over the Ticats before contributing two catches for 28 yards in an eventual loss to the Edmonton Eskimos in the 103rd Grey Cup.