CFL.ca
TORONTO — Just minutes after his backup quarterback passed for over 320 yards and his young defensive back picked off two passes, Jim Barker proved that he is never done looking for ways to improve his club.
The Toronto Argonauts general manager pulled a trigger on a deal — albeit likely in the works before Sunday’s game with Hamilton kicked off — that sent TJ Heath and two draft picks to Winnipeg in exchange for veteran quarterback Drew Willy.
BREAKING DOWN THE TRADE
To Toronto: QB Drew Willy
To Winnipeg: DB TJ Heath, Argos 1st Round Pick in 2017, Argos 3rd Round Pick in 2018
“By making this trade, not only have we added depth to the quarterback position for this season, but we have added a young, talented and experienced quarterback for the future,” Argos general manager Jim Barker said in a statement.
Unusual timing but necessary for an Argos team who just lost starting quarterback Ricky Ray to injury but was able to hold off the rival Tiger-Cats at BMO Field.
In the win, Dan LeFevour, who just joined the Argos about a month ago, went 27 for 36 for 329 yards a touchdown and 2 interceptions. The defensive back in the deal, TJ Heath, had a career nightwith 2 interceptions and a knockdown.
Still, there is no substitute for an upstart pivot with some experience under his belt.
“Drew has all of the abilities we look for in a quarterback – leadership, poise, accuracy and a strong arm,” Argos head coach Scott Milanovich said in a statement. “We have watched Drew play a lot over the years and have liked him for quite some time. We think he has a ton of potential to be a very good player for us for years to come.”
“By making this trade, not only have we added depth to the quarterback position for this season, but we have added a young, talented and experienced quarterback for the future.”
Argos GM Jim Barker
Willy signed with Winnipeg in 2014 as a highly sought after free agent after winning the Grey Cup as a backup quarterback with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2013. In his first season as a starter for the Blue Bombers, Willy completed 64% of his passes for 3,769 yards, 14 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, led the CFL with six 300-passing-yard games en route to being named the Bombers’ Most Outstanding Player. In 2015, Willy had the best start of his young career, throwing for 1,434 yards, eight touchdowns and just three interceptions in leading the Bombers to a 3-3 record before getting injured in Week 7 that would see him miss the remainder of the year.
Willy first landed in the CFL in 2012 as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, making his first career start that September in a 28-17 loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
After serving as a backup to Darian Durant the rest of that season and throughout 2013, winning a Grey Cup on home turf with Saskatchewan, he was acquired by rookie Head Coach Mike O’Shea and the Bombers to become their starting quarterback.
He played his best football at the start of the 2015 season, guiding the Bombers to a winning record and throwing eight touchdown passes and three interceptions before suffering a knee injury that would sideline him the remainder of the season.
A 6-foot-4, 220-pound Buffalo Bulls alum, Willy failed to regain that form at the start of the 2016 in the wake of an off-season full of hype and high expectations in the Manitoba capital. The 29-year-old was benched following a 1-4 start, while the Bombers have won six straight with Matt Nichols at the helm and now sit third in the West Division with a 7-4 record.
Heath is in his first CFL season, having played in ten games (nine starts) at halfback for Toronto. Heath has recorded a team-high five interceptions and 37 defensive tackles with the Argos. His five interceptions are tied for the league lead with Bombers linebacker Maurice Leggett.
