Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Saskatchewan Roughrider fans are hoping by acquiring quarterback Zach Collaros in a trade from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats they have the final piece to their Grey Cup puzzle.
The Toronto Argonauts believe picking up James Franklin in a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos gives them a quarterback to follow in Ricky Ray’s footsteps.
Every deal involving a CFL quarterback is a calculated risk. Some pay immediate rewards, others take years before the full results can be judged.
“It’s not an exact science,” said Matt Dunigan, a TSN analyst and Hall of Fame CFL quarterback. “Everybody is looking for that guy to run the ship and lead a team.”
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A month after being traded, James Franklin extended his stay with the Argos last week (Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca)
Dunigan knows something about being traded. Twice in his career he was the centre of seven-for-one swaps.
Some trades give young quarterbacks a chance to blossom and develop their skills. Some veterans need a change of scenery while others are given the opportunity to rejuvenate their career.
“It has to be in the right place at the right time with the (right) system,” said Dunigan. “All the right pieces have to be in place for that quarterback to be successful. He’s got to regain that magic and he’s got to be in the right situation.”
Here’s a look at some of quarterback trades that have recently impacted the CFL:
Ricky Ray:
It was a deal that had people scratching their heads at the time.
On Dec. 12, 2011, then Edmonton general manager Eric Tillman dealt Ray to the Toronto Argonauts for a first-round pick, quarterback Steven Jyles and kicker Grant Shaw.
In nine previous seasons in Edmonton Ray had helped lead the Eskimos to victories in two out of three Grey Cup appearances. He was the MVP in the 2005 overtime win against Montreal.
At the time of the trade Ray was 32 years old. Tillman was concerned about how much longer Ray would remain healthy and expressed confidence in quarterbacks Matt Nichols and Jyles.
During six years in Toronto Ray has battled various injuries but has thrown for close to 20,000 yards, 118 touchdowns and just 46 interceptions. With Ray at the helm the Argos have won two Grey Cups, the most recent in this year’s upset over the Calgary Stampeders. He also was the Eastern Division nominee for Most Outstanding Player in 2013, 2014 and 2017.
Mike Reilly:
Reilly spent three seasons with the BC Lions playing behind starter Travis Lulay. He was traded to Edmonton on Jan. 31, 2013, for a swap in draft position and a 2014 pick.
As an Eskimo Reilly has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in a season three times and twice has passed for more than 5,000. He was the most valuable player in Edmonton’s 2015 Grey Cup victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Reilly was the 2017 Most Outstanding Player after leading the league with over 5,800 passing yards, 30 touchdown passes and 39 plays of 30 or more yards.
Mike Reilly has won both a Grey Cup and an MOP with the Eskimos since being traded (The Canadian Press)
Matt Nichols:
Nothing came easy for Nichols.
The Eskimos signed him as a free agent in October 2010. He spent three games on the practice roster before being released in November. Nichols then re-signed with the Eskimos in 2011 but didn’t see any action until 2012 when he started two of 18 games.
In a 2012 playoff loss to Toronto, Nichols suffered an ankle dislocation. He returned in 2013 ready to battle Reilly for the starter’s role but suffered an ACL injury in an exhibition game and missed the rest of the season.
In 2014 Nichols signed a two-year deal with Edmonton. He was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 2, 2015, for a draft pick.
Nichols started 2016 as a backup to Drew Wily but took over the starting role after the Bombers started the season 1-4. He finished the year throwing for more than 3,600 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions and helped put Winnipeg in the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Last year Nichols led the CFL with a 71.0 per cent completion ratio.
Henry Burris:
Burris played with four teams during his 18-year CFL career. He began in Calgary in 1997, then went to Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2000. After a stint with the NFL he returned to the Riders in 2003. In 2005 he signed with Calgary as a free agent. Over the next seven years he’d led Calgary to a Grey Cup win in 2008. In 2010 he was named the CFL MOP.
Burris was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Jan. 3, 2012, for quarterback Kevin Glenn, offensive lineman Mark Dewit and a draft pick. With Burris at quarterback Hamilton lost the 2013 Grey Cup to Saskatchewan. He was released by the Tiger-Cats in 2014 and joined the expansion REDBLACKS.
Burris was named MOP in 2015 after taking Ottawa to the Grey Cup. Burris’s swan song came when he led the REDBLACKS to an upset of Calgary in the 2016 championship.
Henry Burris helped the REDBLACKS win a Grey Cup before retiring on top last year (The Canadian Press)
Khari Jones:
The Montreal Alouettes’ new offensive coordinator began his CFL career in 1997 as a backup quarterback in BC behind Damon Allen.
On Feb. 28, 2000, the Lions traded Jones and a fourth-round draft pick to Winnipeg in exchange for offensive lineman Chris Perez. Jones started the season as a backup but eventually took over the starting job from Kerwin Bell.
Jones led the Bombers to a 14-4 record in 2001. He threw for more than 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns and was named the CFL MOP. The heavily favoured Bombers lost to Calgary in the Grey Cup.
Jones had an even better year in 2002, throwing for more than 5,300 yards and 46 touchdowns. His teammate Milt Stegall was the MOP that season.
During the 2004 season Jones was traded to Calgary. When the Stampeders signed Burris, Jones was released. He attended training camp in 2005 with Edmonton but was released. He spent eight games with Hamilton before being released again.
In 2007 Jones signed with Winnipeg then announced his retirement.
Kevin Glenn:
Glenn was released by the Riders last week, writing another chapter in the saga of the league’s most traveled quarterback.
The writing was the wall for Glenn when Saskatchewan traded for Collaros. In 17 seasons Glenn has been traded six times, including twice in one day. The only CFL team he hasn’t been a member of is Edmonton.
He was a Roughrider three times (2001-2003, 2015 and last year). He has 208 career starts, has thrown for close to 53,000 yards and has a career completion percentage of 63.2 per cent.
Glenn was the East Division nominee for MOP in 2007 when the Bombers finished tied for first in the East with a 10-7 record. Glenn suffered a broken arm in the Eastern Final and watched from the sidelines as the Bombers lost the Grey Cup to Saskatchewan.
Glenn’s only Grey Cup appearance was with Calgary in 2012 when the Stampeders lost to Ray and the Argonauts.
Kevin Glenn’s well-traveled career continues after being released by the Riders (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Some other notable quarterback trades:
In March of 2008 Saskatchewan traded 2007 MOP Kerry Joseph and a third-round pick in the 2010 draft to Toronto Argonauts.
BC traded quarterback Damon Allen to Toronto on June 7, 2003. Allen led the Argos to a Grey Cup win over the Lions in 2004 and was the league’s MOP in 2005.
Tracy Ham was part of a 16-player trade in Jan. 28, 1993. Edmonton sent Ham, along with defensive backs Enis Jackson and Travis Oliver, slotbacks Craig Ellis and Ken Winey, fullback Chris Johnstone, linebacker John Davis, defensive lineman Cam Brousseau and a draft choice to Toronto in exchange for quarterback Ricky Foggie, slotbacks Darrell K. Smith and J.P. Izquierdo, wide receiver Eddie Brown, cornerback Ed Berry, defensive tackle Leonard Johnson, defensive back Don Wilson and linebacker Bruce Dickson.
Hamilton sent Tom Clements to Winnipeg on Sept. 21, 1983, in exchange for Dieter Brock. The two quarterbacks met in the 1984 Grey Cup which Winnipeg won 47-17.
Back on Nov. 9, 1960, Montreal traded Sam Etcheverry and receiver Hal Patterson to Hamilton for Bernie Faloney and defensive end Don Paquette. Etcheverry signed with the NFL St. Louis Cardinals and Faloney was returned to Hamilton where he was the 1961 MOP and won a Grey Cup in 1963.
