WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ priority this off-season was to ensure that quarterback Matt Nichols didn’t hit the open market.
It seems as though they have done just that according to a pair of reports — one by Justin Dunk and the other from Gary Lawless, who is reporting that a three-year deal is in the works.
The team has yet to confirm anything publicly.
told @Wpg_BlueBombers and Matt Nichols working on finalizing 3-year deal and they hope to have it done so he can sign it while in town #cfl
— gary lawless (@garylawless) January 16, 2017
Nichols emerged as the starter after replacing Drew Willy in the first third of the season. His role was cemented once Willy was shipped out of town in a trade with Toronto.
Although few doubted that Nichols would ultimately return to the Blue and Gold, were he to hit the open market, it would have impacted a number of teams once Noon on Feb. 14 hit.
It took six years for the Eastern Washington product to finally find his footing in the CFL and he did so with a career-year that helped the Blue Bombers reach the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Last season, Nichols completed 327 of his 471 pass attempts for 3,666 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Nichols went an impressive 10-3 in 13 starts in 2016.