Versatile DB Rico Murray turned down Argos pay reduction to sign with Redblacks

Rico Murray did not want to take less money after winning a Grey Cup with the Argos.

“Montreal showed interest. Toronto wanted me to come back,” Murray told Postmedia reporter Tim Baines after signing a one-year deal with Ottawa. “But I couldn’t sign in Toronto and take a pay cut. That would have been wrong, that would have been a disservice to my family. It was a business decision.”

Murray played and started in every single game Toronto played in 2017 making 55 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception for a touchdown. The 30-year-old was named an East Division all-star for his efforts. He has 235 tackles, 10 interceptions, five forced fumbles, four sacks and two touchdowns in 68 games.

Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins likes the traits Murray brings to the Redblacks.

“A veteran player with a lot of versatility, he can play corner, half or SAM,” Desjardins said on TSN 1200 in Ottawa. “He’ll help us in terms of how we want to align initially, but also will help Noel [Thorpe] as it relates to how he may want to disguise things.”