There is a big money decision to be made on Darian Durant.
The 35-year-old veteran quarterback is due a $150,000 roster bonus on Jan. 15, a major salary cap commitment for a player coming off one of the worst seasons of his CFL career.
Durant was traded to the Alouettes for two drafts picks last January, a 2017 fourth rounder and conditional second-round selection in 2018. He then signed a three-year contract extension through the 2019 season, which had a total value of $1.25 million. Durant made $400,000 last season.
The long-time Riders signal caller threw for 3,233 yards, 15 touchdowns against 16 interceptions (second-most in the league) for the Als last season and he was benched multiple times. New Alouettes head coach Mike Sherman was non-committal about naming a No. 1 pivot during his introductory press conference.
“I’m not in a position to determine who the starting quarterback is going to be until we and even after watching tape, I’m not going to be in that position. We’re going to vet this thing out and guys are going to compete and the best quarterback will be our starting quarterback” the 63-year-old said. “At this point that’s up for grabs.”
An off-season payment that large would normally go to quarterbacks who are the unquestioned starter. Sherman clearly wants an open competition. That puts a timeline on deciding about Durant’s future in Montreal – unless the deal is restructured.
Durant spent 11 seasons with the Riders, winning two CFL championships – including the 2013 Grey Cup, held in Regina – and finished with a 58-54 record in 113 starts. He was a West Division all-star in 2009 and 2013.
Far from all-star calibre in 2017, Durant could find out if he’s in Sherman’s plans just a couple weeks into the new year.
