Riders ask vets to take pay cuts: Madani

The Saskatchewan Roughriders asked a pair of veteran players to take pay cuts in order to save money on the salary cap, according to 3DownNation contributor and SportsNet reporter Arash Madani.

Per #CFL sources: Sask tried to force the hand of two starting Canadian OL – Dan Clark and Brendon LaBatte – to take paycuts this off-season

— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) March 2, 2017

LaBatte signed a contract extension last August, a deal that reportedly pays him in excess of $200,000 a season and features off-season bonuses typical for a veteran of his stature. Clark’s contract is reportedly in the $150,000 range and also includes off-season money.

The 30-year-old LaBatte played in just three games last season after suffering an injury in a July 16 game against the B.C. Lions. Though initially diagnosed with a concussion, it was later determined that LaBatte had suffered a bruised nerve in his neck. General manager and head coach Chris Jones said in med-Feb that the team had received some good news on the Saskatchewan native but nonetheless planned to “reserve judgment until we actually see him.”

The 28-year-old Clark started 15 games last season and has 39 starts in 70 games over his five year career.