The Ottawa Redblacks and veteran quarterback Jeremiah Masoli have agreed to a restructured contract for the 2024 season, per sources.
Masoli was due a $100,000 roster bonus on Monday, January 15, which is standard practice for quarterbacks, such as Trevor Harris, Jake Maier and Bo Levi Mitchell, throughout the league. That provided a deadline for the two sides to negotiate a new deal.
The 35-year-old receives a $45,000 signing bonus in his reworked agreement totalling $133,800 in hard money. He can earn up to $90,000 more in playtime incentives, broken down to $5,000 per game for playing 51 percent or more of the team’s offensive snaps. His maximum earning potential is $236,800.
It’s a prudent deal for both sides, Ottawa keeps Masoli’s unique leadership, veteran experience and knowledge of Tommy Condell’s offence, plus he gets a chance to reclaim his status as a starting-calibre passer in the league. That’s why it made sense for the Redblacks to bring him back on a contract with upside.
Masoli’s hard money amount is higher than Dane Evans ($94,000 hard money and $151,000 maximum value), Matthew Shiltz ($125,000 hard money and $205,000 maximum value), and Nick Arbuckle ($130,000 hard money and $229,000 maximum value) received in 2023. It’s larger than Trevor Harris’ ($130,000 hard money and $241,000 maximum value) with Montreal in 2022.
Masoli’s timeline for returning to the field is uncertain after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 4 last season. He missed the first three games of the 2023 schedule due to a leg injury sustained in 2022 after his recovery was prolonged by an infection he sustained after undergoing surgery.
It’s been an injury-riddled last two seasons for Masoli, suiting up in five games while completing 66 percent of his passes for 1,120 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He has thrown for 16,675 yards with 82 touchdowns and 54 interceptions over 56 career CFL starts. The five-foot-10, 215-pound QB has carried the ball 263 times for 1,546 yards and 20 touchdowns.
General manager Shawn Burke has said there will be a quarterback competition in the nation’s capital going into training camp, keeping Masoli informed about the team’s plans at QB.
Fellow quarterbacks Dustin Crum, Tyrie Adams, Tyrrell Pigrome and Jake Dunniway are under contract for the upcoming season, while Nick Arbuckle is a pending free agent. Dru Brown, Matthew Shiltz, Jake Dolegala, and Mason Fine could make it to the open market.
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