Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris is the CFL’s all-time leader in accuracy.
His completion percentage off the field is also off the charts.
Harris has just finished another deal — one that allows for the restructuring of a contract he originally signed with the Green and White on Feb. 14 — Day 1 of the 2023 free-agency period.
“Trevor has been great to work with,” Roughriders Vice-President of Football Operations Jeremy O’Day said on Tuesday from Nashville, site of the league’s winter meetings. “He’s a team guy.
“We had discussions with Trevor and he was willing to help the team out.”
Harris, who has a 70.6-per-cent completion rate since entering the CFL in 2012, is entering the final season of the two-year pact.
“Trevor was under contract for this season and certainly didn’t have to do anything with his contract, but we appreciate that he did.”
The lack of arm-twisting was a bonus.
“I’ve always kind of been open to things like that throughout my career,” Harris said on Tuesday. “I’m open to helping out again if something would come up where I feel like we’re inches away from getting a certain player who might put us over the top for a championship.
“I’m always going to be willing to help out. At the end of the day, what it’s really about is being able to watch my teammates drink out of the Grey Cup on the third Sunday of November.
“I’m always one to be assisting in those sorts of ways — not getting in the way or hindering.”
The restructuring process is commonplace as GMs across the league strive to build their rosters in adherence to the salary cap.
The Roughriders, for example, had previously reworked deals with quarterbacks Kerry Joseph (in 2007), Darian Durant (2016) and Cody Fajardo (2022).
“It’s important that you have a quarterback who can be successful in our league,” O’Day said. “They’re a big part of the success of teams.
“With Trevor’s history of success and his experience in our league and his leadership skills, we obviously wanted him back, just as we (wanted him on-board) last year.”
The Roughriders are also welcoming back return specialist Mario Alford, who signed a new one-year contract last week. Alford had been eligible to test free agency on Feb. 13.
“Mario has been a dynamic returner for us,” O’Day said. “I don’t think anyone would debate that, with the success that he has had with our organization in a short period of time.
“He brings the element of being able to score any time he touches the ball.”
As evidence to that effect, Alford has returned a punt, kickoff or missed field goal for a touchdown seven times over two seasons with Saskatchewan.
In short order, he has become the franchise’s all-time leader in return touchdowns.
In 2022, Alford took four kicks all the way en route to being named the CFL’s top special teams player. He added three punt-return majors in 2023, when he was recognized as a West Division All-Star.
“He’s a great person in the locker room and he has been very successful on the field as a returner,” O’Day said. “We just felt like (the new contract) was the right thing to do. He’s a good player who makes our team better.
“Mario was someone who really wanted to be back. He really loves Saskatchewan and playing for the Roughriders. It means a lot to him.”
The same philosophy has long been espoused by Derrick Moncrief, who in 2023 was named the Roughriders’ Mosaic Community Player of the Year.
Moncrief’s myriad contributions as a player and ambassador made it especially tough for the Roughriders to inform the veteran strong-side linebacker of his recent release.
“Derrick has been a great player for the organization for a number of years,” O’Day said. “He’s just a fantastic person — great in the community — and a family guy who made Regina home. Those are always difficult decisions to make.
“But for us, ultimately, C.J. Reavis got an opportunity to play a lot in that position last year and was very successful.”
The Roughriders announced on Dec. 23 that Reavis, who was a pending free agent, had signed a two-year contract extension.
“He was one of our most productive players on defence last year and we’re excited to see what he can do with a full year of playing that (strong-side) position,” O’Day said.
“From there, it just came down to whether we could move Derrick to a different position and how it would affect the ratio.
“Once we realized that it probably wasn’t going to work with how we’re setting up the ratio, we felt it was fair to release him.
“We had a conversation with Derrick and we wanted him to have every opportunity to go out and find another job.”
