Collaros more than willing to skip free agency to re-sign with Ticats

HAMILTON – Zach Collaros didn’t need to hit the open market to know where he wanted to spend the next three years of his CFL career.

The veteran quarterback was scheduled to become a free agent in February 2017 and would’ve certainly been a hot commodity. But Collaros opted to stay put, signing a new three-year contract this week with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“There’s no other place I’d rather be,” Collaros said Tuesday. “I love the city, the fans.

“The three years I’ve been here, there’s still a lot of guys who are still here. We’ve been close to the ultimate goal (Grey Cup win), we haven’t got it yet. I love those guys and wanted to be around them for three more years and hopefully win a couple of those things.”

Financial details weren’t provided but Collaros’s deal is said to be worth more than $1.5 million. Collaros will reportedly be the CFL’s highest-paid player next year (over $520,000) ahead of Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly ($515,000).

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant will reportedly be the league’s highest-paid player this year at around $450,000 after taking a paycut this off-season. All three players are represented by Vancouver-based agent Dan Vertlieb.

Durant is scheduled to become a free agent this off-season.

“It was important (to get deal done before season),” Collaros said. “I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders . . . any uncertainty is out the door now and that’s exciting.”

Kent Austin, Hamilton’s head coach/vice-president of football operations, said Collaros’s desire to remain with the Ticats was pivotal to a deal getting done.

“He wanted to be here, which was most important,” Austin said. “The commitment you make as an organization you want to make sure you’re committing for the right reasons and that it’s reciprocated for the right reasons.”

But it still took the Ticats and Vertlieb months to hammer out the deal.

“Of course there were sticking points,” Austin chuckled. “That’s why (negotiations) lasted so long.”

The deal ensures Hamilton keeps its offensive leader for the immediate future although Collaros won’t start Thursday night when the Ticats visit the Toronto Argonauts in the season opener at BMO Field. Collaros continues to recover from a season-ending knee injury he suffered in September.

Backup Jeremiah Masoli will be under centre against Toronto.

“It’s going to be a cool atmosphere at BMO Field, I know everyone’s excited to play,” said Collaros. “It’s going to be hard just to watch but it’s all I can do right now.”

The six-foot, 222-pound Collaros joined the Ticats as a free agent prior to the 2014 season. The native of Steubenville, Ohio, led Hamilton to an 8-3 record last year and was leading the CFL in passing yards (3,376), touchdowns (25) and passer rating (113.7) with an impressive 70.2 completion percentage.

But his promising season came to an abrupt halt when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a 25-18 home loss in September to Edmonton.

Masoli, Jeff Mathews and Jacory Harris all started in Collaros’s absence as Hamilton (10-8) finished second in the East. Masoli led Ticats past Toronto 25-22 in the East semifinal — Masoli’s first career post-season start — then threw for 349 yards in a wild 35-28 loss to Ottawa in the division final.

Collaros led Hamilton to a Grey Cup appearance in 2014, losing to 20-16 to Calgary.

Collaros met with doctors Tuesday and said he’s received the green light to step up his rehab although he’s yet to receive medical clearance to resume practising.

“(Wednesday) will be eight months since the surgery,” Collaros said. “That’s when you can really start doing the things you have to do as a football player and not just specific drills that are mapped out for you.

“Pivoting on it, reactionary cuts and movement in the pocket, it’s all full go now. It’s going to be a lot of fun, I can’t wait to start that.”

Collaros said he remains on schedule to resume playing by his self-imposed target date. Once again, though, he wouldn’t divulge when that will be.

“I do anticipate the first time I put the pads on (it) will be a different feeling,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to getting that first hit out of the way.”