Big Blue show Collaros the money — $550K worth

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/01/2022 (1332 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Zach Collaros became the CFL’s highest-paid player Thursday, signing a one-year deal worth $550,000 to return to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

His paycheque is commensurate with his production and his impact on the franchise — he earned the league’s Most Outstanding Player honour in 2021 while leading the Bombers to their second consecutive Grey Cup championship.

The 33-year-old Steubenville, Ohio product was due to become a free agent next month but said he didn’t seriously consider playing anywhere else.

His new deal is a $140,000 increase on the restructured contract he agreed to prior to the 2021 season.

“This game’s about winning football games and going to work every morning, going through the process of putting together the game plan and practising as well as off the field, getting to know each other’s families and all those kind of things,” he told reporters Friday morning.

“… I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else and, for one, start that entire process over again. But I just can’t imagine there being better people to be around to chase after these goals that we have.”

Winning another league title and completing a three-peat, something not seen since Edmonton reeled off five straight Grey Cups between 1978 and ‘82, is high on his to-do list but the process of reaching that goal is essential to Collaros’ experience.

“Obviously, your main goal every year is to win the Grey Cup and if we’re able to do that again, it would mean what it would mean,” he said.

“But I just think that everybody’s so focused on taking it a day at time, a game at a time. Again, this group understands that and it’s really why there was never any doubt for me to want to go somewhere else. I wanted to be back there with my teammates and getting after it again, starting at training camp.”

Collaros is 17-2 as a starter, including 5-0 in the postseason, since arriving in Winnipeg at the trade deadline in 2019.

Last season, he led the league in touchdown passes (20) and quarterback efficiency (111.0 rating) and finished second in passing yards (3,185).

Collaros plans to tread carefully when it comes to encouraging unsigned teammates to re-up with the club.

“As a player, you don’t know who’s even been reached out to yet, if those negotiations have started, and some people might just want to explore that Feb. 8 (free agency), that time,” said Collaros.

“I know it’s not an easy job for (the) front office and I know as a player, having gone through it a couple times, it can be a stressful time for you and your family.”

Running back Andrew Harris, offensive tackle Stanley Bryant, centre Michael Couture, guard Drew Desjarlais and wide receiver Kenny Lawler are among the key pending free agents in Winnipeg.

“I think everybody knows that the success that we’ve had as a team is truly because of the unit,” added Collaros. “To be able to bring everybody back and just pick up from winning the Grey Cup would be amazing, but people have to do what’s right for themselves and by their families. We’ll see how that all shakes out.”

The future of Harris, who turns 35 on April 24, is crucial. Although he was very productive when he played in, Harris dressed for only seven of 14 regular-season games due to injury.

He could decide to retire after a Hall of Fame calibre career.

Collaros offered no insight into what Harris is likely to do.

“I talked to Andrew a little bit (Thursday) night,” said Collaros. “Like I said, I let people kinda do their own thing. I know Andrew’s a Winnipeg guy and I love that guy. I think our relationship is strong. I always tell him, ‘I can’t imagine being back here with anybody else but you,’ so obviously I hope he’s back. If Stanley re-signs, I’ll be the one breaking that news as well.”

— with files from Jeff Hamilton

mike.sawatzky@winnipegfreepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14