Veteran CFL QBs aging well

It’s hard to believe the Toronto Argonauts once had Ricky Ray, Jarious Jackson, Zach Collaros and Trevor Harris all in their quarterback room in 2012.

If you ask Harris, it’s even harder to believe he and Collaros — who broke into the CFL that season together as rookies — are still in the three-down loop today slinging it.

“I remember our first year in the league, we (were leaving after the season) and Swayze Waters (the Argos kicker at the time) was like ‘Man, we’re never going to see Zach Collaros ever again,’” said Harris.

“Because he was ready to go home. He was like ‘I’m done, I’m ready to get out of here.’ And here he is all this time later. I thought he’d get into coaching a little bit sooner, but he’s really turned himself into a first ballot hall-of-famer. He’s been absolutely incredible.”

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have benefited the most from Collaros, now 37, sticking with it. He led the Blue and Gold to the previous five Grey Cups winning two, and now Harris, 39, is in the big game on Sunday as the starting pivot for the Saskatchewan Roughriders who are taking on the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg.

Harris won two titles as a backup, but this will be his first opportunity to claim one as a starter.

“Zach’s been in five of these, it’s our turn,” said Harris with a smile. “He’s had quite a run, and if he wants to continue to do it, he’ll continue to do it, too, because he’s a really good football player and any time a team has Zach as a quarterback, they’re gonna have a chance.”

You can’t play for this many years without making some changes, though. Harris and Collaros used to warm up by playing a one-on-one game of basketball, but now in their late 30s, it’s a much different ball game.

“Now we have to stretch,” said Harris.

RIDERS ON O’SHEA

Mike O’Shea watch is officially on.

The Bombers head coach was spotted at Pearson International Airport on Wednesday boarding a flight back to Winnipeg.

O’Shea, who is not under contract for next season and hails from North Bay, Ont., was in Toronto to speak to Argonauts brass about their head coaching vacancy.

Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day, who was teammates with O’Shea for two seasons in Toronto (1997-98) back in their playing days, was asked at Wednesday’s media day what it would mean for Winnipeg if their leader agreed to take the Argos gig.

“From the outside looking in, you’d be losing a coach that has a great deal of respect from all the players. The players will run through a wall from him,” said O’Day.

“They’ve stayed loyal to him for a very long time. I can understand why, he’s a leader of men and I have a ton of respect for Mike O’Shea. But yeah, it would be change, and that’s what happens when you make a change at the head coaching spot. How much would that affect them? It’s hard to tell. Everyone has their own situation, but anytime you lose your leader, it’s going to be difficult.”

Riders right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick has spoken candidly over the years about how close he was with O’Shea when he played for him in Winnipeg from 2016-23.

“He’s a big deal. O’Shea is a leader of men. And there was no grey area when we were in there. Very black and white,” said Hardrick.

“Examples like once we were in in the morning the doors are locked. You’re either in or you’re out. Everything was like that. If we’d have a team dinner or Thanksgiving, he didn’t ask who was all coming. There was no sign-up sheet. He leaves the meeting, ‘We have team dinner at 3:30. See you guys there.’ It just took all the thinking out of it. We knew what we were doing. He was a leader of men. Great guy. Told you the truth. Was hard on us. But he always told us he loved us. It was amazing, man.”

Should the Bombers be worried?

“I wouldn’t say worried ‘cause I don’t want to make headlines,” said Hardrick.

“But O’Shea was a good coach, great man. Should be grateful to have him. Anybody would be.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca