WINNIPEG - It’s becoming Zach Collaros signed a brand new contract with the Blue Bombers whereas celebrating a belated Christmas with household in his hometown.
The group’s star quarterback gave followers a present by inking a one-year deal Thursday. He additionally obtained a contract extensively reported to be value $550,000.
“We did Christmas (Thursday) at my dad and mom’ home for my niece, who’s 10 years outdated, and clearly for our two daughters, so my sister and her husband came to visit,” Collaros mentioned Friday in a name with media from Steubenville, Ohio.
“We had been already planning on having a dinner in order that’s sort of how we celebrated.”
Final season’s CFL most excellent participant and Gray Cup most useful participant was requested if aiming to be the league’s highest-paid participant was a part of negotiations.
“There wasn’t speak of placing it into these phrases,” Collaros mentioned. “I can’t precisely let you know, however I don’t assume we’re far off from what it was earlier than the pandemic began.
“There wasn’t a ton of backwards and forwards. There was by no means any true competition, I don’t assume … I assumed it was a fairly straightforward course of.“
The six-foot, 222-pound Collaros will return for a 3rd season with Winnipeg and tenth within the CFL. He led the league final season in landing passes (20) and quarterback effectivity (111.0 score) and completed second in passing yards (3,185).
The Bombers (11-3) received the championship trophy for a second straight season after a 33-25 extra time victory in opposition to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Subject. Winnipeg additionally defeated the Ticats 33-12 within the 2019 Gray Cup. The 2020 season was known as off as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and final season shortened to 14 video games.
The 33-year-old Collaros is the primary Bombers quarterback to information the membership to consecutive Gray Cup championships since Ken Ploen in 1961-62.
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He may have develop into a free agent on Feb. 8, however mentioned he didn’t assume a lot about testing the market.
“Probably not,” Collaros mentioned. “I’m certain (Bombers basic supervisor) Kyle (Walters) and all people within the group knew I needed to be again.
“I really like the group of individuals which are there – the help group, the coaches from the highest down and clearly the blokes within the locker room.”
Information of his new contract got here a number of hours after the Bombers introduced linebacker Adam Bighill was returning for one more season. He was the league’s high defensive participant final yr.
Winnipeg has re-signed plenty of key gamers, together with defensive linemen Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat, and offensive linemen Jermarcus Hardrick and Pat Neufeld.
Star working again Andrew Harris and final season’s high offensive lineman Stanley Bryant stay unsigned.
There may be some behind-the-scenes recruiting happening by gamers in a bunch chat, however Collaros mentioned he tempers his pitch.
“I feel that everyone understands that all of us need one another to be again,” he mentioned. “On the identical time, I strive to not put strain on folks.
“You need to do what’s finest for your loved ones. When there’s a possibility to capitalize from a financial standpoint, you understand this recreation is so unstable, you need to try this.”
He did speak to Harris a bit on Thursday.
“I do know Andrew’s a Winnipeg man and I really like that man,” Collaros mentioned. “I feel our relationship is robust.
“I at all times inform him, ‘I can’t think about being again right here with anyone else however you,’ so clearly I hope he’s again. If Stanley re-signs, I’ll be the one breaking that information as effectively.”
The Bombers enter the season making an attempt to win a 3rd straight Gray Cup, a three-peat that’s by no means been achieved within the membership’s historical past.
“One thing like that will be historic however, once more, I feel it’s simply the day-to-day course of,” Collaros mentioned of the gamers’ collective focus.
He’s undecided how lengthy he’ll hold taking part in, however mentioned his physique feels good and he loves the competitors “so so long as we are able to journey it out.”
Winnipeg acquired Collaros from the Toronto Argonauts on Oct. 9, 2019, simply previous to the CFL commerce deadline. He had appeared in only one recreation that season earlier than becoming a member of the Bombers. He suffered a concussion within the regular-season opener for Saskatchewan on the group’s first drive of the sport. The Roughriders then traded him to Toronto in late July.
He led the Bombers to a 4-0 document in 2019, together with the Gray Cup victory that ended the membership’s 28-season championship drought. He’s now 17-2 general in begins for Winnipeg.
Collaros started his CFL profession with Toronto in 2012 and has appeared in 105 regular-season video games with the Argos, Hamilton, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. He has a 46-34 document as a starter and has thrown for 20,164 yards and 114 TDs with 58 interceptions.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 21, 2022.