The Saskatchewan Roughriders have traded the rights to quarterback Darian Durant to the Montreal Alouettes for a fourth round draft pick in 2017 and a conditional second rounder in 2018.
Durant played 11 seasons in Saskatchewan, winning two championships – including the 2013 Grey Cup, held in Regina – and finishes with 58-54 record in 113 starts. He was an West Division all-star in 2009 and 2013.
But the 34-year-old Durant was set to become a free agent in February and, with contract talks going nowhere, vice president of football operations and head coach Chris Jones has elected to get something in return for his quarterback.
For the Alouettes, they get a bona fide starting quarterback without sacrificing a player from their roster – something they’ve been looking for since the retirement of Anthony Calvillo in 2013 – assuming they can get his name on a contract extension. 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk, who reported that a trade was in the offing last week, wrote that the Riders had been interested in young Alouettes’ pivot Vernon Adams.
“We are confident that we can reach a new agreement with (Durant),” #alouettes GM Kavis Reed on Durant’s status. #riders.
— Murray McCormick (@murraylp) January 13, 2017
The move leaves the Riders with five quarterbacks on the roster, all with limited CFL experience. The team, which is set to open their new $278 million stadium next season is coming off a 2016 in which they finished 5-13and missed the playoffs.
A fan favourite, Durant’s departure is unlikely to be popular with the patrons of Riderville and there was plenty of reaction around the league after the early morning announcement.
Thank goodness there’s a new stadium to look at cause there’s not much to see on the field @dariandurant traded #riderville #riders
— Gregger Saskatoon (@SaskGregger) January 13, 2017
Imma not crying.
It’s the fuckin onions.
Miss you Durant.
Grey Cup Champ and Rider for life.
— ƒαкє ƓAǀƝƐR (@fakeGAINER) January 13, 2017
@fakeGAINER @scratchingpost oh well- he was no legend anyway.
— Jane Pittet (@pittet_jane) January 13, 2017
@scratchingpost Too bad we had to already renew our season tix or I wldn’t be renewing mine!
— Marlene (@grnrider) January 13, 2017
@fakeGAINER Well, either Shane Falco is coming out of retirement OR someone has some explaining to do…. #sad pic.twitter.com/Wom73vwxMR
— Brandon Basler (@BaslerRM) January 13, 2017
👀
— John N. Bowman (@7Bowman) January 13, 2017
It was one year ago tomorrow that John Chick and Weston Dressler were released. Now Darian Durant is traded.
— Rob Vanstone (@robvanstone) January 13, 2017
Montreal just became legit that fast #CFL
— Shawn Lemon (@SLemonator) January 13, 2017
@SLemonator This Rider fan is heart broken.
— Lisa Anderson (@trbltmd) January 13, 2017
Did the #Riders really just trade Darian Durant on Friday the 13th? And the Curse of Darian of born.
— Drew Edwards (@scratchingpost) January 13, 2017
Sick to my stomach right now. Good deal for Montreal! Hope Jones has found “The Next One” https://t.co/rtzzrRz7wm
— Rod Pedersen (@rodpedersen) January 13, 2017
In other Alouettes breaking news: I’ve changed my jersey number from 10 to 4. #InvestmentOpportunity #AlsMTL #CFL
— Marc-O Brouillette (@MOBrouillette) January 13, 2017
I feel like @dariandurant deserved the chance to be carried out on his shield in Saskatchewan, but sports isn’t so sentimental.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) January 13, 2017
So who are the #Riders going to select first overall in the 2018 #CFL draft?
— Blue Bomber Talk (@BlueBomberTalk) January 13, 2017
People seem cool with the Durant trade, but when Eric Tillman got a 1st and two players for 33-year-old QB, people eviscerated him. Hmmmm…
— Dog-Faced Gremlin (@JoshSmith_82) January 13, 2017
