New Toronto Argonauts quarterback James Franklin is willing to be patient if he has to be.
Veteran Ricky Ray has yet to make a decision on his future but that didn’t impact Franklin’s decision to sign on the dotted line in Toronto.
“I know Ricky has a good resume, he’s earned where he’s at and, if he comes back, he’s earned the right to be the starter. I’m still being patient and I feel like this is a great opportunity,” Franklin told the media on Friday.
The 26-year-old waited for three seasons behind Mike Reilly in Edmonton for a starting job.
“Hopefully, in time I will get that opportunity and I will still have to earn it,” Franklin said. “[Reilly] said don’t expect me to go easy if you’re playing and I get to play against you.”
After Franklin’s rights were traded to the Argos in December, he spoke to head coach Marc Trestman three times and those conversations helped convince the rising pivot to join the Double Blue.
There was some NFL interest, but it never came to fruition for Franklin.
“They didn’t offer me a contract and that was something I could’ve kept pursuing, but I didn’t see anything realistically happening,” he said. “And I just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to waste another year.”
