Even with the Edmonton Elks reported signing of CFL veteran quarterback Mcleod Bethel-Thompson, Canadian pivot Tre Ford is still held in the highest regard by many across the CFL.
“There are a lot of people, a lot of people in the media and a lot of people that I work with that believe Tre Ford is the next great Canadian quarterback and that he deserves an opportunity to play,” former Toronto Argonauts’ and Calgary Stampeders’ head coach Jim Barker told The Rod Pedersen Show.
Due to the nature of the agreement between the Elks and Bethel-Thompson which is reportedly for one year and could reach up to $500,000 with incentives, it appears Tre Ford will once again be relegated to watching from the sidelines.
This comes after Elks head coach Chris Jones previously stated that the 25-year-old Ford would enter the 2024 season as Edmonton’s starter.
Ford came in and provided a spark for the Elks who started the season 0-9 before the Niagara Falls, ONT native took over. He completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 2,069 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions this past season, going 4-6 as the team’s starter. He also carried the ball 66 times for 622 yards and three touchdowns to finish eleventh league-wide in rushing yards.
“If you don’t play him, the media backlash could be quite high. So that was really interesting to me that they were thinking of going down that path (of signing Mcleod Bethel-Thompson). I find the whole situation really interesting.”
Bethel-Thompson led the CFL in passing yards in 2022 with the Toronto Argonauts, completing 66.8 percent of his passes for 4,731 yards with 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He helped Toronto win the 109th Grey Cup but exited the game in the fourth quarter after suffering a dislocated thumb.
The 35-year-old elected not to return to the CFL following the 2022 season, citing his desire to be closer to his family. He signed with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League, leading the USFL in passing yards this past season, completing 65.5 percent of his throws for 2,433 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The Elks open the team’s 75th anniversary season on Saturday, June 8 by hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
