If CFL fans were holding their collective breath about the prospect of Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke making his way back across the border, they might have to hold on a little bit longer.
The 25-year-old from Victoria, B.C., was on the Donnie and Dhali Show on Wednesday and said that he was planning on staying in the NFL.
“Absolutely. I feel like this year I got closer to the overall goal, and that is being a starter in the NFL,” Rourke said. “Sorry, I don’t mean to disappoint people (CFL fans) but that ultimately has been my goal and I feel like I’m not further away.”
“I got very lucky in the CFL that I only had to wait a year. Some of the guys who are very established, I think of Vernon Adams and the amount of teams he played on in the CFL. He kind of bounced around, patiently waited for his shot and took advantage of it with multiple teams. That simply wasn’t my experience. I got to sit behind a Hall of Famer in Michael Reilly for a year, got some action in that year, after that he decided that was it for him and so I was able to be the next guy. That just doesn’t happen.”
Rourke said he’s willing to be patient down south and wait it out for the right opportunity.
“I’m just paying my dues,” Rourke said. “It’s not going to happen as quickly, it might happen next year or it might not, I’m in it for the long run. I know I can play in the NFL and can be a starter.”
“I really feel like I have more to show and prove down here and I’m going to continue to give it my best shot.”
Rourke was New England’s primary backup behind Bailey Zappe for the team’s regular-season finale against the New York Jets on Sunday but didn’t see any action. Zappe completed 12-of-30 pass attempts for 88 yards and two interceptions in snowy conditions during a 17-3 loss to finish the season with a 4-13 record.
Rourke spent the first 15 weeks of the season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, though he never saw action behind Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard. Coincidentally, Lawrence suffered a shoulder injury the week after Rourke was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots, which would have made Rourke the team’s primary backup for Week 17.
The Patriots hold the third pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, after they finished 4-13, last in the AFC East.
