The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have agreed to terms with free agent quarterback Khari Jones, TSN has learned.
Terms of the deal were not released but Jones is expected to be in Hamilton on Tuesday for a news conference.
Jones was released by the Edmonton Eskimos last month, just weeks before the regular season was to kick off after Ricky Ray returned. He had signed with the Eskimos as a free agent in the off-season after finishing a turbulent 2004 campaign in Calgary.
The 34-year-old Jones began his career with the B.C. Lions in 1998 but his career flourished in Winnipeg two seasons later.
In 2001, Jones was named the league's Most Outstanding Player as he led the Blue Bombers to berth in the Grey Cup. The following year, he set or tied 18 franchise records en route to another all-star season.
Last season, Jones was dealt to the Stampeders after appearing in 14 games for the Blue Bombers.
Terms of the deal were not released but Jones is expected to be in Hamilton on Tuesday for a news conference.
Jones was released by the Edmonton Eskimos last month, just weeks before the regular season was to kick off after Ricky Ray returned. He had signed with the Eskimos as a free agent in the off-season after finishing a turbulent 2004 campaign in Calgary.
The 34-year-old Jones began his career with the B.C. Lions in 1998 but his career flourished in Winnipeg two seasons later.
In 2001, Jones was named the league's Most Outstanding Player as he led the Blue Bombers to berth in the Grey Cup. The following year, he set or tied 18 franchise records en route to another all-star season.
Last season, Jones was dealt to the Stampeders after appearing in 14 games for the Blue Bombers.
Look, when they brought in the backup in week 2 and then again in week 3 things got no better for the Ti-Cats. They definitely have the talent, but it doesn't seem like, at least at this point, that any QB will be able to right the Ti-Cat ship.... but maybe this is just what the doctor ordered for a struggling Ti-Cat team.
I think that the ship is starting to be righted for the Tiger-Cats.
I think that their biggest problem has been with the offensive line this year. Talent-wise, they are as good as, if not better than, last year. The problem is that they lost C Dave Hack to retirement, which lead to a shuffling of G Wayne Smith to C and the introduction of G Dan Comiskey from Edmonton. I think that this unit has finally started to find its way starting with the British Columbia game last weekend.
If the problem was simply Danny McManus, Troy Davis still should have been successful running. Last weekend was his first solid game this season (16 for 119 yards, including a 54 yard rush). In the previous three games, he had limited success running the ball.
The receivers have definitely not helped and red zone execution has been terrible. The Tiger Cats had two touchdowns called back due to penalties in the end zone (both by DJ Flick) and wound up kicking five field goals in the game, including ones from 17, 24 and 25 yards out (ie: in the red zone, but not scoring a touchdown).
Khari Jones is a much better QB than his current reputation would suggest. The simple argument that he has been cut twice in under a year or was on three different teams in under a year (before the Tiger-Cats) is excessively simple. The trade from Winnipeg was for value (Joe Fleming, Scott Regimald and Wes Lysak for Khari Jones, Randy Bowles and a 2006 draft pick); all three of the players received are starters in Winnipeg. Getting cut from Calgary made sense, given that he signed a 3 year / 1 million dollar contract in Winnipeg and Calgary signed Henry Burris as a Free Agent. (Contracts are not guaranteed in the CFL, except for the current year and even then, only after the team has played about half its games.) He was cut in Edmonton, but Ricky Ray and Jason Maas were ahead of him on the depth chart. I think that Jones was a victim of a poor offensive line in Winnipeg last year.
Enough about Khari Jones- the Ticats do have a decent offence, even before he arrived. As scottw pointed out, the receivers need to step up, as I think that the other pieces are finally there.
I think that their biggest problem has been with the offensive line this year. Talent-wise, they are as good as, if not better than, last year. The problem is that they lost C Dave Hack to retirement, which lead to a shuffling of G Wayne Smith to C and the introduction of G Dan Comiskey from Edmonton. I think that this unit has finally started to find its way starting with the British Columbia game last weekend.
If the problem was simply Danny McManus, Troy Davis still should have been successful running. Last weekend was his first solid game this season (16 for 119 yards, including a 54 yard rush). In the previous three games, he had limited success running the ball.
The receivers have definitely not helped and red zone execution has been terrible. The Tiger Cats had two touchdowns called back due to penalties in the end zone (both by DJ Flick) and wound up kicking five field goals in the game, including ones from 17, 24 and 25 yards out (ie: in the red zone, but not scoring a touchdown).
Khari Jones is a much better QB than his current reputation would suggest. The simple argument that he has been cut twice in under a year or was on three different teams in under a year (before the Tiger-Cats) is excessively simple. The trade from Winnipeg was for value (Joe Fleming, Scott Regimald and Wes Lysak for Khari Jones, Randy Bowles and a 2006 draft pick); all three of the players received are starters in Winnipeg. Getting cut from Calgary made sense, given that he signed a 3 year / 1 million dollar contract in Winnipeg and Calgary signed Henry Burris as a Free Agent. (Contracts are not guaranteed in the CFL, except for the current year and even then, only after the team has played about half its games.) He was cut in Edmonton, but Ricky Ray and Jason Maas were ahead of him on the depth chart. I think that Jones was a victim of a poor offensive line in Winnipeg last year.
Enough about Khari Jones- the Ticats do have a decent offence, even before he arrived. As scottw pointed out, the receivers need to step up, as I think that the other pieces are finally there.
Adding SASK -4 -110 1st half for 1 unit
really having trouble coming up with a play on the whole game so I'm going to pass...I think Ottawa gets ruined here, scores 14-20 if they're lucky, but I just can't come up with anything because of Sask's unpredictable offense. If there was a play here it'd be on the under, but, them's the breaks. If I had a 5 dimes account I'd take Ottawa team total under 24, Guru, any thoughts here?
really having trouble coming up with a play on the whole game so I'm going to pass...I think Ottawa gets ruined here, scores 14-20 if they're lucky, but I just can't come up with anything because of Sask's unpredictable offense. If there was a play here it'd be on the under, but, them's the breaks. If I had a 5 dimes account I'd take Ottawa team total under 24, Guru, any thoughts here?
Why thank you! Looks like everyone except Sal got bitten by this one.
Decided to clean up/fix the record as I never factored the real juice into it:
week 3: 6-0-0 +11.00 units
week 4: 2-4-0 +1.72 units
week 5: 2-2-0 +0.02 units (not counting 2nd half OVER on Win/Mtl or Sask/Cal OVER as it wasn't posted)
week 6: 5-1-0 +7.00 units (4 unit play was at +100, not -110 which factors the .4)
15-7-0 +19.74 units ytd
Decided to clean up/fix the record as I never factored the real juice into it:
week 3: 6-0-0 +11.00 units
week 4: 2-4-0 +1.72 units
week 5: 2-2-0 +0.02 units (not counting 2nd half OVER on Win/Mtl or Sask/Cal OVER as it wasn't posted)
week 6: 5-1-0 +7.00 units (4 unit play was at +100, not -110 which factors the .4)
15-7-0 +19.74 units ytd
