BO LEVI CHANGES HIS TUNE, MILANOVICH TO MEET WITH RIDERS

HAMILTON – And now the waiting begins for Bo Levi Mitchell.

The veteran quarterback’s future remains Hamilton’s biggest question mark heading into the off-season. The Montreal Alouettes eliminated the Tiger-Cats from Grey Cup contention with a 27-12 home victory Saturday in the East Division semifinal.

The loss capped a miserable campaign for Mitchell, who in January signed a three-year, $1.62-million extension with Hamilton. That move came roughly two months after the Ticats acquired Mitchell’s rights from the Calgary Stampeders.

But injuries limited the two-time Grey Cup champion and CFL MVP to just six regular-season starts. And Mitchell had to watch most of Saturday’s playoff game from the sidelines as veteran Matt Shiltz got the start for Hamilton.

Mitchell entered the game with just over six minutes to play and Hamilton trailing 24-12. The 33-year-old Texan finished 1-of-4 passing for six yards and was intercepted on his final throw as Montreal kept the Ticats out of the end zone.

Mitchell openly questioned his future in Hamilton in comments to TSN after the loss. On Monday, though, Mitchell said he wants to remain with the Ticats, but the decision isn’t his to make.

“What I love about Bo is he speaks from the heart and he’s going to wear everything on his sleeve,” Orlondo Steinauer, Hamilton’s head coach/president of football operations, said Monday. “Bo is a Ticat right now, he’s under contract.

“The way things worked out this year, it wasn’t ideal for anybody, including Bo. But we didn’t sign Bo to a one-year deal. Bo is a Ticat and that’s what it is right now.”

Mitchell will reportedly be due a significant six-figure roster bonus sometime in January. Hamilton could opt against paying that and make Mitchell a free agent as the remaining $1.1 million — Mitchell is said to have received $520,000 this year — doesn’t include any guaranteed money because the contact was Mitchell’s first with the Ticats.

Steinauer said he and Mitchell spoke Sunday.

“Bo was in my office for 30 minutes (Sunday),” he said. “It was just like we were sitting there having a beer.

“There’s no challenge there.”

Mitchell completed 78-of-132 passes (59.1 per cent) for 1,031 yards with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. Over his six starts, Mitchell compiled a 2-4 record.

Steinauer also has questions to resolve within his coaching staff.

Senior assistant Scott Milanovich has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head-coaching vacancy. A source said Monday night Milanovich is to meet in-person with the Riders on Tuesday. Milanovich, a three-time Grey Cup champion as a CFL coach, assumed offensive play-calling duties when the Ticats and offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell parted ways in August.

“I’d love to keep Scott but we love to see people flourish,” Steinauer said. “That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t put together something to try and keep Scott and other people we want.

“But at the same time, totally understand having been in that situation before when you’re supported and when you’re not.”

(With files from The Canadian Press)