JUSTIN DUNK ON DARIAN DURANT
By: Justin Dunk
3DownNation.com
Darian Durant is willing to take yet another pay cut to stay with the Riders, despite having made significant concessions last season.
The beloved Saskatchewan quarterback has made it clear that he wants to extend his ride with the green and white. The 34-year-old has made compromises to help the team in Riderville and he’s prepared to make more.
“I feel like I’ve moved so much in the past couple years. I took a pay cut this year coming in. I’m willing to take another pay cut,” Durant said as the Riders were cleaning out their lockers.
No. 4 was scheduled to make well north of $500,000 in 2016, but with the new regime coming in led by Chris Jones, Durant agreed to a reworked deal that gave him a hefty signing bonus and saved the Riders money against the cap – more than $60,000 – in 2016.
That pay dip saved the team cash, allowing them to allocate it elsewhere to rebuild the roster, and as Durant alluded to he’s willing to take even less than he made in 2016 in a new pact. He’s been completely reasonable, unselfish and willing to help the Riders free up resources to improve, especially when you consider the season that Durant just put together.
The North Carolina product produced 3,839 passing yards (fourth-most in the league) and that was done with a constantly different skill position player group – CFL-high 20 players made a reception for Saskatchewan. Durant had a two-to-one touchdown to interception ratio and ran for a team-leading six touchdowns to go with 308 yards on the ground, which shows he still has dual-threat capabilities.
Durant’s willingness to take less money should be lauded. He’s taken personal financial gains out of the equation to see to it that the Riders enter new Mosaic Stadium with a competitive group. It’s not like he’s banging on the table saying pay more or I’m walking out the door. He showed in 2016 that he can stay healthy for a majority of the season and play at a high level, therefore it’s only fair to be paid at a rate commensurate with his production.
http://3downnation.com/2016/11/17/darian-durant-made-2016-matters/
Okay so for all the rider fans who say they need to move on from Durant I disagree, Durant needs to move on from you due to the fact he took a 60 thousand pay cut and yet will take more…maybe ask Jones and Reynolds to take a cut…simple math to do, Durant takes a 60 grand pay cut but Jones and Reynolds get 100 grand in fines but yet want him to take a cut once again…what a bunch of crap to put it nicely…if this is how you sask fans treat and support a guy that bleeds your… Read more »
Durant was over paid by a $100,000 to start with.
I agree with you with the exception of him moving on. Our treatment of this man is embarrassing. With a solid O-line and some familiar relievers Darian is a grey cup threat every year.
HE GONE!!!
Dunk wrote, "He showed in 2016 that he can stay healthy for a majority of the season."
I say, no one could have stayed healthy all season behind that O-line.
Anon number one…. Just shut up! There is a very loud minority in every situation. As it is here. All Rider fans that know and understand football want Darian back. We have a coach and GM that isn't going to listen to anybody? He proved that when he dumped Dressler who went on to have a 1000 yard season in receiving. As well as Jon Chick who has been named to the Eastern All star team. We have a small but old fan base that dosent understand that going into a season without a proven starter spells nothing but disaster.… Read more »
If the Rider store wants to sell anything this Christmas, they could do themselves a favor and sign DD4.
Nothing is going to happen until Jones is back from Open tryouts on Dec 11.
Gotta love the As$hat Trolls from the other teams commenting on this site. Well at least Rod makes money off of them through advertising hits on his blog. Thanks.
This article actual supports Jones way of thinking when you at it. Rumour is Durant is willing to take a pay cut to 350,000 but wants 250,000 up front again. That means if he gets hurt again the Riders already have a quarter of million dollars gone from the salary cap. If Durant wants to be such a team guy sign for the 350,000 take a small signing bonus like 50,000 then earn the other 300,000 week in and week out. That's how it helps the Riders. The first scenario is only good for Durant. And yes, I 100% want… Read more »
Under any scenario, if Darian gets hurt and is on the injured list he still gets paid. Not sure your logic makes much sense.
3rd and 1, you are 100% correct, the vast, and I mean 99% of us, want doubles back!
3rd and 1 take your own advice, anon 1 is just stating how clear it is and looking at fines the management took that would easily keep Durant in Saskatchewan instead of low balling him…I also wouldn't say a minority situation with the fans and Durant, know a lot of fans not caring if Durant returns which is ridiculous.
Anon 1. Jones's and Reynolds salary don't count against the league salary cap, so them taking a pay cut doesn't help the riders pay DD more or sign other good players to a contract with a higher salary. The interesting thing about the comments about DD taking a pay cut is what part of the listed salary did the cut take place? I doubt DD gave back some of his signing bonus that he got for signing his contract in 2014. So did he reduce his base salary or his playing bonus amounts? The Riders want DD to take a… Read more »
Durant will be in Winnipeg along with the rest of our team that plays there now and Jones will be happy as it will be his decision and that is written in STONE.
OFTEN I THINK DUNK IS JUST TRYING TO ANNOY EVERYONE IN THE CFL, BUT THIS ARTICLE MAKES SOME SENSE. ANYONE ELSE WE TRIED AT QB WAS A SIGNIFICANT DROP OFF FROM DD. WE HIT THE RESET BUTTON THIS YEAR AND LOST 2016… WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT AGAIN, HOPING THAT SOME QB MIGHT WORK AND LOSE 2017 TOO. THE GAMES WITHOUT DD HAVE LARGELY BEEN LONG AND PAINFUL. THIS ARTICLE SEEMS LIKE A NICE WAY FOR ROD TO SAY WTF RIDERS… HOW COULD YOU IDIOTS NOT SIGN DD?! WITHOUT GETTING IN HOT WATER, SINCE IT WAS FROM THAT DUNK… Read more »
DD has been very flexible. We need to be fair with him. Jones' ability to be fair with the players (especially if they are not his boys) is questionable. He is a very, very, very stubborn man and that has not worked well for our team so far. Don't see anything different happening in the future. If DD is not with the Riders next season, we will have another losing season. Not too sure how many more seasons of the Riders being in the red, this team can take.
Let's prepare to move on, just in case.
"Under any scenario, if Darian gets hurt and is on the injured list he still gets paid. Not sure your logic makes much sense."
The logic makes perfect sense if you understand the rules. It is not about Durant getting the money. It is about what counts against the salary. If he gets hurt whatever money is left owing is off the cap count. Which is why the Riders would be absolutely foolish to give him 250,000 up front again.
Any one paying attention knows that's the sticking point.
I agree with jones. He wants his own style qb and he will find 1 or 2. Darian isn't even in the top 6 qbs in this league anymore. Winnipeg will resign Nichols Montreal will go with youth and Toronto might sign Darian. I'm a rider fan and I think gale could lead this team if given the opportunity to do so each week. Everyone in this province coaches with their hearts well jones uses his head and eyes, he knows darian can't run anymore and he never could read a defence. We have awesome receivers a good rb now,… Read more »
100 % on point
You are on Crack.
Finally someone with a sense of sensibility opinion. To quote Linda, "100 % on point".
So far Chris Jones has been right twice this year and I quote him on the first correct statement he made.
"I'm not trying to win a popularity contest."
The only other time he was right this year was when he gave himself an "F"
The QB's who are better than doubles should NOT have Drew Tate or Ricky Ray on it. The latter is too injury prone and the former is not a capable QB. Besides Tate was here once and he detests the Riders.
Taking Drew Tate over anybody tells me that you don't know what you're talking about.
too injury prone … hmmmm.
#SignDurant