The latest on Clermont:
Darrell Davis, The Leader-Post
Upon leaving the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman returned a phone message from the Leader-Post seeking updates on several subjects, ranging from slotback Jason Clermont to personnel director-to-be Joe Womack to the CFL team's coaching staff.
With Clermont, a Regina product, unsuccessfully trying to secure a new contract with the B.C. Lions, there are reports he could join theRoughriders via trade or as a free agent, after his contract expires in 2008.
"Given his ties to Regina, I understand the speculation,'' Tillman said Monday night, before stating he has had no "substantive'' discussions with B.C. head coach/general manager Wally Buono.
"The most probable scenario is that Jason will be in B.C. for the balance of his contract. I know what kind of character he is, so I know he will honour his contract and the B.C. Lions will honour the final year of Jason's contract. After that, we'll see what happens.''
As for Rider fans suggesting Tillman is better waiting until '08.... fair enough but this is also a window of opportunity to land a homegrown premier Canadian slotback now before it possibly closes again.
Clermont did suggest last week in the Province he could see himself sitting down with Wally to hammer out a new deal during the season ? something that he has done recently with Geroy and Otis Floyd, among others. A lot could change once he is back out in B.C. for the season and he and the Lions are off to a good start.
Clermont left the door open slightly. "The next time we can discuss [a deal] is hopefully five weeks into the season when I'm healthy."
