EDMONTON 鈥� Tre Ford was supposed to be Edmonton鈥檚 quarterback of the future. After this Friday鈥檚 season finale against the Toronto Argonauts, he could very well be the quarterback of the Elks鈥� past.
The Elks (6-11) have already been eliminated from the playoff race. The Argos (10-7) have already clinched second spot in the East and a home playoff date against the Ottawa Redblacks.
So, when the two teams face each other Friday at Commonwealth Stadium in a game that has no bearings on the standings, all eyes will be on Ford, whose contract expires at the end of the year. Will he be back in Edmonton in 2025? Or will he move on?
鈥淔or me personally, (this game) doesn鈥檛 show me anything,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淚 know I can compete and play quarterback at this level. Hopefully, it shows other people that 鈥� and just go from there.鈥�
The Ford saga has been a roller coaster for both the player and the fans. The Canadian quarterback was taken in the first round of the 2022 draft by the Elks. In the midst of the 2023 season, he won the starting job, and became a fan favourite with his ability to scramble, improvise and transform broken plays into big gains.
Before the 2024 season, then-general manager and head coach Chris Jones brought in veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson and relegated Ford to the back-up role. The Elks started the season 0-7, Jones was fired, Ford got the chance to start again, then got hurt. Bethel-Thompson became the starter as the team chased a playoff spot, but Ford got the starting gig back once the Elks were mathematically eliminated.
So, no one could blame Ford if he went into the final week of the regular season thinking that he鈥檚 playing for himself.
But Ford talked about team goals 鈥� about playing with pride, and helping some teammates hit individual goals, such as veteran receiver Eugene Lewis, who goes into the game 18 yards short of 1,000 on the year,
鈥淭he big thing is, we want to go and win,鈥� said Ford. 鈥淚 know we鈥檙e not in a situation to go to the playoffs and chase the Grey Cup. Not every team gets the opportunity to do that. We鈥檙e still professionals, so when we step on the field we鈥檙e trying to win.鈥�
Lewis is another player on an expiring contract 鈥� a two-year deal that paid him $320,000 a season, making him the best compensated non-quarterback in the league. He refused to take a pay cut this season, and makes no secret that he鈥檚 in the shop window for all general managers to see.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to be excited for myself,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e put myself in a great position. I鈥檓 still showing it to people here. If people don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 the best receiver, or one of the best players in the league, then that鈥檚 their opinion. I show it each and every year. I try to do things as best as I can 鈥� and I know what I鈥檓 worth. I know what I bring to the field and what I bring off the field to the community.鈥�
As for the Argos, this game is merely a formality.
While coach Ryan Dinwiddie said that it鈥檚 likely that most of the team will make the trip to Edmonton, he wouldn鈥檛 commit to how many regular starters will actually see the field.
Cameron Dukes will start for the Argos at quarterback, with Nick Arbuckle backing him up, in place of Chad Kelly. But the Argos will start their leading two receivers, Makai Polk and Damonte Coxie. Polk needs 98 yards receiving to hit 1,000 on the year.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e all got to be available. In the CFL, we have small rosters,鈥� Dinwiddie said.
A lot of it will be how the game could impact CFL roster rules, and the Argos need to comply with them.
鈥淚 told them I don鈥檛 know what the salary cap is going to look like,鈥� said Dinwiddie, 鈥淸to see] if we can play some young players and some rookies, to kind of see what we鈥檝e got going into next year. Or, it鈥檚 just going to be 鈥榟ey, you鈥檙e a starter for us, you might have to be in a backup role.鈥�
NOT PUNCHING ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT: Of their six wins this season, the Elks have only two against teams with winning records. Three of them have come against the Calgary Stampeders, who will finish last in the West
BYE BYE: The Elks will clean out their lockers on Monday, while the Argos will prepare to meet Ottawa in the East Semifinal.
ELK ENVY: The Elks traded defensive lineman Jake Ceresna to Toronto ahead of the 2024 season. He鈥檚 tied for the league in sacks, with eight.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct 24, 2024.
Steven Sandor, The Canadian Press
