Tillman talks to Clermont

Riders in contact with receiver Clermont


By Rob Vanstone, Leader-PostDecember 4, 2008 9:01 PMBe the first to post a comment

Instead of a bonus and a raise, the Lions' veteran Canadian receiver Jason Clermont was handed a pink slip instead.
Photograph by : Jason Payne, The Province
REGINA -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders have opened discussions with former University of Regina Rams slotback Jason Clermont, a recent cut of the B.C. Lions.
“Jason and I had a very pleasant and productive conversation this afternoon,’’ Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman said Thursday. “He has a strong affection for home, and we clearly have a significant respect for his ability, his work ethic and his character.
“The next step, of course, is the biggest: Is it economically viable to dance the dance? We have a team salary structure and, as I told Jason, if we go forward, we will do so while being respectful to our veteran nucleus. What pleased me most was his immediate response to that statement. The subsequent questions were focused on our plans for continued success, as opposed to dollars and cents. Jason’s a competitor who places a premium on winning, and that certainly validates our respect for him.’’
Tillman represented one of the three CFL teams that contacted Clermont on Thursday, when his name first appeared on the waiver wire. Clermont said he spoke with two teams other than the Roughriders, one of which offered a contract.
“It was nice because when you do get cut or released, you feel a little bit rejected,’’ Clermont said on Thursday from his Regina home.
“I didn’t really expect to hear from anybody today. It was released this morning. How do you just jump in and approach a player this quickly after a season when you pretty much never knew he was going to be available?’’
Regina is a logical home base for Clermont considering his ties to the community, along with the fact that he is a realtor for Royal LePage. However, the Robert Usher Collegiate graduate is not tipping his hand as far as a preferred destination.
“I don’t want to have any unnecessary pressure put on any one organization to have to come to the table and try to force myself on anybody,’’ Clermont said.
Clermont added that he is concentrating on compatibility, as opposed to compensation, at this stage.
“With the things that I have been talking about, we haven’t really been looking at finances as a focal point,’’ he said. “I’m more concerned with the role I might be playing and the quarterback and the head coach of the teams I’ve been talking to.’’
Tillman was cautious when asked about how determined he is to sign Clermont.
“Jason’s a very good player and he can play at a very high level, and certainly has reasons that playing here would be very attractive to him,’’ the Riders’ GM said. “Now, as to whether or not it makes economic sense, that’s a whole different animal. In a perfect world, we would have had Reggie Hunt back (instead of allowing the star linebacker to sign with the Montreal Alouettes last winter). In a perfect world, we would have had some others back (with whom the team has) had special relationships, but it’s a salary-cap era.’’
The 29-year-old Clermont spent seven seasons with the Lions, exceeding 1,000 receiving yards on three occasions. He was named the CFL’s rookie-of-the-year in 2002 and earned outstanding-Canadian honours in 2004 and 2007.
In 2008, Clermont battled injuries while catching 50 passes for 640 yards and three touchdowns while earning a reported $180,000. He was to receive a bonus on Jan. 1. Looking at the equation, Buono opted to release Clermont instead of pursuing a trade and possibly receiving compensation in return.
“Do you know how many times I’ve phoned people and they’ve told me, ‘Cut him, then maybe I'll talk to him.’? It’s just economics, right?’’ Buono told Mike Beamish of the Vancouver Sun on Thursday. “It’s the salary. I didn’t want to go through the charade and the embarrassment for Jason. If I’d called around, do you think it wouldn’t have got out? It got out yesterday (Wednesday) because some moron let it get out, accidentally.’’
rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com