The Saskatchewan Roughriders have apparently opened the vault to land Canadian left offensive tackle Alex Gauthier.Photograph by: Don Healy, Leader-Post filesREGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have apparently opened the vault to land Canadian left offensive tackle Alex Gauthier.
Multiple CFL sources confirmed Thursday that the Riders have signed the 34-year-old Gauthier to a two-year contract reportedly worth $130,000 in the first year — including a bonus of approximately $55,000 — and $150,000 in the second year. A source with the Riders felt the money was worthwhile to sign a solid Canadian starter. The official signing is expected to be announced Friday
When reached Thursday, Gauthier said he was still working on a deal with the Riders.
"They made a pretty good offer,'' said Gauthier, who played with the Ottawa Renegades, Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats during a nine-season CFL career. "I should know more in the morning but until it's all done, I don't like talking about it. I've had a few offers and I'm still thinking. The (Riders) have shown a pretty good interest in me. I would love to play for Saskatchewan because I've heard so many good things about the team.''
Gauthier spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons as a starter with the Tiger-Cats, who allowed a league-low 26 sacks last season. He was released on Feb. 1, two weeks before the CFL's free-agency deadline. It's believed Gauthier made $150,000 with Hamilton in 2010. The Riders are able to sign Gauthier in advance of the deadline because he was released.
The Riders apparently outbid the Blue Bombers for the rights to Gauthier, who is being compensated in the range of what the league's top offensive tackles draw. Saskatchewan has the salary cap space due to the recent departures of slotback Andy Fantuz and centre Jeremy O'Day. Fantuz, the league's top Canadian in 2010, signed with the NFL's Chicago Bears on Feb. 5. O'Day retired Tuesday and moved into the Riders' front office as the football operations co-ordinator.
Gauthier is the second high-profile offensive tackle to be signed by the Riders in consecutive years. The Riders signed Dan Goodspeed in 2010 after he completed two all-star seasons with the Tiger-Cats. Goodspeed and Gauthier were also teammates with the Blue Bombers in 2007 and 2008 and the Tiger-Cats in 2009.
"Dan is one of my best friends in the league and I talk to him quite often,'' said Gauthier, who is 6-foot-6 and 326 pounds. "We'll have to see if we'll be together again in the future.''
Gauthier, a product of Marie, Que., and graduate of the University of Laval Rouge et Or, was the first pick in the 2002 CFL draft by the Renegades. He signed with Calgary in 2005 as a free agent after the Renegades folder. Gauthier was traded to Winnipeg in 2007 and started in the Blue Bombers' 23-19 loss to the Riders in the Grey Cup game. He remained with Winnipeg until signing as a free agent with Hamilton in 2009. Gauthier was an East Division all-star in 2007.
mmccormick@leaderpost.com
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