REGINA -- As a Regina-based realtor, Jason Clermont is used to handling offers.
These days, he’s getting more accustomed to fielding offers as they pertain to his professional football career.
These days, he’s getting more accustomed to fielding offers as they pertain to his professional football career.
The 29-year-old slotback, who was cut loose by the B.C. Lions last week, received an official offer from his hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders on Tuesday night after a chat with general manger Eric Tillman.
“Eric is a good guy to talk to,” said Clermont, who starred with the Usher Unicorns and University of Regina Rams. “He doesn’t B.S. a lot. We were able to have an open discussion on where he sees I’d fit and how I’d be able to fit as far as the salary is concerned.”
“We had a great talk Tuesday night and exchanged proposals,” added Tillman, who has cut back his work schedule while he battles the flu. “From there we just agreed to talk in the next day or two.”
“Eric is a good guy to talk to,” said Clermont, who starred with the Usher Unicorns and University of Regina Rams. “He doesn’t B.S. a lot. We were able to have an open discussion on where he sees I’d fit and how I’d be able to fit as far as the salary is concerned.”
“We had a great talk Tuesday night and exchanged proposals,” added Tillman, who has cut back his work schedule while he battles the flu. “From there we just agreed to talk in the next day or two.”
Clermont has confirmed offers from the Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders, but has also spoken with Toronto Argonauts general manager Adam Rita. The Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers also reportedly have an interest in acquiring Clermont’s services.
Clermont said he has received enough information from each of the teams that has contacted him, but still isn’t putting any timelines on when he will have a decision.
“It’s not like the decision falls squarely in my lap,” said Clermont. “You’re building a relationship with the team and there’s a lot of variables -- not only the GM and the coaching staff, but you also have to factor in your own structure within the current roster. I was waiting for Eric to put something down on paper so I could have a look at it. I let (Stampeders head coach and GM John) Hufnagel know that’s what I was going to be waiting on.
“I just want to accommodate whichever team it is I’m going to be playing with next season and put them in a favourable situation and not try to squeeze them at a time like now when there’s a lot of variables to consider. I’m not trying to put pressure on anybody. I’m just trying to negotiate terms that are favourable for not only myself, but for the teams.”
Clermont said he has received enough information from each of the teams that has contacted him, but still isn’t putting any timelines on when he will have a decision.
“It’s not like the decision falls squarely in my lap,” said Clermont. “You’re building a relationship with the team and there’s a lot of variables -- not only the GM and the coaching staff, but you also have to factor in your own structure within the current roster. I was waiting for Eric to put something down on paper so I could have a look at it. I let (Stampeders head coach and GM John) Hufnagel know that’s what I was going to be waiting on.
“I just want to accommodate whichever team it is I’m going to be playing with next season and put them in a favourable situation and not try to squeeze them at a time like now when there’s a lot of variables to consider. I’m not trying to put pressure on anybody. I’m just trying to negotiate terms that are favourable for not only myself, but for the teams.”
He may not want to place pressure on any of the interested teams, but how much pressure is Clermont feeling, especially living in Regina among many Roughriders fans who would love nothing more than to see him in Green and White?
“At grocery stores, in Costco and other places you hear things like that for sure,” Clermont said with a chuckle. “If nobody was saying anything, when people stop talking to you and stop caring, that’s when you’ve got problems. It’s a good thing to have.”
But Clermont also has to be careful not to base his decision on that pressure.
“What matters is each day when I come home is what my family is comfortable with,” said Clermont. “That’s how we base our decision.
“At grocery stores, in Costco and other places you hear things like that for sure,” Clermont said with a chuckle. “If nobody was saying anything, when people stop talking to you and stop caring, that’s when you’ve got problems. It’s a good thing to have.”
But Clermont also has to be careful not to base his decision on that pressure.
“What matters is each day when I come home is what my family is comfortable with,” said Clermont. “That’s how we base our decision.
Eric has made it clear that he’s not going to base his decision on the popular vote. Obviously that’s the job of the GM and he has made those decisions before and (Lions head coach and general manager) Wally Buono just made one of those tough decisions. You can’t let those things influence those decisions. I’m going to do the same. I’m going to gather the information, sit down with my family and make a family decision.”
Clermont spent the first seven years of his career in B.C. He was twice named the CFL’s most outstanding Canadian and was the league’s rookie-of-the-year in 2002.
tswitzer@leaderpost.canwest.com
Clermont spent the first seven years of his career in B.C. He was twice named the CFL’s most outstanding Canadian and was the league’s rookie-of-the-year in 2002.
tswitzer@leaderpost.canwest.com
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