Darrell Davis: The ugliness of football contracts

Contract negotiations are seldom pretty.

Case in point: Quarterback Darian Durant and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are embroiled in contract talks that, a couple weeks ago, seemed amicable and heading to a quick and fair conclusion.

Now it looks like they hit the proverbial stumbling block. The length of a contract can usually be worked out, so the financial value of any contract is the key.

Whatever the number – $250,000, $350,000 or $450,000 – the CFL team and Durant’s agent are reportedly $100,000 apart in their discussions. That’s a big gap, made even bigger by how Durant will earn his money. Will it be guaranteed as part of a signing bonus? Will he get paid bonuses by how much he plays? How much will be in the salary? Is he even going to be the starter?

If the Riders are offering less than Durant expected, it means the team doesn’t really want him as its starter. Unless they acquire somebody like Travis Lulay, Ricky Ray or James Franklin, when Durant’s contract expires in February, the Riders won’t have anybody else who can play quarterback at a CFL level. Ugly, ugly, very ugly.