The Hamilton Tiger-Cats locked up star quarterback Zach Collaros through the 2018 season. Collaros and the team agreed to a contract extension earlier today.
Ticats Give Zach Collaros Contract Extension
The six-foot, 216-pound Steubenville, Ohio native originally signed as a free agent with the Ticats in 2014. He spent the previous two seasons up the QEW with the rival Toronto Argonauts. The 27-year-old was entering his option year, with his contract set to expire by the end of the 2016 season. Collaros was well on his way to an ‘Most Outstanding Player’ like season in 2015, leading the Ticats to an 8-3 record while throwing for 3,376 yards and 25 touchdowns before he tore the anterior cruciate ligament during a 25-18 home loss to the eventual Grey Cup Champion Edmonton Eskimos in September. The injury will keep Collaros out for the start of the upcoming CFL season. The timetable for his return is unknown at this point in time.
Hamilton Leadership
This is a major signing for the Tiger-Cats as they manage to keep their leader on offence and possibly the face of the franchise for seasons to come. The Ticats continue to keep their core group intact. Linebacker Simoni Lawrence signed a contract extension a few weeks ago. While Collaros has yet to play a full season in the black and gold, Kent Austin and his staff are not only building for the present, but the future as well. Collaros will be a big part of that. The team is set for a playoff run in 2016. They have been in the conversation to compete for the Grey Cup every year since Austin took over in 2013.
Barring any further injuries, the Ticats, led by Collaros, have the potential to not only make it back to the Grey Cup, but win it. They continue to finally get past that final hurdle. Zach Collaros will be the first to tell you, that the Ticats have unfinished business to take care of. With the season starting this week, at BMO Field, the Ticats also hope it ends there; with a Grey Cup victory in November.
Main Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images.
