The Edmonton Eskimos made a splash in CFL free agency today, signing the best Canadian wide receiver still on the market. The Eskimos inked former Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Chris Getzlaf.
The 33-year-old receiver has played for his hometown Roughriders for the past eight and a half seasons, being part of two Grey Cup winning teams. He was named the Most Outstanding Canadian in Saskatchewan’s 2013 Grey Cup victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his career he has racked up 5,694 receiving yards on 368 receptions with 37 touchdowns.
In an interview posted by Gary Moddejong of Sun Media, Getzlaf reflected on the fact that this would be only the second time in his life that he would play for a football team outside of Regina.
“I had three months in Hamilton,” said Getzlaf, 33, who was drafted 33rd overall in 2007. “Outside of that, I’ve been in Regina all my life.
“My wife and I are looking forward to the opportunity to come out there and experience something new.”
“It’s a true blessing to be able to play for a team for nine years, that you grow up cheering for, that’s your hometown,” he said. “And you got to experience winning a Grey Cup in that hometown, I’ve been truly blessed with those opportunities and obviously it’s a big change when you have to leave that situation. But with the new beginnings and new doors open, it becomes just a new excitement.”
Getzlaf is the brother of Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf.
The signing is a reversal of sorts after Eskimos head coach Chris Jones and a number of the team’s free agents signed in Saskatchewan earlier in the off-season.
Main Photo Credit:
Main Photo Caption: REGINA, SK – OCTOBER 24: Chris Getzlaf #89 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders makes a reception in the game between the Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders in week 18 of the 2015 CFL season at Mosaic Stadium on October 24, 2015 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. (Photo by Brent Just/Getty Images)
