Edmonton Eskimos Re-Sign Jason Maas
Edmonton Eskimos fans have something to be excited about today, as the Esks announced that they’ve resigned Jason Maas.
Maas was traded to Hamilton after the 2005 season, where it was assumed that he’d get the chance to become a full-blown CFL starting quarterback, instead of playing backup to Edmonton starter Ricky Ray. This never happened, partly because of a shoulder injury that plagued him through his time with the Tiger-Cats.
The Tiger-Cats traded Maas to the Montreal Alouettes last season, and that club sent him off into the world as a free agent. Today, the Eskimos announced that they’ve signed Maas to a one-year contract plus option.
Re-signing Maas doesn’t mean that Ricky Ray will be losing the starter’s role. He won’t. Ray will still be the starter, and the second-string position will remain with Stefan LeFors. Maas will be competing with teammate Steven Jyles for the third-string role.
Maas doesn’t seem to mind. He’s happy to be home—he and his family still live in Sherwood Park—and all reports indicate that he’s looking forward to playing with the Esks again.
Personally, I’d like to see Maas move into the role of backup quarterback, or even take over the starting role, but that’s not likely to happen, especially in light of his inconsistent play over the last couple of seasons (due mostly, I suspect, to the injuries he’s been battling).
Despite that, Maas stands to play a leadership role. According to head coach Danny Maciocia, “Jason is a proven leader and winner whose intensity and passion for the game will be a real asset to the team.”
If nothing else, it’ll be nice to see Maas donning the green and gold again come June.