WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced on Friday the club has signed quarterback Zach Collaros to a one-year contract extension through the 2026 Canadian Football League season.
It’s great to hear Collaros is coming back. Although his play over the last couple of seasons has left something to be desired, I’m all for him continuing his career! He is a talented player and valued leader in the CFL.
A bit surprising to me at this stage. Hard to judge until we see what this year will be like. I wonder what they are paying him?
Its almost a brilliant, although necessary move. Bomber tall foreheads know the one glaring area of weakness on this otherwise sound marketing machine team is developing a network of CFL ready QBs. Other teams have done it - Bombers go bust just about every time they attempt to find the next Ken Ploen or Dieter Brock. Lots of duds on the list, starting with John Schneider and working down. . . . Bombers are relegated to being CFL’s version of QB Pooper-Skoopers - ie. Don Jonas, Chuck Ealey, Kelvin Glenn, Tom Burgess, Tom Terrific, Danny Mac, Dunigan, Joe Paopao, Kerwin Ball, yada yada. Even Zach was a scrap-heap pick up.
Danny Mac doesn’t belong on your list. His first CFL team was the Blue Bombers. After spending 1988 with the NFL KC Chiefs followed by a year off he was signed by Winnipeg, although he achieved greatness with other teams, most notably Hamilton. From Wikipedia:
Unable to find a place to play in 1989, McManus signed with the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in time for the 1990 season. The Blue Bombers had won two Grey Cups in the previous three years and in McManus’s first year with team they won the 78th Grey Cup. McManus, the Blue Bombers’ backup all year, threw for a total of 946 yards and seven touchdowns during the season, and also tossed a touchdown in the Grey Cup in a rare appearance for the backup in the championship game.
Through 1991 and 1992, McManus remained with the Blue Bombers as the backup quarterback to Matt Dunigan. He made his second Grey Cup appearance in 1992, again coming in for a relief stint. This time the Blue Bombers lost the 80th Grey Cup 24–10 to Calgary at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario.
| 009–2013 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (scout) |
|---|---|
| 2014–present | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (assistant GM) |
| As coach | |
| 2008 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (assistant) |
| As player | |
| 1988 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1990–1992 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| 1993–1995 | BC Lions |
| 1996–1997 | Edmonton Eskimos |
| 1998–2005 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 2006 | Edmonton Eskimos* |
| 2006 | Calgary Stampeders |
| *Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| * 5× Grey Cup champion (1990, 1994, 1999, 2019, 2021) |
Can’t say I’m surprised. In the West, only Harris is on a 1 yr deal. In the East - Brown, Alexander &, I believe, Kelly are sewn up. In any case, Kelly refused to play out West prompting his rights being traded to Toronto.
So, in the coming year if you’re thinking of moving on, then you’re likely looking at a backup from someone to replace him. We’ll see how it goes this year.
Its not like a monster guaranteed NFL or NHL deal. Its approx. $500k or somesuch. If the wheels suddenly fall off Zach (even more than last year) I’m sure there’s a lesser amount buyout.
Zach is pretty good PR in Winnipeg. Not quite Adam Lowry, Mark Schiefele or Scott Arniel levels but pretty darn good.
Nobody likes talking to Wad Miller, he’s a fairly confrontational character . . . and Coach Mike O’Shea, while successful rarely admits anything more than puzzled looks. Zach is a godsend, even if he’s not the guy he was 2 or 3 years ago.
I’m not sure any of our current backups will be a ready starter next year, so from that angle it’s good. I’m also not sure that Zach will be a solid starter next year either…but we’ll see how he does this year, and either way it’s nice to have him locked up to help mentor our next starter, whoever that is. I’m curious and fairly nervous to see where the QB position goes in the next couple years for the Bombers.
Why did the phrase ‘takes one to know one’ pop immediately to my mind?
Not sure how to feel about the timing of this. I’d like to see how he does this year, I really thought he’d be done, especially if he could go out as a champ. We’ll see I guess. So many make a big deal out of signings/contracts, but it often doesn’t mean anything.
Has to be a bit of a ceremonial thing. Make Zach feel like he’s the most important part of the team - even if team realizes he’s down a pint (or more). Good move - nothing more than restless colts and unproven pintos in the Bombers QB barn.
Well, I disagree with that thought. There isn’t a player on the squad that doesn’t think he’s the most important player on the team. Not sure how any fan can’t see that.
I guess they called him from a listed number with the offer! 
In all seriousness, I like the extension. Winnipeg has no one to step into his shoes at the moment, he’s the franchise QB, and you don’t want him even thinking about going elsewhere until/unless you have someone capable to step into his shoes. Which is not any other QB on Winnipeg’s current roster, at least not at this point in time or stage in their development.