Darrell Davis: Jones made mostly the right moves

It’s time to admit Chris Jones was right about quarterback Darian Durant.

After coaching Durant for one season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Jones orchestrated the quarterback’s departure with a subtle series of putdowns that included saying he had unrealistic contract demands and had been “moderately successful.” Durant was dealt to Montreal, where the Alouettes have bottomed-out offensively with their 35-year-old quarterback. Saskatchewan subsequently enlisted a 38-year-old quarterback, Kevin Glenn, who is showing he’s better suited for the offence deployed by co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo.

Like all general managers, Jones has to know when his players’ performances are slipping, when they’re no longer worth the salaries they’re getting, when it’s time to move on without them. Upon joining the Riders in 2016, Jones immediately dispatched fan favourites Chris Getzlaf, Weston Dressler and John Chick. Jones was clearing the deck for the team he was constructing and he may have been a little premature dumping them so quickly, but he wasn’t too much too early.