Thursday 9 February 2012

Cats Extend Grant, Re-sign Jeffers-Harris

The Cats announced today that Bakari Grant has signed a contract extension and Terence Jeffer-Harris as inked a new deal. Grant's deal keeps him in Hamilton until 2014 and Harris is being brought back after joining the team's practice roster days before the 2011 East Division Final.

Grant's first season will best be remembered for his performance in the East Division Semi-Final. Grant hauled in seven catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown catch he made was a beautiful over-the-shoulder grab:

Grant also made the key catch in overtime that allowed the Ti-Cats to score on their first possession, which would be the game's final score as the Cats won 52-44. That game was Grant's coming-out party, and hopefully he can build off that success and turn into a big-time Receiver for years to come.

Jeffers-Harris was brought in amid much controversy just days prior to Hamilton's East Division Final game against Jeffers-Harris' former team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It was thought by many (mostly Winnipeg fans), that he was brought in for his knowledge of Winnipeg's Offense. His re-signing should put to end any thought that he was only brought in for information.

With Grant's extension, it is safe to say that he will be a full-time starter in 2012 after splitting time with fellow first-year player Aaron Kelly. Jeffer-Harris is also probably being penciled in as a starter, and when you add those two to incumbents Dave Stala and Chris Williams, that leaves one starting Receiver spot open. Last year, Hamilton started two Canadians in the receiving corps, but Matt Carter is a week away from hitting the open market. Unless the Cats change up their ratio – meaning they start a Canadian somewhere else – the final spot will have to go to a Canadian. Hamilton has a lot of young receiving talent, with Aaron Kelly, Jeremy Kelley, Liam Mahoney and Glenn MacKay all still on the roster. The team might also dip their toe into the free agent market, and their is a certain Chatham-raised Receiver who could fill that fifth spot.

The Cats still have work to do to fill other needs, but with Grant extended and Jeffers-Harris in the fold for a full season, the receiving corps is looking as if it will be one of the team's strongest units.

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