Darrell Davis: Riders will still be circling Franklin

It’s still too early to emphatically state that quarterback James Franklin won’t be joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders next season.

Franklin has been traded from the Edmonton Eskimos to the Toronto Argonauts. A three-year CFL veteran, Franklin’s contract expires Feb. 13.

Edmonton general manager Brock Sunderland spoke to four teams about dealing Franklin, who has been relegated to backup duty behind league MVP Mike Reilly.

Toronto offered the best terms, plus this trade sends the promising pivot out of the West Division. Edmonton certainly doesn’t want Franklin in Saskatchewan, an intra-divisional rival with an obvious interest —and need — in the promising pivot.

Now Franklin is behind Ricky Ray, the Grey Cup-winning quarterback, on Toronto’s depth chart. Ray is pondering retirement. If Ray retires, Franklin starts in Toronto. If Ray remains as Toronto’s starter, the Roughriders will be circling.