Jeremiah Masoli ended the Tiger-Cats season as Hamilton's starting quarterback. By the time that next season begins to loom, Masoli hopes that he will remain in a Hamilton uniform.
Masoli, 29, is set to become a free agent in February. If Hamilton opts not to extend an offer to the former Oregon standout, he will become one of the marquee names that will become available. After spending the last five seasons with the Ti-Cats, Masoli is open to staying.
"I love Hamilton," Masoli told TSN's Matthew Scianitti after Hamilton's 33-0 win over Montreal on Friday night. "I love being here and I'd love to be back."
#Ticats' Jeremiah Masoli turns on the jets and runs it in for a 59-yard touchdown! #CFLGameDay #FNF@Ticats 33 - @MTLAlouettes 0 pic.twitter.com/bnjoUXZ35M
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 4, 2017
Masoli spent the first eight games of the 2017 season behind Zach Collaros on Hamilton's depth chart. It wouldn't be until Hamilton started off with a winless record of 0-8 when Masoli was tabbed the starting quarterback.
"We’ll see how that shakes out but I feel great about those kids," Ti-Cats head coach June Jones said after the move. "I think both are starters and good players in this league.”
After becoming the CFL's highest-paid CFL player in 2016, Collaros remains under contract through the 2018 season. Collaros threw eight touchdowns by the time of his demotion but added seven interceptions. Hamilton was forced to make a change.
It puts Hamilton in a tough position on who to hand the reigns of the organization over to. Masoli has proven that he can be a unique dual-threat quarterback after posting career-high numbers this season with 19 touchdowns, 446 rushing yards and 3,177 passing yards but Collaros gained the trust to receive a lucrative contact. As Jones said that 'both are starters', ultimately he will have to decide be who will be starting for Hamilton.