Sixth-round selections usually don't generate much attention, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders made an intriguing choice on Wednesday.
Remember the name Teale Orban.
He is the latest in a long list of Canadian-produced quarterbacks who has been drafted by the Canadian Football League but almost certainly won’t play in a regular-season game or even dress for one.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders selected the University of Regina product on Wednesday in the 2008 CFL draft. Roughriders’ general manager Eric Tillman has enough confidence in Orban that he made a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, dealing an undisclosed negotiation list player who is on a National Football League roster, to pick the pivot in the sixth round.
The Roughriders had exhausted all their picks to that point.
Some negotiation list players never set foot in the CFL – they are future picks essentially – but the odds are stronger than a Canadian player starting at quarterback or even being on a roster for a regular-season game.
The CFL and the CFLPA have traditionally not made any provisions to develop a Canadian quarterback, who are in short supply because of the overall number of Canadian universities and colleges compared to the American base.
Even a quarterback from an unknown lower-level U.S. college is considered better developed than a Canadian throwing the rock for a top Canadian football factory.
Orban is a product of one of the best Canadian football schools.
Last year he became the West Conference nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy as the most outstanding Canadian player in the country after leading the nation with 22 touchdown passes and 2,273 passing yards.
Orban still has another year of Canadian college eligibility remaining, so technically he can receive tutoring with a CFL team in the pre-season and then go back to school and work on his skills in the hopes, slim that they are, that he can prove himself at the pro level.
Maybe someday the rules will allow for a Canadian quarterback to be given special dispensation to develop in the CFL. Teams can dress three quarterbacks of any nationality, but clubs would almost exclusively go with all Americans, even ones who come from some schools that you’d need to go deep into the Internet to find out about them.
Tillman has been associated with two previous teams that had Canadian quarterbacks on their roster and believes it is an important issue.
"We’re always trying to improve our product in our game," he says. "I believe – and I’m speaking for myself – developing a starting Canadian in this league would be one of the best things that could ever happen. I’ve been associated with this league for 18 years and I believe you have to have the quarterback factored in the ratio. If a team, for example, wants to have a third quarterback and that’s convenient as opposed to a backup (Canadian) linebacker, that should be at our discretion. That way Orban would be given the same opportunity as any (Canadian) kid that’s drafted at (any other position). Teale Orban will be the only player on the field competing (exclusively) against Americans. All the other Canadians are competing against Canadians. (Orban's) competing against Americans because for whatever reason quarterbacks don’t count in the ratio. Canadian quarterbacks are held to a higher standard. A Canadian quarterback doesn’t take a starter off the field."
CFL teams are required to dress 20 Canadians and start seven. Some teams start more than seven, while others scratch to make the minimum. There are spots reserved for Americans, the majority of whom are starters.
Tillman says he would not have felt like a hypocrite not drafting Orban, who is a Regina product and well known in the area, if he truly felt strongly about the plight of Canadian quarterbacks in the CFL.
"This wasn’t done for a humanitarian thing," he insists. "This was not done for a cause. Our head coach and offensive co-ordinator were very comfortable with this pick based on merit. It was a two-pronged decision. It was one that we feel he’s legitimately earned the opportunity, but it was a chance to champion a cause I believe in and that’s giving Canadian quarterbacks a chance.
"I believe it’s something that ultimately would be terrific for the league and it’s a cause I believe in. It happened to come together rather nicely. He’s a quality player, he’s a well-respected guy in our community from an outstanding program and it was a chance to afford a Canadian quarterback an opportunity. At every level it made sense.
"He’s thrilled, being a Roughrider fan for life."
