Graham Harrell, highly-touted as the quarterback of the future for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has been shelved for at least nine games with an injury -- even though it is not believed he is hurt -- as an apparent means to keep his salary from counting against the league's salary cap rules, Sportsnet.ca has learned.

Harrell, a 24-year-old Texas Tech product, signed with the Roughriders on Monday amid much fanfare after becoming the first pivot in NCAA history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in consecutive seasons. He had only begun practising with the team when the Roughriders placed him on the nine-game injured list on Wednesday, effectively preventing him from playing until Oct. 1 at the earliest.

There are provisions in the salary management system to bring a player back early from the nine-game injured list, but the entire salary counts against the $4.2. million cap by which all teams must abide.

And therein lies the key to the Riders' surprising move. According to a source who does not believe Harrell is hurt, the Riders are using the nine-game injured list to their advantage.

Harrell had an offer in excess of $100,000 if he started for the San Francisco franchise of the fledgling United Football League scheduled to start in the fall.

The Riders could not afford to attract Harrell with the $600 a week salary alloted to players joining a team's practice roster. It's believed he has a base pay of about $70,000, which is the going rate for rookie players of his stature and position, with incentives to increase the overall amount, hence the move to keep him on the team and not have it impact on the cap.

The Riders' move is not unique. It is known, although not divulged, that most teams follow a similar practice to hide young players while also giving them time to develop. At best the nine-game injured list is one of convenience, if not a necessity, to prevent dangling or losing players. Because the nine-game injured list doesn't count against the cap, it is a way to use the system without breaking any rules.

It is known that Harrell joined a roster that already included four other quarterbacks, including Darian Durant and backups Steven Jyles, Dalton Bell and Cole Bergquist. It was speculated the addition of Harrell would force the Riders to cut one of their other quarterbacks. This temporarily eliminates that.

Upon Harrell's signing, some Rider fans speculated he would supplant Durant.