Perry Lefko

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.

The Andy Fantuz signing (pictured) wasn't possible without Jason Clermont's pay cut. .

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders connected on an interesting deal Wednesday that involved a key player who was not part of the transaction, Sportsnet.ca has learned.

The Roughriders received towering American receiver Prechae Rodriguez, who was a key part of the Ticats offence two years ago but didn't factor in it last year and wasn't part of the team's plans moving forward.

The Ticats picked up Adam Nicholson, one of a slew of talented, young Canadian receivers the Roughriders had on their roster, along with the likes of Andy Fantuz, Rob Bagg and Chris Getzlaf.

They also have veteran Jason Clermont, who joined the team last year as a major free-agent signing from B.C., but became a backup as the season unfolded. Clermont recently agreed to a sizeable pay cut off of his salary of about $110,000 a season. The Riders needed cap flexibility following the re-signing of Fantuz after last season and raising his salary significantly, while still having the ability to keep Clermont as a mentor for the receiving brigade.

The Cats also received a third-round pick in next year's draft, and the rights to negotiation list player, Chris Williams, a promising return specialist from New Mexico State who attended the Miami Dolphins' training camp. He became a practice roster player for the Dolphins and then the Cleveland Browns.

The Roughriders are loaded with return specialists following the signing of free agent Dominique Dorsey, the Canadian Football League's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2008 with Toronto, and Jason Armstead.

The Cats picked up speedy receiver Maurice Mann from Edmonton in a trade this off-season, making the 6-foot-5 Rodriguez even more expendable. Used in the right way, he is hard to defend because of his size.

All and all, it was a good trade for both teams.

But without Clermont agreeing to a pay cut, it might not have happened.