The Insider

Receiver Terence Jeffers-Harris will likely become no more than a footnote in the history of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but for one game he will become "The Insider."

The Tiger-Cats signed Jeffers-Harris on Friday, only a day after he was summarily cut loose by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for failing to accept his role on the team, which was to be a practice-roster player.

As a player who signed after the post-season began, Jeffers-Harris is ineligible to play for the Ticats. But if he has any inside information about the Bombers' preparation for their East Division final against Hamilton this Sunday in Winnipeg, well, he's become a valuable player - maybe the most valuable player.

If Jeffers-Harris has knowledge of a trick play, formation, scheme or anything connected to the Bombers game plan, he's invaluable to Hamilton. Surely, he has to bring something to Hamilton aside from his clothes. That being said, he may be headed back to Winnipeg on Saturday when the team arrives in preparation for Sunday's East Division final at Canad Inns Stadium. If I'm the Ticats, I'm flying in Jeffers-Harris and positioning him on the sideline near the head coach and offensive co-ordinator to provide information.

Practice-roster money is a suggested $500 per week (or game depending on how you interpret things), plus room and board, so it's not like the Cats will bust the bank doing this.

Jeffers-Harris will also collect the $3,300 first-round playoff money the Bombers received for finishing first in the East. Collectively, he's going to receive about $4,000 for two weeks worth of not really working. That's not bad all. A league source said Jeffers-Harris isn't entitled to any playoff money, but this appears to be a precedent-setting situation because the player had been with the team from the start of the playoffs, so it will be interesting if the matter is contested by the CFL Players' Association.

Jeffers-Harris had all the makings of a future star as a rookie at the onset of the 2010 CFL season before going down to injury. He came back later in the season but wasn't as effective. He was eligible for the National Football League draft in 2011 but was passed over, and his sophomore season was similar to his up-and-down rookie campaign. Even when healthy, he couldn't crack the lineup for a sustained period.

The Bombers had no serious use for him - he knew it and started to violate team rules - so they cut him loose. They could have suspended him, but chose not to, and Hamilton quickly pounced on his availability. That may prove to be a shrewd move. If his knowledge of the Bombers' game planning helps the Cats, it's brilliant strategy - a paid informant. If nothing else Hamilton has gotten into Winnipeg's head, having already caused a distraction or a source of controversy.

It's not unusual for a team to claim a player off another team's roster in the regular season, but rules require that player to be immediately activated to the roster for the next game. Most times the move is done to fill an immediate need - likely to fill an injured special teams player or back - and has no bearing on the game. But the playoff rules are different and that's why Jeffers-Harris won't be playing on Sunday, although he may be playing mind games with the Bombers.

Sources tell sportsnet.ca that Jeffers-Harris wants to go to the NFL and will likely be cut loose immediately after the playoffs are over. The Ticats could offer him a contract, but he is unlikely to take it.

So this is really all about one game and what the Ticats have done to impact the Bombers at a time when they are mentally locked into the East Division final at home in the last game to ever be played at Canad Inns Stadium. The Bombers are one win away from making it to the Grey Cup. If they beat Hamilton, the whole Jeffers-Harris thing will be all forgotten. If the Ticats beat the Bombers, Winnipeg might wonder if Jeffers-Harris gave Hamilton a tidbit or two that proved costly.

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