EDMONTON — Tre Ford was supposed to be Edmonton’s quarterback of the future. He could be the quarterback of the Elks’ past after this Friday’s season finale against the Toronto Argonauts.

The Elks (6-11) have already been eliminated from the playoff race. The Argos (10-7) have already clinched second place in the East and will advance to a home playoff game against the Ottawa Redblacks.

So when the two teams meet at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday in a match that has nothing to do with the standings, all eyes will be on Ford, whose contract expires at the end of the year. Will he return to Edmonton in 2025? Or will he continue on his way?

“For me personally, (this game) doesn’t show me anything,” Ford said. “I know I can compete at this level and play point guard. Hopefully I can show other people that and go from there.”

The Ford saga has been a roller coaster ride for both the actor and the fans. The Canadian point guard was selected by the Elks in the first round of the 2022 draft. He won the starting job midway through the 2023 season and became a fan favorite for his ability to scramble, improvise and turn broken plays into big wins.

Ahead of the 2024 season, then-general manager and head coach Chris Jones hired veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson and relegated Ford to a backup role. The Elks started the season 0-7, Jones was fired, Ford got his chance to start again, then got injured. Bethel-Thompson became the starter as the team chased a playoff berth, but Ford regained the starting job after the Elks were mathematically eliminated.

So no one can blame Ford if he entered the final week of the regular season thinking he was playing for himself.

But Ford talked about team goals, playing with pride and helping some of his teammates achieve individual goals; such as senior wide receiver Eugene Lewis, who entered the game 18 yards shy of 1,000 yards on the year.

“The main thing is, we want to go and win,” Ford said. “I know we’re not in a position to go to the play-offs and chase the Gray Cup. Not every team has the chance to do that. We’re still professionals, so when we go out there we’re trying to win.”

Lewis is another player whose contract is expiring; It’s a two-year deal that pays him $320,000 per season, making him the best-paid non-quarterback in the league. He has refused to take a pay cut this season and is making no secret of the fact that he is in a store window for all general managers to see.

“I’ll be excited for myself,” he said. “I put myself in a great position. I’m still showing it to the people here. If people don’t think I’m the best receiver or one of the best players in the league, that’s their opinion. I show that every year. I try to do things the best I can and I know what my value is. What I do on the field is I know what I contribute and what I contribute to society from the field.”

As for Argos, this game is just a formality.

While coach Ryan Dinwiddie has said it’s likely the majority of the team will head to Edmonton, he hasn’t made a commitment on how many regular starters will actually see the field.

Cameron Dukes will start at point guard for the Argos, with Nick Arbuckle backing him up in place of Chad Kelly. However, the Argos will start their two leading receivers, Makai Polk and Damonte Coxie. Polk needs 98 yards receiving to reach 1,000 yards this year.

“They all need to be available. We have small rosters in the CFL,” Dinwiddie said.

A lot of this will have to do with how the game will impact CFL roster rules, and the Argos need to comply with them.

“I told them I don’t know what the salary cap is going to be like,” Dinwiddie said, “(to see) if we can move some young players and some rookies, see where we are.” next year. Or ‘Hey, you’re a starter for us, you might need to be in a backup role.’ will be.

NOT HITTING ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT: Only two of the Elks’ six wins this season have been against teams with a winning record. Three of those came against the Calgary Stampeders, who would be in last place in the West.

BYE BYE: The Elks will clean out their lockers on Monday while the Argos prepare to face Ottawa in the East Semifinals.

ELK ENVY: The Elks traded defenseman Jake Ceresna to Toronto ahead of the 2024 season. They are tied in the league with eight points.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.