'Let's not make this a me versus Darian Durant thing': Chris Jones

Twenty-four hours after Darian Durant said his contract talks are at a standstill, his boss hopes the water is still flowing freely.

• Riders' QB Darian Durant says contract talks at a standstill
• Durant to sit out Roughriders' season finale

Since leading the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a Grey Cup championship in 2013, Durant was rewarded with a contract worth close to a half-million dollars per season.

But it's been a rocky ride since then.

In return for their investment, the Riders got back-to-back season ending injuries, followed by a five-win 2016 campaign. That's leverage any organization would use when dealing with a quarterback whose best years are likely behind him.

"I try to take the personal stuff out of it and this is just business,'' said head coach and general manager Chris Jones in his last media scrum of the season on Monday.

Durant said he has already re-adjusted his contract to benefit the club so he and his agent, Dan Vertlieb, are feeling they shouldn't have to budge much.

"I feel like I've moved so much in the past couple years. I took a pay cut this year coming in. I'm willing to take another pay cut. I felt like I've done my part," said Durant on Sunday while his teammates were cleaning out their lockers.

"We presented an offer that is more than reasonable. It's up to the team to accept. If they don't, I know where I stand and I know what the situation is." 

Jones would not get into any specifics.

"Let's not try to make this a me versus Darian Durant thing. That's not what it is. If he feels like they're at a standstill, we're hoping the water is still flowing freely," said Jones.

Different goals

Given Durant's age, both sides would want different things out of a contract.

Durant would be looking to make as much guaranteed money for as long as he can. 

Whether it's my wish or my boss' wish, my time will end and it may just be sooner than later.- Darian Durant

Meanwhile, the Riders wouldn't want to be cash-strapped to a quarterback in his mid-30s for likely any more than a year at a time, so incentives and bonuses would make up a large part of their offer.

When Jones was asked if Durant's base salary was an issue, he responded: "I want to keep the salaries out of it if I can today. Any time you have negotiations, it's about the numbers, especially when you're dealing with your starting quarterback, so we're just trying to come to middle ground where it's good for both sides."

In the meantime, both sides seem to be preparing for the worst case scenario: Durant becoming a free agent in February.

"We don't even want to think like that. We want to try and get Darian back but we have to look at reality and have a plan put together," said Jones. "There will be some options after the season is over."

Meanwhile, Durant offered that, "Whether it's my wish or my boss' wish, my time will end and it may just be sooner than later."