Former Ticats quarterback Henry Burris landed the big pay day he was looking for on Tuesday, signing a three-year deal with the Ottawa Redblacks worth in the neighbourhood of $450,000 a year, making him one of the highest paid players in the league.

Yes, the Ottawa RedBlacks.

The CFL's expansion franchise opened up the piggy bank for Burris, out-bidding the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the services of the 38-year-old veteran. The Bombers were offering about $375,000 per season, according to reports out of Winnipeg.

The hefty price tag was significantly more than the Ticats were willing to pay Burris after two seasons with the club. They made him a free agent last Tuesday, the same day the signed former Argonaut Zach Collaros, who, at 25, is both younger and more affordable.

“The opportunity to be a part of something fresh and new was something that my family and I just couldn't turn down,'' Burris said. “We had to be a part of this. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to leave your fingerprints, your footprint on a growing organization that will be around for years and years to come.

Burris help lead the Ticats to a Grey Cup appearance last season – despite significant upheaval- and said he has no qualms about joining the neophyte Redblacks.

“I really don't look at this as an expansion team,'' said Burris. “Last season in Hamilton we had the youngest team in the league on both sides of the ball and I was changing (diapers) day in and day out. I expect some of the same challenges (in Ottawa).

“As we've seen in this league it's not how you start, it's how you finish and that gives you plenty of time to overcome your growing pains and to make your mistakes early on.”

The move is surprising given the Redblacks selected another ex-Ticat, former Calgary Stampeders quarterback Kevin Glenn, with the first pick in December's expansion draft. The 34-year-old Glenn split time under centre with the Stampeders last season, finishing with 2,710 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Ottawa general manager Marcel Desjardins – who also held that role in Hamilton – said the team has not ruled out going to training camp with both Burris and Glenn on the roster, along with former Lion pivot Thomas DeMarco, who was also taken in the expansion draft.

“Now, that’s not to say that teams won’t reach out to us and we won’t reach out to teams,” Desjardins said, “But, when we decided to make this signing, we decided that, if we had to go to camp with these three guys, we are probably in as good a position as anybody in the league at the quarterback position.”

Burris led the Tiger-Cats to last season's Grey Cup, where Hamilton fell 45-23 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was tops in the league with 4,925 passing yards in 2013 to go along with 24 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. In 15 CFL seasons, the Oklahoma native ranks fourth all-time in regular-season passing yards (51,529), touchdown passes (324) and completions (3,672).

Burris' decision to spurn the Bombers – who also lost out on Collaros – leave the Bombers as the only team without a clear starting quarterback heading into next season. The only free agent expected to be available is Saskatchewan Roughriders back up Drew Wily.

There's been speculation that Winnipeg could look to acquire Glenn via trade or hope that the Redblacks ultimately decide to release him to avoid having two high-priced veterans on the roster.

Notes: The league announced Tuesday that free agency is now scheduled to start at 12 noon on Feb. 11. It had been scheduled for Feb. 15, but that date falls on a holiday long weekend in several provinces.

- with files from CP