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Although, the second part of that same tweet still holds true, as Smith added: “I’m excited for the future!”

The Redblacks, of course, would go on to win the 2016 Grey Cup, though Smith’s ties to the team were severed before then.

The timing of the Eskimos’ announcement is interesting, considering earlier on Thursday the Roughriders came out with a signing of their own in the form of international receiver Duron Carter.

The 25-year-old native of Florida suddenly found himself cut from a troubled Montreal Alouettes roster following last year’s trade deadline, which kept him on the free-agent shelf for the rest of the season.

Joining the fold in Saskatchewan gives their receiving corps some American depth, alongside Naaman Roosevelt and Armanti Edwards.

The Eskimos, meanwhile, have added depth of their own to a trio of active quarterbacks that have been together for the past two seasons. And it just so happens the group of Mike Reilly, James Franklin and Jordan Lynch first formed under ex-Eskimos head coach Chris Jones, who is now head coach, GM and vice-president of football operations in Saskatchewan.

And it’s no secret the Eskimos are looking for American talent to replace two-time CFL all-star and the league’s most outstanding rookie in 2015, Derel Walker, who joined the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers this off-season.

Just like it’s no secret that the recently inked Kevin Glenn isn’t a long-term solution at quarterback for the Roughriders – certainly not like an already proven up-and-comer such as Franklin could be, at least.

And with Franklin’s contract up at the end of this season, the Eskimos may very well have upped his visibility on the market with Smith’s signing Thursday. Whether they like it or not.

GModdejonge@postmedia.com

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