Former West Virginia quarterback Major Harris will sign a $130,000, one-year contract with the Canadian Football League's British Columbia Lions, his agent said today.
Harris turned down a matching offer from the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League.Harris and the Lions were unable to come to terms until Thursday because the team wanted him to sign a four-year contract. Harris wanted a shorter obligation because he plans eventually to play for the National Football League's Los Angeles Raiders.
On Thursday, Harris, a Pittsburgh native, turned down the Gladiators, who offered the same deal as British Columbia "plus possibly 45 percent of the gate," Abram said.
Harris attended a Raiders mini-camp last week, but Los Angeles, which drafted him in the 12th round, indicated it would put him on its developmental squad if he signed now, Abram said.