Receiver Robert Baker has made his decision, and it doesn't involve playing football for the Blue Bombers.
In fact, Baker, 30, says he's giving up the game for a career in music.
"It's a difficult thing for him," Baker's agent, Bill Thies, said from Toronto yesterday. "When it just came down to it, football wasn't where his heart was at anymore."
Released by Toronto and claimed by the Bombers last week, Baker remains in Toronto, where he's recording a pair of CDs under his rapper name, Shake Severs, or S.S.
WON'T COLLECT
His decision means he won't collect on the rest of his contract, a deal worth well over $100,000 per season for at least another two years.
"He definitely is walking away from a nice salary," Thies said. "But we're more than going to be able to make that up with the (recording) contracts we're negotiating now."
Baker was coming off two 1000-yard seasons, although he struggled in Toronto early this year.
He'll remain on the suspended list, with the Bombers holding his rights, until he officially files retirement papers.
When he does, he's no longer tied to any team, should he ever un-retire.
And the chances of that?
"Pretty slim," Thies said. "Stranger things have happened."
