The Edmonton Eskimos could be losing the guy that led them to their first Grey Cup win in 10 years.

Prior to the Grey Cup, TSN’s CFL Insider Gary Lawless reported the Saskatchewan Roughriders will ask the Eskimos for permission to speak to head coach Chris Jones about a dual role, GM/head coach position. Lawless reported Tuesday night that permission was granted.

Jones has only been a CFL head coach for two seasons but his background in personnel and scouting goes back to his days when he entered the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes. He did the same thing in Calgary and in fact was the assistant general manager when he was in Toronto as defensive co-ordinator. He already spent a good deal of his off-season in personnel and scouting duties. Jones would give Saskatchewan experience in both roles as opposed two other candidates who have already interviewed, Ottawa assistant GM Brock Sunderland and Calgary assistant GM John Murphy. If Saskatchewan went with either of those two, they would have a situation with a rookie GM and likely, a rookie coach as well.

Why would Jones leave a championship-wininng team in Edmonton to join the woeful Riders? Power and money. Jones would have complete control of the roster in Regina and would almost certainly double his salary moving from $310,000 for his head coaching duties with the Eskimos to at least double that with the Riders.

If Jones does leave Edmonton, the next coach of the Edmonton Eskimos could be Ottawa offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas. Maas is a former Eskimo who played with current general manager Ed Hervey. If they decide to go with a defensive mind, Orlondo Steinaur, defensive co-ordinator with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats could get consideration and the Cats would let him interview as long as he is a finalist.