Blue Bombers sign Bowman

Adarius Bowman has always felt at home at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field.

After signing a one-year contract with the Blue Bombers on Friday, the free-agent receiver can officially call it that for the first time.

Bowman, who played at the old Canad Inns Stadium as a member of the Blue Bombers from 2009-10 before joining the Edmonton Eskimos the following year, attended the ground-breaking ceremony at the Investors Group Field construction site in 2010.

“I dug one of the first holes into the ground here,” Bowman told reporters at a news conference. “I think it might still be a dose of that in me, even though I left away I can never forget that.”

The 32-year-old was cut by the Eskimos on Monday shortly before he was due to receive a $140,000 roster bonus.

Bowman spent the last seven seasons with Edmonton and had 45 catches for 534 yards and five TDs over 12 regular-season games in 2017. He added five receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns in two playoff contests.

With the Bombers, Bowman will be reunited with offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice, who served as his offensive coordinator with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2008.

Asked why he wanted to sign with Winnipeg, Bowman replied: “why not?”

“I definitely (wanted to be) around the offensive coordinator that I started my career with and it will be nice to finish it with him, so definitely excited to reunite with him,” Bowman continued. “After that, it was very simple to me — great group of guys, explosive offence, great defence, a team that I see is going to compete for the Grey Cup.