Stampeders’ Mitchell soaks in Grey Cup win as chance in NFL looms

CALGARY When the crowd chanted “one more year” at Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, head coach Dave Dickenson held up five fingers in an effort to up that demand. “It’s good to feel wanted,” Mitchell said. The Stampeders celebrated their Grey Cup victory Tuesday with a public rally in front of Calgary city hall. The players, Dickenson and general manager John Hufnagel were still savouring Sunday’s 2716 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in Edmonton for the CFL championship.

But both those on stage with the trophy, and many among the 6,000 fans the City of Calgary said were gathered, knew it could potentially be the last time they saw Mitchell in the galloping horse jersey.

The 28-year-old native of Katy, Texas, was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player this season for the second time in his career before going on to earn his second Grey Cup title and game MVP award in four appearances.

Mitchell will be a free agent in February. With the CFL and its players bargaining a new collective agreement in the off-season, he is considering options which include the NFL.

“Things are brewing,” Mitchell said. “NFL-wise, it doesn’t matter if I have 20 workouts or five, you don’t know what’s going to happen, if anybody wants me after they see me. I’ll try things out. See what happens, but I’m going to have a talk with Huf and Dave and see what we can get done.

“At this point, if I sign a contract right now, it will be long term to commit to this city and this team for a long time. Before I do that, I have to know. I’m an athlete, I’m competitive. I grew up in Houston, Texas, and I’ve got to know. If I come back to the CFL, I’m playing in red and white.”