Air Canada taking flight good for Canadian QBS
Bridge succeeding at helm of Riders may open doors for other countrymen
Canada Day comes early for Brandon Bridge and aspiring Canadian quarterbacks across the country.
Bridge, who is nicknamed Air Canada due to his Canadian passport, makes just his third CFL start on Saturday when the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-1) play host to the Montreal Alouettes (0-2). Saturday’s game takes place the day before Canada Day.
Bridge is just the 27th Canadian to start a regular-season CFL game at quarterback since 1950.
“It’s going to be fun to see,” said University of Regina Rams quarterback Noah Picton.
“It’s great for Canadian guys and quarterbacks like myself, and the younger generation looking up and seeing a quarterback starting for an extended amount of time, more likely than not, who has a Canadian passport. It’s a motivator for guys like me and inspiring for young guys. People across Canada are going to be pretty excited to see what he can do.”
Bridge is the only Canadian quarterback on a CFL roster this season. He has embraced being a trailblazer at a position traditionally manned by Americans.
“You’re not just playing for yourself,” Bridge said. “I’m playing for myself, my family and loved ones. I’m also playing for the other people who are playing quarterback and happen to be Canadian.”
There isn’t any advantage for the Riders in terms of the national/international ratio when they start a Canadian quarterback. CFL teams must start seven nationals, but quarterbacks aren’t included on that list. If they were, Bridge feels it would be an incentive for CFL coaches to start Canadian quarterbacks.
“We’re sending a terrible message to our younger generation, for the simple fact that we don’t count in the ratio,” Bridge said. “If we’re really trying to expand football across Canada, then we should open that up and let me represent my own flag.
“I’m out there and we still have to have seven Canadians. I’m just trying to open that door and trying to get the younger generation of kids who have aspirations to play quarterback a chance.”
Bridge has an opportunity over six games or more to prove he can be a starter. That’s how long Zach Collaros is expected to be on the injured list after suffering a concussion in the Riders’ 40-17 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on June 21.
Picton feels that a successful stretch by Bridge would be good for all Canadian quarterbacks.
“He would break the barrier,” Picton said. “To have him as ‘the guy,’ so to speak. The argument that Canadian quarterbacks can’t do it would be shattered. He went down to the United States to play football and was Americantrained, and there’s that aspect to it. It would be tough to argue that Canadian guys can’t play in the league, because he’s started games and played well.”
Bridge has a strong arm and a level of mobility that’s remarkable for a six-foot-five, 230-pound quarterback. That mobility allows Bridge to turn what might be a loss or incompletion into a big play and sets him apart from many other quarterbacks, regardless of nationality.
“If you’re watching a guy and you’re understanding what he does as a quarterback, and you see the intangibles that he has, it doesn’t matter about your passport on that one,” said Riders offensive co-ordinator Stephen Mcadoo. “I just look at what the guy can do, and not his passport.”
Bridge has made two previous starts in his four-year CFL career — with the Alouettes in 2015 in a 30-24 overtime loss to the Roughriders and in 2017 when Saskatchewan beat the Hamilton Tiger-cats 27-19.
In 2017, Bridge appeared in 11 regular-season games. He entered the East Division final in relief of starter Kevin Glenn.
“(Bridge) has come a long way, but making strides in practice and making strides in a game is two different things,” Riders guard Brendon Labatte said. “It will be good to see him for an extended period of time, and know from the full week what he’s got coming to him on Saturday.”
Note: The Riders announced the signing of international quarterback Jeremy Johnson, a product of Auburn University. They released defensive backs Tristan Doughlin and Aaron Ivory.