Bridge’s deal with Argos was a long time coming
Mississauga native leaves Riders to compete for QB job close to home
Brandon Bridge has realized a childhood dream.
The strong-armed quarterback attended Toronto Argonauts games during his youth in Mississauga dreaming one day he’d play for the club. That became a reality Sunday when the six-foot-five, 230-pound Bridge signed a one-year deal with the franchise.
“I actually told myself if I ever played in the CFL I wanted to play for the city one day,” Bridge said. “It’s a great thing, I have a lot family and friends who can come to the games and I can see a lot of familiar faces in the crowd.
“I definitely enjoyed my time in Saskatchewan. I loved the fans, I loved being out there, but one day I always told myself I wanted to play for Toronto.”
Bridge, 26, became a CFL free agent Feb. 12 and is relieved to finally know where he’ll be in 2019. Bridge said he spoke with B.C., Edmonton and Ottawa before deciding to join the Argos.
Two factors in that decision were the proximity to home and feeling Toronto presented him with a better football fit.
“It’s a relief knowing where I’m going to be,” Bridge said. “Now I can start studying the playbook. I don’t mind homework, I always did my homework in school.”
Bridge spent parts of three seasons with the Riders, completing 188 of 282 passes (66.7 per cent) for 2,203 yards with 11 TDs and seven interceptions. He also ran for 260 yards on 49 carries (5.31-yard average) with two touchdowns.
Bridge’s best season was 2017 when he completed 92 of 138 passes (66.7 per cent) for 1,236 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. Last year, he finished 82-for-131 (62.6 per cent) for 804 yards with a TD and three interceptions, making four regular-season starts as well as Saskatchewan’s 23-18 West Division semifinal loss to Winnipeg.
With that, Bridge became the first Canadian quarterback to start a playoff game since Gerry Dattilio with Montreal in 1984.
Bridge becomes the fifth quarterback on Toronto’s roster, joining veterans James Franklin, McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Dakota Prokup and rookie Noah Picton. Franklin will enter training camp as the Argos’ starter.
Bridge began his pro career with Montreal, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2015 CFL draft before releasing him six games into the ’16 season. In 25 career regular-season games, Bridge has completed 211 of 322 passes (65.5 per cent) for 2,485 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.