BRIDGE GETS FAIR SHAKE IN SASKATCHEWAN
QB finding his form with Riders after being released by former Als GM Popp
Brandon Bridge seemed to have it all — a Canadian quarterback who might actually be able to play. Good-looking and articulate, the Toronto native was also fluently bilingual. Certainly the Alouettes, not exactly turning people away at the box office, could have marketed that?
“I thought I could have been a good fit for them. They just missed their window of having me,” the 25-year-old said. “They had the opportunity to have me, but they wasted it pretty much.”
Like so many others before him, Bridge is a former Alouette enjoying success with another team — in this case, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Never has one organization seemingly been so wrong about so many players.
Drafted in the fourth round (31st overall) by Montreal in 2015, the six-foot-five, 230-pounder played in the regular-season opener that year — because of injuries — then started the final game and passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns. But after the Als traded a first-round draft choice for Vernon Adams the next year, Bridge became an afterthought.
Asked to take a pay cut, Bridge balked and requested his release. Jim Popp, the Als’ general manager at the time, said he attempted to get Bridge, in the final year of his contract, to sign an extension. With the two sides at loggerheads, Popp said it was fruitless to develop a quarterback who might walk at season’s end, so Bridge was released in August 2016. A week later, he worked out and subsequently signed with Saskatchewan.
“They made the decision he hadn’t turned the corner or shown enough improvement,” said a Canadian Football League source, adding Popp attempted to trade Bridge. “Before you could circle back, they cut him within 24 hours of putting his name up as a possible trade scenario.”
Bridge signed with the Riders because he believed GM and head coach Chris Jones, who indicated the opportunity to play existed. And if he didn’t play immediately, Jones insisted there would be a package in the team’s offence to take advantage of Bridge’s skills; he has a strong arm and can make plays with his legs. Ottawa also kicked the tires, but Bridge knew he would be third-stringer there behind the now-retired Henry Burris and Trevor Harris.
Much like a young Anthony Calvillo played more than expected two decades ago in Montreal while backing up an aging Tracy Ham, Bridge has received significant playing time this season behind Kevin Glenn. Heading into Friday’s game against the Als, Bridge has completed 70 of 105 passes for 950 yards, along with nine touchdowns and only three interceptions.
With Glenn injured, Bridge started against Hamilton Sept. 15, passing for 231 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-19 victory. He became the first Canadian quarterback since Greg Vavra in 1984 to pass for three touchdowns in a game.
Then last week at Calgary, Bridge entered the game late in the first quarter. Glenn, 38, simply isn’t elusive enough to avoid pressure — he had been sacked twice by the Stampeders — so the Riders invariably turn to the athletic Bridge, who can avoid tacklers and extend plays with his legs.
Bridge was 10-for-19 against Calgary for 133 yards in Saskatchewan’s surprising 30-7 victory, although he was intercepted twice.
Nonetheless, Bridge presents the Riders with a viable alternative to Glenn. In his third CFL season, Bridge is rapidly gaining a reputation as a legitimate quarterback. He’s a starter-in-waiting in need of his own team. Perhaps it’ll be Saskatchewan, but Bridge also is a potential free agent in February. Presumably, he’ll be able to call his own shot.
“I’m definitely ready,” said the supremely confident Bridge. “I’ll make the best of it if an opportunity’s given to me at some point in time. I believe that’ll happen in Regina. I think they want me here. The fans definitely want me here. I’m building a nice little resumé for them to want me here.
“If not, I’ll try to make them pay if they don’t want me back.”
Bridge is far from a finished product at this stage of his career. His accuracy is inconsistent and sometimes he holds onto the ball too long while trying to force a deep throw, which leads to mistakes and turnovers. He also takes some avoidable sacks. Jones said they’ve been working on his throwing motion, making sure the ball comes out at the same release point, while getting it out quicker.
But the Riders have been willing to play him and live with his mistakes, knowing there’s potential. Jones has called him a dynamic player. But this was a commitment the Als, and specifically Popp, wouldn’t undertake.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Bridge, noting he holds no animosity toward Popp. “They thought I was worth less, but when we signed the contract, we had to agree for me to get that type of money. They said there were ... guys better than me. But I was always confident in my abilities and skills. I thought I was at least on the same level or better than the guys they had there. I didn’t feel I was getting a fair opportunity.
“I just wish (Popp) would have been a little more patient with me or given me a fair opportunity like the other quarterbacks.”
Als fans, undoubtedly, would concur.