Redblacks await return of star receivers

Ottawa Redblacks receiver Brad Sinopoli admits he leaned on teammate Greg Ellingson a bit.

“I told him I’d never call him a bud again if he didn’t come back,” Sinopoli said.

So with Ellingson, another of the Redblacks’ 1,000-yard pass catchers locked up to a contract for two more seasons, it’s wait and see what happens with CFL free agency beginning Tuesday at noon.

Among the Ottawa players still unsigned: Chris Williams and Ernest Jackson, also 1,000-yard receivers. Two years ago, Sinopoli, then with the Calgary Stampeders, was in the same kind of situation. He decided to join the Redblacks.

“Trying to get everyone back is going to be tough,” he said. “Trust me, it would be nice if all those guys in the receiving corps were back. I’ve never been around a better group of guys. It’s unfortunate that may not be the case, but you have to be hopeful.

“(When you’re a free agent), you’re unsure, you’re taking a step off the cliff and seeing what happens. You’re hopeful of greener grass, but it’s not 100 per cent, so you’re kind of taking that risk. People have to do what’s best for them — get what they can while they can.”

With Williams coming off a torn ACL injury, there’s been plenty of social-media chatter about bringing back Jackson.

Said Sinopoli: “He’s great on and off the field. He’s a weird guy, a great guy and he’s a leader – one of those guys when it comes time to do your job, there’s no one better. He selfless. We hope he comes back.”

Sinopoli and teammates Jon Gott and Antoine Pruneau had the Grey Cup with them Sunday at The Arena at TD Place, signing autographs and posing for photos for a huge lineup of fans during the Ottawa 67’s game versus Sudbury.