Bombers send disappointing Bowman to Montreal

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This article was published 23/07/2018 (2800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Adarius Bowman’s time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has officially run out.

The 33-year-old slotback was traded to the Montreal Alouettes Monday afternoon, putting an end to an underwhelming start to the season for the veteran receiver.

In return, the Bombers received a conditional eighth-round pick in 2019 CFL Draft, which is a small price to pay for a talented player who was named a league all-star in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Given the meagre return, the Blue Bombers could have also released him.

The draft choice is contingent on several factors, including Bowman producing a 1,000-yard season with his new team and its newly acquired quarterback Johnny Manziel. The 1-4 Alouettes host Edmonton Thursday night.

The 3-3 Blue Bombers, who did not practise Monday, will host the 1-4 Toronto Argonauts Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Receivers Corey Washington, Kenbrell Thompkins and Ryan Lankford, all members of Winnipeg’s practice roster, are top candidates to replace Bowman in the lineup; Thompkins appears to have the inside track on a starting job.

Winnipeg signed Bowman to a one-year deal in February in a move that seemed beneficial for both sides. Bowman, from Chattanooga, Tenn., wanted to be here, turning down higher offers from other teams including the Saskatchewan Roughriders — his contract is in the $140,000 range — to play for the Blue Bombers.

He also moved his family to Winnipeg and his infectious, upbeat personality was well-respected in the locker room.

What the Bombers thought they were getting in Bowman was a legitimate deep-ball threat, who, at 6-3 and 215 pounds, could return to the dominant force he was with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2016, when he led the CFL with 1,761 receiving yards. Instead, he struggled to make an impact, and over the last few games has been in a diminishing role in Paul LaPolice’s offence.

Darvin Adams, Andrew Harris, Weston Dressler and Nic Demski were all clearly ahead of Bowman as a pass-catching priority.

Bowman exits Winnipeg with nine receptions for 95 yards and no touchdowns in six games. He went three games without a catch; his best performance was in Week 2, against the lowly Alouettes, when he reeled in five balls for 38 yards.

He did not catch a pass and was targeted only three times, dropping one, in Winnipeg’s 38-20 victory in Toronto Saturday.

Bowman was cut loose by Edmonton in the off-season after his production dropped off dramatically in 12 games, with 45 catches and 534 yards in 2017. He was due to make $265,000 as the CFL’s highest-paid receiver in 2018, with a $140,000 roster bonus.

Before joining the Bombers, Bowman spent seven seasons in Edmonton, winning a Grey Cup with the Eskimos in 2015 at Investors Group Field. Prior to that he spent two seasons with the Bombers after getting his start in Saskatchewan in 2008.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @jeffkhamilton

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14