Bomber takes less money for a better reward

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This article was published 21/05/2023 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Not many receivers would turn down a bigger role and more money.

That’s exactly what Rasheed Bailey did in the offseason when he decided to re-sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on a one-year deal.

With the club spending big bucks in free agency on Kenny Lawler, and giving Nic Demski a three-year deal and a raise, there just wasn’t enough cash left over to match Bailey’s highest bidders.

But as the saying goes, money isn’t everything. Bailey, a 29-year-old from Philadelphia, declined other offers to remain in Winnipeg.

“It was easy, but it was hard… But seeing the guys and being around here these past few days, I made the best decision in my life,” Bailey told the Free Press earlier this week after a training camp session at IG Field.

“I got a different sense of appreciation about just being here, being around the guys, and just enjoying life. You don’t get too many opportunities to really be around people who you call family, people who you call your brothers in business. I’m just super excited to be here.”

Bailey’s journey to the CFL is well-documented. After a standout career at Div. III Delaware Valley University, Bailey was cut by five NFL teams, including his hometown Philadelphia Eagles, before latching on with the Bombers in 2019. After starting out on the practice roster, Bailey closed out his rookie campaign in a starting role and he’s been there ever since.

“I’m used to being a guy who’s fighting to get noticed, but I don’t have to be that anymore,” said Bailey.

“I’m a guy, you know what I’m saying? I’ve proven myself in this league, I’m one of the best at what I do, and there’s value in the dynamic and what I bring to the team. Sometimes, you won’t be physically rich, but sometimes you can be spiritually rich, and I’ll choose spiritually all the time.”

The receiving corps was hit hard by injury last season, but Bailey started all 18 regular-season games and both postseason contests for the Bombers. He put up career numbers across the board with 63 catches for 729 yards and nine touchdowns, but what doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is Bailey’s willingness to do the dirty work and block.

“Everybody’s happy (that Bailey re-signed). We all know what Rasheed can do,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“He was very productive for us last year, and then you look at what he does without the ball, not a lot of people focus on that. You could do a whole highlight reel on what he does without the ball.”

Bailey made around $135,000 last season and is reportedly making less than 100k in 2023.

“I have a lot of respect for Sheed because he went with his gut feeling. He wanted to be somewhere where he was comfortable and somewhere where he knew that we’re going to come to work every day and fight for a championship,” said Demski, one of Bailey’s closest friends on the team.

“So, it says a lot about him just as a man, but also the locker room and the role he has and the type of leader he is as well.”

As impressive as Bailey has been, he’ll still fall behind Lawler, Dalton Schoen, and Demski in the pecking order on most nights. He’d be a reliable No. 2 target on several teams around the CFL, but with the Bombers, there will be games where Bailey gets only two or three balls thrown in his direction.

According to him, that’s not a problem.

“You always think about wanting to be the guy, but I want to win. I want to win championships, and that’s the reason why I’m here,” said Bailey.

“I wasn’t willing to sacrifice being able to win and to take more money somewhere else. I think it was important for me to re-evaluate myself and do some soul searching. Not saying it was easy, it was definitely hard, but there’s lessons and beauty in struggle. If a guy is going to have to go through that, I’m the only one that can handle that.”

News and notes

Quarterback Zach Collaros returned to training camp on Sunday after missing two days of action.

Collaros flew home to Stuebenville, Ohio, to spend time with family after the passing of his 93-year-old grandmother.

Running back Brady Oliveira and linebacker Adam Bighill are still sidelined. Bighill has missed all of training camp, whereas Oliveira participated the first few days before sitting out all of this week.

“He’ll be out as long as he needs,” said O’Shea when asked for an Oliveira update.

“It’s a long season, so (missing) this part, we’re OK with.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31