Streveler back and focused on winning QB says Bombers his type of team and his type of guys By: Taylor Allen Posted: 6:38 PM CDT Tuesday, May. 14, 2024

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This article was published 14/05/2024 (483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chris Streveler almost feels like he never left.

It’s been more than four years since the gritty quarterback helped the Blue Bombers snap their Grey Cup drought and he’s been under contract with four NFL teams since then, but there’s just something about being in Winnipeg.

“I fit right back into this locker room, I know what this team is made of from a culture standpoint and it’s a big reason why I love this place, man,” said Streveler after a rainy training camp practice at Princess Auto Stadium.

“I know the type of guys they bring in here and they’re my type of guys.”

One of his guys is the starting pivot, Zach Collaros. They bring different skills to the field which gives the Bombers about as good of a one-two punch as anyone in the CFL at the position. Collaros is that prototypical quarterback who can sling the ball down field, while Streveler’s biggest gift is his ability to tuck the ball and run over just about anyone.

“Our priorities are the same. We don’t really care how we get it done, we just want to win. That’s why we’re both here, that’s why we play the game,” said Streveler, 29.

“I think we showed that in 2019 in the playoff run. It didn’t matter if I was out there or if he was out there, all we cared about was winning and trying to make plays.”

Making plays with his legs has never been an issue for Streveler. His athleticism and versatility are what made the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets all bring him into their buildings. Questions surrounding his arm is why he’s firmly planted in a No. 2 spot and not a starting role.

“I fit right back into this locker room, I know what this team is made of from a culture standpoint and it’s a big reason why I love this place, man.”–QB Chris Chris Streveler

In his two CFL seasons, Streveler had a 81.8 passer rating with 19 touchdown passes, 2,698 passing yards and 19 interceptions. On the ground, he scampered for 1,167 yards and 22 scores on 204 carries.

“I know everyone wants to talk about that, and that’s just not my mindset. My mindset is always just to be my best and try to improve. I know I’ve gotten better in the last five years, but my mindset is how can I keep getting better and how can I help this team win games? I’m not here to prove anyone wrong… It’s as simple as that,” Streveler said.

The other two signal callers in camp — Eric Barriere and Terry Wilson Jr. — are trying to prove they’re the right man for the third-string gig behind Collaros and Streveler. With last year’s backup Dru Brown in Ottawa and No. 3 short-yardage quarterback Dakota Prukop signing with the B.C. Lions, the Bombers have the position to bring in someone to develop.

Unlike the average American who comes up north for the first time, Barriere, who was teammates with Prukop last year briefly with the New Jersey Generals, has an idea of what he’s getting himself into. He’s Eastern Washington University’s (EWU) all-time leading passer and earned the 2021 Walter Payton Award as the top player in FCS football after putting up a monster stat line of 5,070 yards passing yards, 46 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 games.

It’s a school that knows how to produce CFL quarterbacks as former Bomber Matt Nichols went to EWU, as did Bo Levi Mitchell (Hamilton) and Vernon Adams Jr. (B.C.).

Nichols reached out to Barriere last week to wish him luck on his journey up north.

“I’m happy that I accomplished all those records and did great things, but I still feel like there’s more out there that I can achieve and do.” said Barriere, a 26-year-old listed at 6-1, 210 pounds.

When the USFL and XFL merged, Barriere’s New Jersey squad wasn’t included, which left him without work. He never took a snap for the Generals but did appear in two games in the league with the Michigan Panthers.

“I play the game with passion, so people will see I care about the sport,” said Barriere.

“I’m not the type of person who gives up on players, myself, or the team. I’m gonna give it my all every time and I hope when I do step on the field that everyone will see that.”

Wilson is two inches taller than Barriere and has had a much busier route to get here with stops at Oregon, Garden City Community College, Kentucky and New Mexico before turning pro with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers. Last May, in his lone start, he led the Gamblers to a 27-0 victory over the defending USFL champion Baltimore Stallions. A few months later, he was released and signed with Winnipeg.

An elbow injury cut his senior campaign short, but Wilson finished his NCAA days with 4,494 passing yards and 27 touchdowns, along with 1,047 rushing yards and 11 scores.

“I was gonna come up here two years ago, but I didn’t have a passport. I kind of brushed it off a little bit and went, ‘Ah, I can stay in the States and play in the USFL,’” said Wilson, 26.

“Now I wish I would’ve gotten my passport and came so I would’ve gotten acclimated a little sooner, but you know everything happens for a reason.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

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