‘We’ve got the right group of guys in here right now’

Dru Brown wasn’t Ryan Dinwiddie’s guy.

Before he could even take a pre-season snap, the first-year Ottawa Redblacks head coach and general manager informed Brown the organization was handing the keys to Jake Maier.

“(Dinwiddie) said that it was just an arm strength thing, that’s what he told me. That’s his opinion, and he’s entitled to that, and he makes the calls over there,” Brown told reporters Tuesday after Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice at Fort Garry Lions Field.

“(Concerns over arm strength isn’t) something I’ve gotten before. That’s kind of how he saw it, but I’ve never really felt like that before, or (that) it’s ever held me back situationally in a game, being able to cut it loose.”

Regardless of the reason, it was a bitter pill to swallow for a competitor who had started the past two seasons under centre in Ottawa.

After receiving the news, the 29-year-old asked for his release, but the Redblacks weren’t about to let him walk for nothing. A resolution finally came last week when Ottawa traded him to the place where his CFL career began — Winnipeg.

Dinwiddie recently told reporters in Ottawa that Brown became “a little bit of a distraction” in the nation’s capital.

“It’s his opinion, and that’s OK. I’ve never really felt that way about myself, and I don’t think many people would say that,” Brown said. “Any confrontation that was had was in private. I probably was visually upset for a couple days, and they gave me some grace in those couple of days knowing the situation.”

If Brown harbours any resentment toward his former club, he’s not showing it.

“I’m a human being, but my happiness for being here outweighs any hate in my heart that I have for anybody,” Brown said.

“Me and my family really enjoyed our time in Ottawa. I had a lot of great teammates there, had some coaches that believed in me, and I kind of just take it as it was a lot of fun, and I gave everything I had to the organization for the time that I was there. People make decisions, and then as a player, you have to take it and kinda move on. I don’t stew over it too long. It’s just, ‘OK, what’s next?’”

Brown originally joined the Bombers in 2021 and appeared in 38 games over three seasons, completing 102-of-153 passes for 1,484 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. He started three games during that span, posting a 2-1 record.

Some have argued the Bombers paid a steep price — a first-round pick in the 2027 CFL Draft — considering Brown was clearly on the outs in Ottawa and is entering the final year of his contract.

Winnipeg also sent a conditional second-round pick in 2028 that will become a first-rounder if Brown re-signs for 2027 and meets a playing-time threshold.

“I think it’s important that we’ve got the right group of guys in here right now,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “The price became right for the organization to add a very intelligent, competitive veteran quarterback. It was going to be us or somebody else.”

As for Brown’s arm, O’Shea doesn’t share Dinwiddie’s assessment.

“I think he delivers the ball on time to the right person, and when you make good decisions quickly, everything looks good,” O’Shea said. “And on top of that, I don’t think he’s lacking arm strength.”

NEUFELD ON MISSING EDMONTON GAME

Right guard Patrick Neufeld had two very good reasons for missing last Thursday’s 23-18 home loss to the Edmonton Elks.

He and his wife, Paula, were at HSC Women’s Hospital welcoming twins — son Eli and daughter Rowan.

It was announced less than an hour before the game that Neufeld was scratched for a personal matter.

“It was tough. But in my mind, I would never have missed that for the world,” Neufeld told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “Anything could have happened and I was going to be there with my wife to see my kids being born.

“We have an older daughter, she’s two and a half, and I think she’s more excited than we are. When she first met them in the hospital, she kind of just sloughed mom and dad off to the side and said, ‘Where’s my baby brother and sister?’ It was pretty powerful, pretty cool, and I’m extremely proud of my wife and very happy.”

Picking up a blitz on game day might feel easy compared to raising newborn twins and a toddler.

“We’re going from man coverage to zone coverage so, we’re gonna find out,” he joked. “We have a tremendous support system. My in-laws are in town staying at our house, and my mom and dad moved to Winnipeg a couple years ago to help out and they’re definitely helping out. We have a full house but it’s pretty awesome.”

The Bombers (1-2) return to action Sunday when they visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-1) at Hamilton Stadium (6 p.m. CT kickoff).

INJURY UPDATE

Receiver Ontaria Wilson and defensive lineman Jake Ceresna participated on Tuesday. They did not finish last week’s loss versus Edmonton.

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