Bonds adds CFL to football resume

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This article was published 05/06/2024 (524 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Terrell Bonds made his NFL debut against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

With that experience under his belt, the first-year Blue Bombers cornerback isn’t sweating his first CFL start against the visiting Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night.

“Imagine me, a young guy going up against the Super Bowl champs,” said Bonds, who played four games with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020.

“(Tyreek Hill) was one of the punt returners and I was the gunner and I had to try to get down there to chase him. It’s crazy that someone can be that fast on a football field.”

Bonds outduelled roughly 20 defensive backs in training camp to land a gig in Winnipeg. The fresh face in the secondary is new to three downs but no stranger to the pros as this is the fifth league he’s been apart of after having stops in the AAF, NFL (Ravens, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans), USFL, and XFL.

“It’s been cool. That’s just how my journey’s been going. It’s been a whirlwind, switching leagues and switching teams every year but I’ve been enjoying it,” said Bonds, 27.

“I’ve met a lot of great coaches and teammates that I’ve made relationships with over the years. I’m just happy to be in a new place, in a new league with a new opportunity. It’s exciting.”

He didn’t have to introduce himself to everyone in the Blue and Gold locker room as he’s childhood friends with star halfback Deatrick Nichols.

“He was telling me to come here in 2022 during the season. They had a few injuries, and I was released by the Titans at that point. He was like, ‘Come here, we need corners, you’re going to play,’” said Bonds.

“I didn’t think I was ready to make that transition, especially midseason trying to learn a new game as well. So, I told him ‘Nah, I’m gonna give the XFL a try.’”

The pair won several state titles at Miami Central High School. They also played little league together.

“Deatrick is one of my best friends. Him being here is honestly the top reason that I am here,” said Bonds. “The fact that we’re back playing with each other 10 years later after high school, it’s crazy how football works.”

They’ll be able to show their chemistry against Montreal as they’ll be lined up beside each other on the boundary side.

“I think Deatrick passed on his winter jacket through the cool training camp weather so Terrell could be a little warm,” said head coach Mike O’Shea with a grin.

“It’s interesting to see them interact. They’ve known each other that long I think it’ll help them communicate out there.”

Fajardo the champion

No CFL quarterback has had their play criticized and analyzed as much as Cody Fajardo in recent years.

The narrative has changed drastically since he led the Alouettes to an unexpected 28-24 win over the Bombers in November’s Grey Cup with a last second touchdown drive.

“I think (winning a championship) did more for the outsiders looking in than it did for me. I’ve always believed in my talent and believed I’m a top-tier quarterback in this league. I don’t think everybody saw what I saw,” said Fajardo shortly after landing in Winnipeg.

He got the best of the Bombers when it mattered most, but Fajardo has historically struggled against the Blue and Gold. He’s never won in Winnipeg and holds a 2-8 career regular season record against the Bombers.

“They’ve had my number for years… But it’s funny because everybody always wants to talk about my record against them and how I don’t play well against them. But if you look at anybody’s record, nobody’s doing well against them, but everyone wants to fabricate my record against them,” said Fajardo. “They’ve been winning a lot of football games and they beat just about any body who comes in here.”

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Fajardo, who established himself as a starter with Saskatchewan from 2019-22 before joining the Als last year, expects to see an extra motivated Bombers side when the ball gets kicked off.

“I know if the roles were reversed, I’d draw motivation from losing a Grey Cup going into the next year and playing that team the first week. There will be some motivation and they will be in front of their fans, and I know how hostile their fans can be. I’m sure there’s not gonna be a lot of nice things said to us, but it helps you sleep a little better at night knowing the Grey Cup was won by the Alouettes,” said Fajardo.

“But this is a new season, when January first rolled around in 2024, I put the Grey Cup in the rear-view mirror and focused on this team.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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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.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.