Blue Bombers’ Brown not bent on revenge

It’s the kind of storyline you’d find in the wacky world of professional wrestling.

You know, the one where someone is disrespected and cast aside by their former alliance, only to get the chance to step into the squared circle and exact revenge.

While there won’t be any body slams or powerbombs, quarterback Dru Brown could find himself in a similar scenario — except on turf — on Sunday if he’s tasked with leading the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-2) into Ottawa to face the Redblacks (0-5).

Starting quarterback Zach Collaros (neck) was a limited participant at Tuesday’s practice, while Brown took reps with the first-team offence.

As intriguing as it would be to watch Brown face his former team, Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea is in the business of winning, not entertaining.

Collaros has not been ruled out for Sunday’s game and will continue to be evaluated throughout the week. Brown is coming off a 30-21 victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday, his first start for Winnipeg since being acquired in a trade with Ottawa on June 23.

“We’re not changing anything we do,” said O’Shea. “We’re not getting the luchador masks and capes and running around saying ‘This is the match.’ We’re not doing that.”

It’s what Redblacks head coach/general manager Ryan Dinwiddie said about Brown after the trade that would make this matchup especially intriguing — if Collaros can’t go.

He questioned Brown’s arm talent and claimed he was a “distraction” after Jake Maier was named Ottawa’s starting quarterback — a move that’s even more puzzling now considering the Redblacks are winless and look lost.

If the 29-year-old is itching for the opportunity to give his former boss the Stone Cold Steve Austin treatment, he certainly wasn’t showing it on Tuesday when he asked about the potential of starting in the nation’s capital.

“If I get chance to play, it would be awesome because I get a chance to compete, and I love to do that with these guys,” said Brown.

“It doesn’t really matter that it’s versus Ottawa or versus Toronto. To me, it’s just an opportunity to compete and execute the plan with the guys that you love working with.”

And if he is under centre this week, Brown, believe it or not, claims he won’t have an added chip on his shoulder.

“Not that that’s wrong, I just think my mind is a little more practical,” he said.

“As I’ve been an adult, I’ve never really needed to be motivated to do my job. I’m more motivated by my habits that I do daily, and those things don’t change. So it doesn’t matter how I feel, those get done. And when you get on the field, you have a process that you stick to that works pretty well and you do your best to stick to it and not waver in one direction.”

Considering how Brown fared against the Argos, the Bombers don’t need to rush Collaros back if he’s not 100 per cent. On Tuesday, the CFL announced that Brown was named one of the league’s Players of the Week for completing 80 per cent of his passes for 339 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

For the Bombers that weren’t with the team during Brown’s first Winnipeg stint from 2021 to 2023, they got to learn a thing or two about him on Friday.

“I like his swag, his demeanour. I just like the flow, the rhythm of the game… and 300-plus passing yards, we can win with that,” said rookie corner Major Williams.

“He’s got some aura to him. You just look at him and you can tell he’s ready to go, he’s ready to sling it. No matter where he’s at in the depth chart, whether he’s throwing or not, you just look at that guy and he’s ready to play every time. He’s got that look about him and I like it. It showed last game.”

Receiver Tim White, who was on the receiving end of a 35-yard touchdown toss in the first quarter, got a similar first impression.

“He’s in a zone. You can tell he’s a guy that’s just locked in on what he needs to do and he just executes,” said White.

“You could tell he has presence.”

Whether it’s Brown or Collaros slingin’ it, the playbook doesn’t change much, according to White.

“They are similar in their attributes as far as how they approach the game. You see they’re hanging out with each other every step of the way,” he said.

“How they deliver the ball, their timing and everything like that, and just their experience overall — I think it’s pretty good.”

White found out two weeks ago what it’s like to return to a place that decided it no longer needs your services. He was released in the winter after four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

White caught five passes while helping the Bombers to a 14-13 win at Hamilton Stadium in Week 5.

Considering he just went through it, he’s got a good idea of where Brown’s head would be at.

“I feel like it’s pretty emotional. He has great experience behind him, so he’s probably able to retain that energy in the right places and deliver in the right places — I think that’s important,” said White.

“But you know, it’s always going to be emotional. You always want to prove them wrong. Hopefully he comes out there and has his best game.”

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