Bombers sign former Roughrider Dressler

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This article was published 26/01/2016 (3523 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Tuesday morning that they have signed free agent receiver Weston Dressler.

Dressler – a 5-7, 180-pound native of Bismarck, N.D. – had 7,797 receiving yards, 539 receptions and 50 receiving touchdowns in eight seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders before he was released earlier this month by the Riders.

The Bombers last week offered Dressler a two-year contract worth about $170,000 per season, but the receiver also had interest from other CFL teams, most notably the Calgary Stampeders.

Dressler was set to earn $240,000 in 2016 with the Riders before they released him.

Walters told a news conference Tuesday afternoon that Dressler will make the Bombers a better team, on the field and off.

“He’s a proven receiver, he’s one of the best receivers in the league,” said Walters. “He’s a veteran presence. And he knows (offensive coordinator) Paul (LaPolice’s) system. He’s going to come in and show everybody on offense, across the board, what a winner looks like from a work ethic standpoint and just a leadership standpoint.

“And that’s what we talked about as well – to bring him in and just sort of raise the overall expectations and set the bar for the entire offensive side of the ball.”

“I’m beyond excited to start my career as a Winnipeg Blue Bomber,” Dressler said in a statement. “It’s widely known the loyalty their fans have, and the passion the city and province have for the Bombers. The stadium is hands down the loudest in the CFL. And there are great football people in the organization. We have a quarterback who I think is as good as anyone in this league, and some really solid pieces around him. I’m really looking forward to the days ahead.”

Dressler will replace veteran slotback Nick Moore in the Bombers lineup in 2016. Moore earned $185,000 per season over the last two years but never did live up to Winnipeg’s expectations. Moore is set to become a free agent on Feb. 9 and the Bombers are not interested in re-signing him, even at a reduced salary.

Dressler – who has five 1,000-yard seasons in the CFL and 25 100-yards receiving games – is considered a “big-play” receiver and his addition to the Bombers roster will give Winnipeg QB Drew Willy the kind of dangerous aerial threat that the Bombers have been lacking in recent years.

Willy and Dressler played together during the 2012 and 2013 seasons when Willy was a backup QB for the Riders. And Dressler played under LaPolice in Saskatchewan during the 2008 and 2009 seasons when LaPolice was the Riders OC.

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Walters said both Willy and LaPolice contacted Dressler as the Bombers were lobbying to land the receiver.

The signing of Dressler is just the first in what promises to be a very busy free agent season for the Bombers. The Free Press reported on Saturday the Bombers also have their sights set on signing pending free agent kicker Justin Medlock and another former Roughrider receiver, Ryan Smith, if those two men become available, as expected, next month.

Walters also confirmed a Free Press report last weekend that the Bombers will not hold a spring mini-camp in Florida this year. Instead, Walters said the club will invite the entire offence – veterans and rookies – to a mini-camp in Winnipeg to give LaPolice a head start on installing the new Bombers offence.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek