There’s no sense in complicating this, so Dru Brown won’t even look at going down that road.
The veteran quarterback was back in Winnipeg Blue Bombers colours Tuesday morning as the team returned to practice at Fort Garry Lions Field and it marks the start of a new chapter with the team that first brought him to the Canadian Football League.
And so what happened in Ottawa — how he went from starter to being traded back to Winnipeg — is a topic he’ll address in the right here and right now, but it’s also all about keeping his eyes forward now with the Blue Bombers.
“Just coming back and seeing all the guys has been pretty cool. In a way, it feels like I never left,” he said after practice. “It was a lot of fun today and I’m excited to be here.”
Brown did address some of the issues around his exit in this week’s edition of The Handled Internally podcast, with the summation of that chat in this story:
Brown: “I can’t really express how excited we are.”
In his media availability on Tuesday Brown hardly fanned the flames of his exit to create a potential talking point, instead acknowledging Ottawa RedBlacks GM and head coach Ryan Dinwiddie had every right to pull the trigger on a deal.
He did push back slightly on the narrative his arm strength was an issue that led to the trade and the suggestion he was a distraction after Dinwiddie made the switch to Jake Maier at quarterback after one preseason game.
“He said that it was an arm strength thing — that’s what he told me,” said Brown. “That’s his opinion and he’s entitled to that and he makes the calls over there. I wasn’t his guy and that’s OK.”
Brown confirmed that he asked for his release before he was dealt to the Blue Bombers for a 2027 first round pick in the CFL Canadian Draft and a conditional second-round selection. Asked if the RedBlacks said no to his request — ultimately they did and turned the situation into a couple high draft picks — Brown added:
“I don’t know that side of it too well. But I just know that if that’s how we’re going to do things then I would prefer to be elsewhere. Again, that was in private. Nothing ever got out of the room. But everything’s all good. No issues.”
Brown’s first stop in Winnipeg clearly was a major factor in his return. He’s respected in the room for his skills as a player but also his knowledge of the offence and, just as important, his quality as a person. Those relationships were critical in Winnipeg pursuing the trade.
“I loved my time here and I created a lot of relationships with the whole operation here — teammates, management, coaches and all that. Obviously, you never know how those things are going to play out, but I’m super happy to be here.”
And the Blue Bombers are thrilled to add him to a QB room that already features veteran Zach Collaros, promising rookie Taylor Elgersma and veteran Bryce Perkins, who has been dynamic in running the short-yardage package.
“You add another smart guy like that into a good quarterback room already and I think you maybe add more opportunities,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.
As to whether the Blue Bombers are getting a guy now with a ‘chip on his shoulder’, O’Shea added this:
“I don’t think that way. I think Dru is extremely emotionally intelligent. Now, he may say differently but what I see is a guy who has a high EQ and would be able to draw on other experiences. Now, in certain situations would he use that? I don’t know, that’s a question for him.
“He is an emotionally intelligent man, so I don’t know if he is carrying that extra baggage around.”
NEW NEUFELD ARRIVALS: Pat Neufeld stepped in front of a swarm of media and began his session as if he was being grilled by a team of detectives.
The veteran Blue Bombers guard was a late scratch for last week’s loss to the Edmonton Elks. And, it turns out, he had a valid reason. A couple of them, actually.
“I wanted to play the game, but my wife and I had twins, so it was a kind of an important family moment,” began Neufeld after practice. “I obviously wanted to be out there with the boys, but I had to be there for my wife. She did an unbelievable job and we have twins — a baby boy (Eli) and a baby girl (Rowan).”
This is the Neufeld’s third child, as their older daughter 2 1/2.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s hard to put into words,” said Neufeld. “Our older daughter, I think she’s more excited than we are. When she first met them in the hospital she just kind of sloughed mom and dad off to the side and said, ‘Where’s my baby brother and sister?’ right away.
“So, pretty powerful. Pretty cool. I’m extremely proud of my wife and very happy.”
And what’s it going to be like going from having one child to now three under the age of three?
“That’s what everyone is saying now,” Neufeld said. “We’re going from man coverage to zone coverage pretty quick, but 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 now they’re definitely helping out. We have a full house right now but it’s definitely awesome.”
FYI: The Blue Bombers practice did feature a pair of players who did not finish last week’s loss to the Edmonton Elks in full gear in WR Pokey Wilson and DT Jake Ceresna.
