1st & 10 | News & Notes ahead of Free Agency

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1st & 10 | News & Notes ahead of Free Agency

It never quite looks right - at least, from this perch - when a player who has risen to fame in one uniform is then showcased pulling on another.

My examples: I think Joe Montana in K.C. Chiefs colours, Wayne Gretzky in a St. Louis Blues jersey, first seeing Dale Hawerchuk in a Buffalo Sabres uniform or - to bring it even closer to home - Charles Roberts in B.C. Lions linen at the end of his career.

More recently, there was Bo Levi Mitchell earlier this week trading in his Calgary Stampeders red and white for the black and yellow of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in what is unquestionably the biggest transaction of the Canadian Football League offseason so far.

Technically, Mitchell was sporting the Ticats alternate look as he met with the media in Steeltown wearing a gray ball cap featuring a big 'H', but it was still somewhat startling, even if it was expected given the Ticats acquired his rights in November for the opportunity to negotiate exclusively before CFL free agency.

And just like that, one of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' biggest nemeses is no longer in the West Division.

It's worth pointing out here that Mitchell's first game with his new squad will be the Blue Bombers' home opener on Friday, June 9th, but the narrative certainly changes now that he is no longer leading a division rival.

Fans in these parts grew to love to hate Mitchell over his years in Calgary, with much of that vitriol fuelled by the fact he held a 12-5 career record against the Blue Bombers. It began with his first start, back July 26, 2013, right here in Winnipeg and with Kevin Glenn and Drew Tate both injured. All Mitchell did in his debut was go 29-of-33 for 376 yards and three TDs while being named a CFL Player of the Week.

Mitchell regularly pummelled the Blue Bombers defence through to October of 2018 before his invincible armour began to show wear and tear. Winnipeg went 5-2 against Calgary in Mitchell's last seven starts against the club, including the 2019 West Semi-Final when the club rallied for a win en route to ending the Grey Cup drought. In his last three starts against Winnipeg, all losses, he completed 51.1 per cent of his passes for 522 yards with two TDs and four interceptions.

All of this isn't an attempt to knock Mitchell whatsoever. He's consistently won in this league, did consistently beat the Blue Bombers, and was the face of the Stampeders and all their winning for a decade. It's just going to look different when he leads the Ticats out of the tunnel at IG Field in June.

More notes and quotes as we roll out the latest edition of 1st & 10...

Read the rest of 1st& 10 here!

"Handled Internally" Blue Bomber Podcast featuring Chris Streveler follows:

https://handledinternally.buzzsprout.com/1384240/12112391-season-3-episode-7-chris-streveler

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

From listening to the Streveler interview earlier, it really gives a sense of how precarious an NFL football career is for an unestablished player, you never know if it could be your last day.  The good news, is that he made it clear he will definitely be coming back to the CFL at some point if he is unable to stick with an NFL team.

[Pigskin]

From listening to the Streveler interview earlier, it really gives a sense of how precarious an NFL football career is for an unestablished player, you never know if it could be your last day.  The good news, is that he made it clear he will definitely be coming back to the CFL at some point if he is unable to stick with an NFL team.

I could see a couple of CFL teams throwing big money at him.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I could see a couple of CFL teams throwing big money at him.

Maybe moderate money, he still hasn't established himself as a starting QB.  Not sure I would want the Bombers going all in on Strev. if Collaros was no longer around.