He’s a big-time target who has a habit of pulling in touchdowns passes – 15 of them in 26 Canadian Football League games, to be exact.
And so, the main question many have posed about receiver Tori Gurley since his surprising release by the Toronto Argonauts earlier this week is a simple one:
what gives?
Well, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have spent hours over the last few days doing their own legwork on that very question. And after touching base with a number of sources, including those within the Argos organization, they came to the conclusion Thursday that they aren’t just adding a big TD machine for a push to the playoffs, but are bringing aboard a receiver who can be a good fit in their locker room – despite all the chatter out there.
Asked how much research the Bombers had done on Gurley before signing him, head coach Mike O’Shea was succinct:
“Enough to allow us to sign him.”
The 28 year-old Gurley – who stands 6-4 and weighs in at 230 – is expected to join the Bombers on Friday, but will not be in the lineup for Saturday’s big West Division showdown against the B.C. Lions. He has signed a deal that takes him through the end of this season and is scheduled to become a free agent this winter.
Gurley was part of a purge by Argos head coach Scott Milanovich after last weekend’s 38-11 loss to the Montreal Alouettes that also cost Vidal Hazelton, Kevin Elliott and Phil Bates their jobs.
Milanovich made references to a lack of preparation and attitude in the locker room, saying: “We’ve got to get the right people on the bus.”
Gurley and Hazelton were also disciplined a year ago for conduct detrimental to the team and the newest Bomber had been seen arguing with Milanovich on the sidelines on occasion in his first year-and-a-half in the CFL.
But O’Shea & Co. believe the veteran leadership and influencers they have in their dressing room, plus Gurley’s possible eagerness to prove the Argos wrong and change a perceived reputation, can make his transition to his new team a smooth one.
“I’m confident in the guys we have in our room,” said O’Shea. “And I’m confident in the fact that when guys get here and they see the way we conduct business and the types of guys we have, they want to fit in. I’m quite confident that if he doesn’t want to, we’ll know very quickly and that will be our answer.
“I also believe when players talk to players they seem to think he’ll have a desire to be here.”
“We’ll do our best to get him fitting in with the guys and playing in this offence,” added veteran receiver Weston Dressler. “Honestly, I don’t know anything about him as a person, outside of him as a football player.”
“You know what? We’ll welcome him and he’ll become one of us in no time.”
Weston Dressler
“… It takes everybody in the locker room to welcome a new guy and bring him up to speed. It’s not just the coaching staff or that guy’s responsibility on his own to learn everything. We have a good group of guys in our receiving corps, we all work well together and that kind of spreads throughout to everybody that’s been in that room.”
T.J. Heath has the best scouting report on Gurley as a player and a person, having played with the big receiver in Toronto before he was traded to Winnipeg last month in the Drew Willy deal. Heath gushed about Gurley’s skillset as a pass receiver, but also at how he should fit in with his new squad.
@TGurley81 excited to be back with you for the 3rd time in our career! ?It’s a different culture here. You gone enjoy yaself. Let’s work!!
— T.j. Heath (@TjHeath34) October 6, 2016
“A big, tall guy and if you throw the deep ball to him he’ll definitely go get it,” said Heath. “He’s a great guy and I can’t wait for him to get into our locker room. I really think he’s going to be helpful for this team. (The Argos) are having issues, for whatever reasons, but I’ve moved on and I’m happy to be here.”
“Tori will definitely fit in, for sure, here. He’ll be good for the locker room. He’s a jokester, just like I am and he won’t have a problem fitting in with us at all.”
TJ Heath
Gurley’s addition should give the Bomber offence some intriguing options down the stretch, especially after Darvin Adams – out since late July – returns to practice, likely after the team’s bye in two weeks.
Gurley, Adams, Dressler, Ryan Smith, Clarence Denmark and Quincy McDuffie would then be part of a collection of import pass catchers, along with Canadian Rory Kohlert and Julian Feoli-Gudino.
“I was a guest coach in Toronto two years ago when he came in and I just remember him as a big, physical kid,” said Bombers offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice. “And I think he was tied for the lead in touchdowns last year. We’ll see what he’s got. He’s an impressive guy on tape.”
BLUE ON THE FYI…
The Bombers (8-6) are home to the B.C. Lions (9-4) Saturday afternoon (3 p.m.) in a massive West Division showdown that will play a pivotal part in who finishes second behind the Calgary Stampeders.
Three things you should know as the club wrapped up its final full workout before Friday’s walk-through…
WATCH YOUR TONGUE
Bombers coach Mike O’Shea has made no secret of his thoughts on the TSN mic’d up games – the thinking is too much information becomes available to rivals with quarterbacks and head coaches wired – but he’ll play along with the CFL’s command this weekend.
O’Shea, quarterback Matt Nichols and defensive end Trent Corney – along with B.C.’s Wally Buono, Jonathon Jennings and Solomon Elimimian – will all be wearing mics during Saturday’s game to give viewers an inside peek.
Asked what he thinks of the concept, O’Shea was careful with his words.
“I’ve always been a huge CFL fan,” he began, “and the league believes this adds to the fan experience. I generally believe in doing whatever I can do to help the CFL. Personally, I’m not a fan of it, but this is where the league is moving to and I’m a part of the CFL.”
O’Shea said he will have to be careful about what he says or potentially give away during the telecast.
“I would say around the locker room I’ve got a bit of a locker room mouth, so I’ll have to watch what I say,” he said with a grin.
He also said he was able to pick up info from the first live mic game, featuring Calgary and Hamilton in late August.
NO WORD YET
O’Shea would not yet make it official that Andrew Harris would return to the lineup, but for the third straight day of practice, the veteran running back seemed to be getting stronger and taking on more work.
“He looks good,” said O’Shea. “We’ll state our roster when we have to.”
Quincy McDuffie will be back in the receiving corps and returning kicks while linebacker Ian Wild has not practiced but could be a game-time decision.
“With Ian I’m always hopeful,” said O’Shea. “He’s such a good player and he’s a tough guy. Once again, we’ll give those guys the benefit of the doubt.”
SO MUCH FOR THAT
It was more than a tad chilly at practice on Thursday – the thermometer read 6C, but it was blowing and felt colder – while it was 13C in Vancouver. The Bombers believe practicing regularly in miserable conditions toughens them mentally, but it’s impossible to measure whether that could be an advantage on Saturday.
FYI, the forecast for Saturday calls for cloudy skies and a high of 8C.
Weston Dressler was quizzed on Thursday about that subject and whether it could be an edge.
“It can. I don’t think you can rely on it,” he said. “I played four years in a dome in college (at North Dakota’s Alerus Center) and we never felt like we were a dome team playing outside. I don’t really buy into that.
“But we’re comfortable in this weather, for sure.”
