Stanley Bryant (66) -Ottowa Redblacks @ Winnipeg Bluebombers Kyle Thomas Photo
EDMONTON – It was earlier this week when one of the greatest offensive linemen in the long and storied history of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers poked his head into my office. Stanley Bryant had arrived willingly but with some suspicion, as he seemed certain a scheduled interview was some sort of practical joke concocted by Darren Cameron, the club’s Senior Director of Player and Public Relations and one of his good friends in the organization.
And, in fact, it took some work for the veteran left tackle to be convinced of the legitimacy of the interview request.
“Seriously? For real?,” began Bryant with a laugh. “Why would you want to talk to me?”
Well, here’s why: Friday night in Edmonton Bryant will suit up for 166thcareer game in the Canadian Football League and the 100th as a member of the Blue Bombers. There’s a lot to digest here beyond the obvious significance of the numbers because, in many ways, Bryant’s arrival in Winnipeg in 2015 as a free agent after five seasons with the Calgary Stampeders landed the club one of its key cornerstones in rebuilding the franchise into a Grey Cup champion.
Still, that’s exactly the kind of conversation at which Bryant cringes, as it means having the spotlight turned directly on to him. Maybe that, in part, explained how the interview began…
‘So, 165 career CFL games including 100 with the Bombers…
Bryant: “I didn’t know about it until you guys told me.”
‘It is pretty cool. What does that number mean to you?’
“It means that time has flown by.”
Bryant’s face breaks into a wide grin here. And for those who know the man best, it’s a perfect example of his dry, self-deprecating sense of humour and of a guy whose Twitter handle – @MyHumble_Self – also represents who he is both as a person and a player.
“I guess I never thought about it,” Bryant, continued, warming up to the conversation. “I guess it’s a great accomplishment and it means that I was able to be available, to be able to play and be healthy and give the team a chance to win. I never look at things like that, things like how many games I’ve played in a row or anything. But that’s a big number to me, to have played that many games with the Bombers.”
What’s even more remarkable is this – and knock on wood here on Byrant’s behalf – the 35-year-old product of Goldsboro, N.C. has not missed a single game since arriving in Winnipeg six seasons ago.
“Honestly, I have no idea how something like that happens,” he said. “Any play, any event, any injury – even something minor like a guy rolling into you, especially at the position we play, could take you out. It’s just one of those things that happens. I’m one of the lucky ones to play all these games consecutively. It’s just blessings and people praying on me back home.”
It’s more than just durability, of course. The CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2017 and 2018 – he was the runner-up to Hamilton’s Chris Van Zeyl in 2019 – Bryant is a five-time CFL All-Star and has been named the Bombers’ top lineman four times. Only the iconic Chris Walby, who spoke so highly of Bryant last January when he re-signed with the club, has been honoured more times, being named the Bombers top OL nine times.
Bryant was twice named the Stamps top lineman, too, but left after Calgary’s win in the 2014 Grey Cup not only because of the Bombers offer in free agency, but because something intrigued him about the opportunity in Winnipeg.
“Part of it was coming to a place where you could be a part of the building process,” Bryant explained. “In Calgary… in 2013, we felt like we should have won, but we didn’t (they were upset in the West Final by the Saskatchewan Roughriders). And in 2014 it was time to go back and do it; the motto that year was ‘Whatever it takes.’ After we won in ’14, I felt like my job there was done and it was time for another challenge. Winnipeg was the choice. In ’15 it was rough, but we kept building and building and ultimately we got to the Grey Cup and won.”
It was pointed out that if Bryant was to follow his own script, he should have left in free agency last winter for another destination in the rebuild phase. Bryant cackled loudly at the idea, adding, ‘“That’s true. That’s probably true.”
“What kept me here? It’s the guys. Paddy (Neufeld), Jermarcus (Hardrick), Darvin (Adams)… there’s just a camaraderie we have here with this bunch of guys. I came in with Darvin. Paddy was here already and Yosh (Hardrick) came in ’16, Andrew (Harris) came that year, too.
“I’ve built a relationship with those guys over the years and knowing how we started and how we got to the ultimate goal… I mean, why would I want to leave that and all those guys? These are guys I want to hang with on and off the field. I love those guys to death. They’re my brothers. After we’re all retired, those are guys I’ll reach out to talk about anything.
“It was something to be a part of a team that was built from the ground up and then won in ’19. I want to continue to help build on that and win another one.”
Bryant is 35 now and his durability and level of play means he could likely play a few more seasons. That said, the pandemic forced a lot of players, Bryant included, to think about life after the game.
He’s started a trucking company with some friends in his hometown, is interested in real estate, would like to help coach at the high school level or even get into the professional game as a scout or manager one day. In the back of his mind, he’s also toying with the idea of owning a restaurant/bar or establishing an indoor play-place for kids in Goldsboro.
That’s for down the road, though. Bryant still has the desire to play and to win, the evidence will be there when he lines up at left tackle for his 100th game as a Bomber Friday in Edmonton.
“I still get nervous before the very first play of every game,” he said. “I remember someone saying that if you ever lose that nervousness, no matter what sport you’re playing, you should stop. I still get that urge and those nerves.
“Game day, my blood still gets flowing. I don’t know about practice days,” he added with another laugh, “but game days, for sure. I still love this game.”
