It is exactly the type of deal a championship squad chasing a three-peat orchestrates, even if it means giving up a prospect.
So, in that respect the trade the Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Tuesday morning – bringing back defensive back Alden Darby, Jr. from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in exchange for defensive end Cedric Wilcots II – checks a bunch of boxes for the two-time defending Grey Cup champions.
First and foremost, they are a team currently missing starting defensive backs Demerio Houston and Nick Taylor due to injury – along with Canadian depth players Noah Hallett, Patrice Rene and possibly Malcolm Thompson, Jr. after he didn’t finish last week’s win over Saskatchewan – and now starting a pair of rookies on one side of the secondary in Jamal Parker and Evan Holm.
Bringing back Darby, Jr., a West Division All-Star here last year, gives the club a veteran defender for a stretch run into the playoffs where the margin for error becomes even more razor thin.
“Certainly, you hate losing a piece like Ced, he’s a good football player and having a solid year, but that’s exactly who they wanted,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “So, to get Alden Darby back, that’s a guy that we know, that knows what we do that we’ve won with. That kind of veteran presence, communicator, football player, very versatile, certainly helps us right now with our depth. We’ve got to make sure we re-stock that.”
“We weren’t going to bring in just anybody. We needed to bring in a vet, so that’s the one that made sense.”
Darby, Jr. signed with the Ticats in free agency this past winter and has dressed for seven games this year, seven of them starts, registering 23 tackles, one sack and one interception. The club also traded for him last year during training camp following an injury to Mercy Maston, grabbing him from the Toronto Argonauts at the time for offensive lineman Terry Poole.
Darby, Jr. dressed for 11 games for the Blue Bombers including the Western Final and Grey Cup last year, all starts, and finished with 34 tackles. He was especially effective in the playoffs, registering eight tackles, one sack, one interception and a pass knockdown in the Western Final and Grey Cup.
Let’s work 🤝💍 https://t.co/StmA685jFW
— Alden Darby (@Pic6Darb) October 4, 2022
“We know him very well,” said safety Brandon Alexander. “Great communicator back there. He’s been in the league for a while, so he’s seen a lot. Just his voice and his presence will be big. I don’t know exactly where he would be fitting at right now, but he’s already like a fit-in guy in terms of how he approaches the game. That’s my friend and it’s good to hear we’ve got him back. He’s a good guy for that locker room and we’re glad to have him back.”
“Love Darby, man,” added quarterback Zach Collaros. “Smart. Very smart. I’ve been playing against him for a long time, whether he’s been playing free safety… he’s lined up all over the field; last year he was a SAM linebacker for us.
“He’s just a really smart guy. Great communicator and he’ll be great to have around some of the young guys on the field. Helluva teammate. We all love Alden.”
Asked if a move like this, especially on the eve of the Canadian Football League trade deadline (Wednesday at 4 p.m. CT), might serve a reminder to the locker room that the organization is all-in on chasing another title, Collaros grinned.
“Yeah, we’re all in. Of course, we’re all in. We should be. In pro sports you’re always trying to evolve and get better and when you can add a piece like that to have a veteran presence around, I don’t think it just helps the defensive unit, but it helps the locker room. This is a guy who played in Grey Cups, played in a lot of playoff games, played in different systems and has been against different systems so he’s seen everything. He’s a great teacher and a great communicator, so it’s great to have him around.”
Darby, Jr., FYI, is expected to join the team on Wednesday.
More from the Blue Bombers first day back at practice in this week’s NEED TO KNOW…
SALUTED:
Both Collaros and receiver Nic Demski were honoured on Tuesday for their work in the win over Saskatchewan as two of the CFL’s Top Performers of the Week, along with Montreal linebacke Tyrice Beverette.
It marks the fourth time this year Collaros has been recognized, and the first time for Demski. Collaros leads the CFL in passing yardage (3,874) and touchdowns (32), while Demski already has a career high nine touchdowns, including scores in each of his last five games. Demski missed four games earlier this year, but still has 52 receptions for 613 yards.
“I came into the season feeling extremely good and when I had that injury it definitely was a bit of a downer,” he said after practice Tuesday. “But I took that time to stay healthy, keep my mind in the game, keep my mind in the playbook and just understand all the little stuff we’re trying to attack as an offence so that way I wouldn’t miss a step when I got back. I felt I did a good job of doing that and that comes with years of experience and being around this team and being around the league just knowing what I have to do to go out there and perform for my team.”
QB HUNTER IN SEASON/BOUNTY HUNTER IN OFFSEASON:
New Blue Bombers DE Keion Adams signed by the club last week after his release from Saskatchewan, said he heard from Winnipeg – and two other clubs – a day after he had been cut adrift by the Roughriders.
“That’s the business,” Adams said Tuesday. “That’s the professional sports world. You’ve just got to pick up where you left off. I’m excited to be here. Excited to get another opportunity and just make the most of it.
“It was just finding out, looking at the roster, looking at what the best situation, the best fit for me and I felt like that was here in Winnipeg. It’s the atmosphere, the players, the coaches… just everything. There’s a championship mentality here and I just wanted to be a part of it.”
A seventh-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, Adams also had a stint with the New York Giants before coming north. He played in 16 games for the Riders in 2021-22, registering four sacks.
He has a criminal justice degree and worked as both a bounty hunter and in executive protection and private security, working the detail for rappers like Gucci Mane, Rick Ross and Lil Baby.
FYI:
The playoff scenario for the Blue Bombers heading into this weekend’s game against the Edmonton Elks: a Winnipeg win and loss by the B.C. Lions earlier in the day to Toronto means IG Field will host the Western Final on November 13th.
OUCH UPDATE:
Not practising on Tuesday were OL Stanley Bryant, DT Casey Sayles, DE Jackson Jeffcoat, WRs Drew Wolitarsky, Greg Ellingson and Tavaris Harrison, DBs Nick Taylor, Demerio Houston, Noah Hallett, Patrice Rene, Malcolm Thompson, LB Malik Clements, DE Thiadric Hansen while CB Jamal Parker was excused from practice.
NEW BLUE BLOOD:
Darby, Jr. wasn’t the only addition the Blue Bombers announced on Tuesday. The club also added three players to the practice roster in Global receiver Timothy Knuettel, Canadian receiver Luke McMillan – who has been off and on the PR this year – and Canadian offensive lineman Jakub Szott, while releasing receiver Kelvin McKnight.
Knuettel (6-2, 200) was an European League of Football All-Star last season with the Leipzig Kings, pulling in 55 passes for 701 yards and 12 TDs, while Szott (6-5, 305, McMaster) was a fourth-round pick of the Ottawa RedBlacks in 2020 before being released in August.
