By: Tyler Rabb – OttawaREDBLACKS.com Staff
Photo: CP Images
When the REDBLACKS announced the addition of wide receiver Brad Sinopoli the word “homecoming” quickly became his headline.
Not only was Brad born and raised in near by Peterborough, but he was one of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees greatest football players ever.
The 26 year-old CFL receiver actually played his entire UOttawa career at quarterback. In 2010, Sinopoli won the Hec Crighton Award for the CIS most outstanding player. Passing for 2,756 yards and 22 touchdowns, Brad led the CIS and set a new Gee-Gees record. He was only the fourth player in UOttawa history to receive this prestigious award.
Although Sinopoli enjoyed great success as a quarterback in the CIS, transitioning to the CFL at that position became extremely arduous.
The Calgary Stampeders drafted Brad, as a quarterback, in the fourth round of the 2011 CFL Draft. The logjam of talented quarterbacks in Calgary stranded Sinopoli as third-string throughout his first season with the Stampeders.
During the 2012 CFL season, Sinopoli only dressed in 10 games, but was lucky enough to play in the West Final and 100th Grey Cup.
Quickly after the end of the post-season, Stampeders head coach John Hufnagel told Brad that there was no place for him in Calgary as a quarterback. Hufnagel expressed that if Sinopoli wanted to continue his football career with Calgary, it would have to be as a receiver.
He was weary of the change at first, but after some thought, Sinopoli, a true professional, decided to accept the coach’s offer and switch to receiver.
And he’s never looked back.
Brad enjoyed two productive seasons with the Stampeders at wide receiver and when he became a free agent this off-season GM Desjardins knew he had to have him. ”He’s a big guy, a big target, he knows the CFL game, he’s smart, he’s got all the add-ons that come being a local product and a known commodity in the city — it all fit very well,” stated Desjardins.
The REDBLACKS GM was not the only one excited about the acquisition. “There were other teams in play, but my heart is in Ottawa,” said Sinopoli.
And Ottawa’s heart is with him.
Check out this awesome video from 2010, just prior to Brad winning the Hec Crighton Trophy.
Here’s another gem, from when Brad, or Bradley apparently, had just become the starting QB at UOttawa in 2009.
