Brad Sinopoli’s first foray into free agency was short and sweet.
That’s a similar feeling many people experience when quality time with family has to end. But Sinopoli won’t have to go through that anytime soon as he decided to return to his hometown Canadian Football League team, signing with the Ottawa REDBLACKS just two days into the CFL’s open signing period.
The six-foot-four, 215-pounder grew up in Peterborough, Ont., about three hours outside of the nation’s capital. Sinopoli starred at Crestwood Secondary School and was recruited to play for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. He spent two seasons lining up as a receiver and then took over starting quarterback duties when Josh Sacobie graduated. Sinopoli excelled at the pivot position and in his senior season in 2010 he passed for a school record 2,756 yards and 22 touchdowns on the way to earning the Hec Crighton Trophy as Canada’s most outstanding university football player.
“I looked at it as extremely lucky to be able to play and have such great memories in a place where I played in university. And then to have the opportunity to not only play professionally, but to play back in the city that essentially was my second home, that was something I couldn’t pass up,” Sinopoli said about his decision to put pen to paper with Ottawa’s CFL team.
“He was by far the top national we were looking at [in free agency]. And in all honestly he was the only national we were really actively trying to make sure we got our hands on,” REDBLACKS general manager, Marcel Desjardins said.
The REDBLACKS made sure Sinopoli knew the team’s level of interest in him, led by quarterback Henry Burris.
“There were a couple messages from Hank. He said that it would be cool to hook back up and work together again. I was with him for one year in Calgary,” Sinopoli explained. “People might say that he’s old, but to me he looks like he’s in the prime of his career.”
During his time with the Stampeders, Sinopoli got to know REDBLACKS head coach Rick Campbell.
“I love how Coach Campbell does things, his demeanor and character – I was excited when he got the head coaching job and I really wanted to come back and play for him,” Sinopoli said.
New offensive coordinator Jason Maas put in a call to the rangy Canadian receiver.
“I really liked the Toronto offence and what he did there. He’s a really smart coach,” Sinopoli said. “He put it out there that I would be getting a lot more touches. That’s not an overwhelming factor, but every player wants the opportunity to play and help the team as much as possible.”
Ottawa also had an unknown ace in the hole in Sinopoli’s long-time girlfriend, Laura.
“She’s from Ottawa, so maybe that helped the decision,” Sinopoli said with a laugh.
“We’ve been together four years now, so she was with me for the bulk of being in Calgary. She came out every year with me and basically was going to go wherever I was going to go. She said obviously it would be really nice to come back to Ottawa and settle down and set some roots in. But she told me do whatever you think is best for your career.”
“She was happy that we came back home.”
Sinopoli’s first pro game with the REDBLACKS in Ottawa was a special one. While driving to TD Place Stadium he saw fans in the streets, the band playing upon pulling into Lansdowne Park and it gave him goosebumps.
“It’s what you expected if you’d been around Ottawa and you saw the excitement for a team to come back,” said Sinopoli, who had made his off-season home in Ottawa. “That experience – the way they sold out and the excitement of the fans – it was a perfect home opener for us.”
No. 88 seemed to feed off the energy, setting career highs with nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown in Ottawa’s 27-16 win. That performance put Sinopoli’s talents on display.
“We anticipated that he would come in and be a difference-maker. He showed flashes of it in limited exposure in Calgary,” Desjardins said.
“Brad’s got a unique skill set for a receiver. Henry has said it a number of times, he’s an extremely smart football player and he’s always in the right place. And having that quarterback background maybe gives him a bit of an edge over a lot of other players.”
Sinopoli’s personal background led him back to Ottawa with all the comforts of home. And signs around the nation’s capital point to the locally born receiver becoming the next star Canadian pass catcher in the league.
