New Deal – Winnipeg Free Press

Brady says Oliveira was just playing a game.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star forward isn't used to playing — and he'll be paid handsomely for it now.

Oliveira took center stage Wednesday, insisting that the home will always be in his heart and that any hesitation he showed through his words and actions was part of the contract negotiations.

That paved the way for the 26-year-old to find a middle ground to keep in Winnipeg through the 2025 CFL season.

After weeks of speculation about his future and fears among fans that he might be on the move, Oliveira signed a two-year, $470,000 contract on Tuesday, making him the highest-paid player in the league.

“It was definitely stressful, I will say. It was a roller coaster,” Oliveira said during a Zoom call with reporters. She is currently in Bali with her partner Alex on a dog rescue mission. “But at the end of the day, I knew where I wanted to be, and here we are.

“With the number I showed, we are athletes, we have to play the game. I'm not going in with a low number. I had to go in with a high number, that was the tactic in our mind, and we got what we wanted.”

Oliveira is coming off a season in which he recorded 2,016 scrimmage yards, including a league-high 1,534 rushing yards to go with 13 total touchdowns, another league high. He was named Most Outstanding Canadian and Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly was named Most Outstanding Player, honors that seemed to give him plenty of opportunities in the CFL and beyond.

The Winnipeg product had two majors in the offseason after helping the Bombers to their third straight West Division title and fourth straight Gray Cup appearance.

Oliveira wanted to fulfill his childhood dream of playing in the NFL, so he went south of the border with an American agent to look for opportunities. There's been a lot of back-and-forth with NFL teams, he said, with particular interest from the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills, but nothing has materialized in the form of workouts or contract offers.

With his eyes set on the CFL, Oliveira was asking about $250,000 per season, hoping to rebuild a viable market. He will earn $230,000 in 2024 and $240,000 in 2025, rejecting higher offers from other clubs.

While Oliveira did not disclose those numbers from other teams, league sources say there has been significant interest from the BC Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, both of whom are willing to offer more than Oliveira is asking for, with the numbers so high. $275,000 per season.

The top salary for a running back in 2023 went to William Stanbeck of Montreal, who made $160,000 plus incentives.

“Everybody says the running back position is a dime a dozen. But when you have a guy that's proven to be productive and productive every year and most importantly stay healthy and available and help the team win games,” Oliveira said. “My goal was just to show more respect for the position, but ultimately the league needs to stop paying players based on position and pay based on their production because I think you're paying guys to show up on game day and win.” games”.

The Bombers have had plenty of success with Oliveira in the mix, and he's a key part of the CFL's premier offense in 2023. Winnipeg led the CFL in several offensive categories, including points, touchdowns, rushing attempts and rushing yards.

“My heart is tied to Winnipeg… I could never see myself leaving. I'm so glad we did it.”– Brady Oliveira

Oliveira acknowledged that part of his success is due to the pieces around him, including the league's best offense. Several key players signed through 2024 — including right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, who signed a two-year deal with Saskatchewan — was another big reason Oliveira wanted to re-sign.

Deep roots are also planted in Winnipeg, where Oliveira not only has friends and family, but most of his philanthropic efforts are focused on Manitoba communities.

“My heart goes out to Winnipeg,” Oliveira said. “I could never see myself leaving. I'm so glad we did it.”

Although the outcome was favorable to both parties, the negotiations were not smooth sailing. The Bombers were reluctant to pay Oliveira's asking price and there was a long absence of contact.

There was one instance during the negotiations where the Bombers, despite being a team with more runs than any other country, felt the salary cap and seemed unable or unwilling to push back that kind of money. CFL. Alternative plans have been discussed, at least in case Oliveira chooses to sign elsewhere, with the Bombers in touch with Toronto's AJ Ouellette (now signed with Saskatchewan) and Calgary's Ka'Deem Carey.

In fact, it wasn't until Monday evening that they were able to agree on terms, announcing the two-year pact the next morning. Hours later, the Bombers inked seemingly improbable star receiver Dalton Schoen to the same one-year deal that Oliveira had this offseason.

“We have a lot of work, unfinished business and that's a big reason why I'm coming back – I can't go to another Gray Cup and lose it,” Oliveira said. “I know what I can do. I know I'm just scratching the surface. I want to be a big part, a big part of helping this team get to another Gray Cup and win another Gray Cup for the city.”

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Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

After several injuries playing hockey that included broken wrists, hands and jaws; medial collateral ligament tears in both knees; and with a collapsed lung, Jeff felt his interest in sports was better off the ice and in the classroom.

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