He’s known as “The Party Starter,” but on Tuesday, CFL fans learned that for the Ottawa Redblacks the party was over.
Strongside linebacker Adarius Pickett was released by the club that day in a move that stunned CFL fans. It gave him a month-long headstart on free agency, but it didn’t take long for him to sign with the Toronto Argonauts, proof that you can come home again.
That thanks to an aggressive general manager, Michael Clemons.
“As soon as I was released, ‘Pinball’ was the first person to call me,” Pickett told Argonauts.ca from his home in California. “As soon as the news (about his release was announced), Pinball called me 30 seconds later. I saw the news hit Instagram and it was Pinball, his number popped up on my phone and I answered. He was the first person I talked to.”
He said that his agent spoke to “about four different teams” but there was really just one organization he wanted to sign with.
“I loved Toronto when I was there,” he said. “I love being in the city of Toronto and I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business there from the season we had in ’23. I love the teammates, love the fans, and the atmosphere of the city is unmatched. Even outside of football, I just enjoy being in the city for real. From the concerts to the Raptors games, to the Blue Jays games, it’s always something going on in the city. I had a great time.”
He enjoyed Toronto almost as much as Argo fans enjoyed him. The UCLA product – now joining fellow Bruin Cameron Judge at linebacker – had what he asserts is his best CFL season. He was named a CFL All-Star and was the Eastern nominee for the league’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award in a season where he recorded 124 total tackles, 19 of them coming on special teams.
But that memorable 16-2 season came to an unexpected conclusion in the Eastern Final with a shocking loss to the Montreal Alouettes, the team for which Pickett had starred the two previous seasons.
The always engaging SAM backer says that he learned something that day that he’s been able to carry forward.
“Throughout the season it’s just making sure that you fine tune those things, those little mistakes that may not have affected you early on. But down the stretch, especially in the later part of the season and the playoffs, you can’t have those mistakes. It’s making sure that you hold everybody accountable. The more you get into a season, the more you should expect out of your teammates, not just during the game, but at practices and meetings.”
Pickett’s ability is unquestioned. He’s been an All-Star in each of the last three seasons and twice has been named his team’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, being selected as the Eastern nominee for that league award in his lone season in Toronto.
But despite his individual success, he’s quite surprisingly never won a playoff game, losing three times in the Eastern Final, another time when his Redblacks lost to the Argos in the 2024 Eastern Semi-Final, a game he missed due to an injury.
That lack of team success has made him hungry.
“I want to do everything I possibly can to go and get that ring,” said Pickett. “That’s what we all play for, championships. I want to do everything I possibly can to prepare myself to come in and be who I’ve always been, a leader, and help the Argos back to lifting up that Cup.”
He’s excited about being reunited with both defensive coordinator Greg Quick, whom he was with in Montreal for two years, and special teams coordinator Mickey Donovan, whom he played for in Toronto.
Pickett is also eager to, well, start the party.
“I’ll do what I always do, bring energy, passion, and physicality. I’ll fly around for the ball and it’s infectious. When you bring in a guy like me with the energy and the passion, it changes things. You see the big hits or a sack or you see somebody bringing that passion, playing with it, it’s infectious, that’s why it’s always a party when I’m there.”
The 29-year-old was now on a verbal roll.
“You see me dancing and just bringing liveliness. It’s like when you were growing up back in the day, just playing. We’re playing a game for real and just understand it’s meant to be fun, so just celebrate the day. You bring that every day as well as the schematics and the correct mindset, man, there’s no way we won’t be in the playoffs and making a run for the Grey Cup.”
And there’s no better party than after winning the Grey Cup.