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<\/p>\nFans and media alike will make the numbers on Brady Oliveira\u2019s new contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers a hot-take conversation topic for next three seasons and beyond.<\/p>\n
So, if we\u2019re going to play that game, here are some key facts all rolled into a couple of sentences:<\/p>\n
Oliveira is still just 28, has won three Canadian Football League major honours with two Most Outstanding Canadian and one Most Outstanding Player awards and has posted four consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns and won two rushing titles as a key figure in one of the most dominant eras in the long and storied history of the franchise.
\nHe\u2019s already sixth in Blue Bombers history in rushing yards, behind legends like Charles Roberts, Leo Lewis, Willard Reaves, Jim Washington and Gerry James \u2014 every one of them in the Winnipeg Football Club\u2019s Hall of Fame with three of them, Roberts, Lewis and James, on the prestigious Ring of Honour.
\nHe\u2019s a Winnipegger, a marketable face of the franchise whose passion away from football is rescuing dogs.<\/p>\n
And so this, hot take from the organization\u2019s perspective in three simple words about the three-year deal which will reportedly see him get a $60,000 raise from last year into the $300,000 range:<\/p>\n
Worth. Every. Penny.<\/p>\n
Oliveira\u2019s signing was made official on Monday, and he met with the media today. The entirety of that press conference can be seen here:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
And here are the main takeaways from this perch\u2026<\/p>\n
WHY NOW? WHY NOT?<\/p>\n
Oliveira said last month in his season-ending media availability that he owed it to himself to see what might be out there on the open market. But with the club stepping up to make his re-signing a priority, the deal was informally completed over the weekend before he signed on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was important to me to stay put here, not just to me but to my family, friends. I really wanted to stay put here,\u201d Oliveira said. \u201cMy heart will always be in Winnipeg. So, I\u2019m really happy to get this deal done, especially this early.<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely wasn\u2019t expecting to get a deal done as quickly as we did. I thought it was going to go into the new year and obviously I\u2019m a lot happier with the way it played out. Getting this deal done before Christmas is like an early Christmas gift for myself and my family. I\u2019m extremely happy about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oliveira, in fact, said the negotiations were \u2018seamless.\u2019 Worth noting: he signed both of his last two contracts in early February of 2022 and 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinnipeg showed a lot of respect right off the jump with this and made it very easy to make this thing work. I love this city. I love Winnipeg,\u201d he said. \u201cI love this organization and for me to be here for another three years playing for my hometown\u2026 I\u2019ve said it before: it\u2019s like a dream come true.\u201d<\/p>\n
HATERS GOING TO HATE<\/p>\n
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Oliveira was already the CFL\u2019s highest-paid running back, but his raise comes at a time following a jump in the salary cap last year \u2014 not green-lighted by the league until after a lot of the spending in free agency was done \u2014 and with the Blue Bombers also having finished a season in which they sold out every game.<\/p>\n
Just for comparison, the B.C. Lions recently signed veteran American receiver Keon Hatcher to a contract reportedly worth slightly more than Oliveira.<\/p>\n
Asked about the doubters who are suggesting the Blue Bombers are paying him too much money, Oliveira answered with:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to stop paying players based off position but pay players based off production. You look at my game log or track record, you go back and look at the numbers, and I\u2019ve shown to be consistent and productive week in and week out here year after year after year. It\u2019s time to stop paying players based on position. If the market is set at this for a position but they\u2019re not productive, then why are you paying them that? Just because the market is set at that?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to my production, I\u2019ve been very fortunate to have a great offensive line in front of me, great receivers, great coaches that allow me to be successful on game day.\u201d<\/p>\n
WHO\u2019S NEXT?<\/p>\n
Oliveira met with the media roughly 30 minutes after the club announced the signing of dime back Redha Kramdi, making him the third Canadian \u2014 along with defensive tackle Cam Lawson \u2014 to re-sign in the last week.<\/p>\n
The CFL\u2019s free agent tracker is here:<\/p>\n
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