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OTTAWA REDBLACKS<\/p>\n
Bombers\u2019 offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell is known for empahsizing the passing game.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
So, when Condell \u2014 who was officially announced as the new OC of the Bombers on Monday \u2014 sat down on Zoom with reporters on Tuesday, there was one obvious question: is his style the right fit for the Blue and Gold?<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be in this position if I wasn\u2019t adaptable and understand what players do best,\u201d said Condell, who spent the past two seasons as the offensive co-ordinator of the Ottawa Redblacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be able to marry that run with the pass is going to be the key.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019ll also be key to try to squeeze more out of quarterback Zach Collaros who will turn 38 in August. Collaros is coming off back-to-back seasons with 17 touchdown passes and 15 or more interceptions.<\/p>\n
The two worked together before back in their days with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2014-15) and the veteran pivot has always spoken highly of Condell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be in this position if I wasn\u2019t adaptable and understand what players do best.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a fire to always be great. And that chase of greatness takes place when no one else is watching,\u201d said Condell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t see his diminish of arm strength, I don\u2019t see it as a diminish of talent and being able to move the pocket. I think the biggest thing that we\u2019re going to have to be able to do and that\u2019s going to be all throughout the offence is be able to take care of the football and protect the football.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a bit of a unique situation Condell is stepping into as the coach he\u2019s replacing \u2014 Jason Hogan \u2014 is now his co-worker. Hogan, who struggled mightily in his lone season wearing the OC headset, has agreed to remain on staff as the running backs coach. It\u2019s a position Hogan held for three years before his shortly lived promotion.<\/p>\n
Condell has spoken with Hogan but didn\u2019t want to divulge the details of those conversations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wouldn\u2019t be able to do this without the high character that Jason has and that speaks volumes for himself, and he needs to be praised for that,\u201d said Condell.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not like I come down like Mount Sinai and I say \u2018Hey, these are the things we\u2019re gonna do this week.\u2019 No, we\u2019re gonna get in there together, build it together, and have a game plan collectively to know this is going to do what it takes to win this football game. And then we\u2019re going to go try to execute it.\u201d<\/p>\n
BOMBERS RELEASE PARKER, SIGN QB<\/p>\n
The Bombers released veteran defensive back Jamal Parker, Jr. on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Parker, who arrived in Winnipeg in 2022, missed all of 2024 with an ACL injury and was limited to 11 games in 2025. In 32 career games, the 27-year-old recorded 86 defensive tackles, 11 special teams tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and one touchdown while playing various spots in the secondary.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Carolyn Kaster \/ The Associated Press files<\/p>\n The Blue Bombers have signed QB Payton Thorne who split his college career between Michigan State and Auburn.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Parker was a pending free agent, and his release now gives him a head start on finding a new club. The Bombers also released receiver Cam Echols and signed quarterback Payton Thorne who split his five-year NCAA career between Michigan State and Auburn. Thorne spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals during training camp this season and threw for 41 yards on four completions in a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.<\/p>\n In college, Thorne had 10,961 passing yards and 86 touchdowns, along with 1,068 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in 46 starts in 53 appearances.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Reporter
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