Connor Shay on his first day of work as a Blue Bomber; photos by Cameron Bartlett
Connor Shay has one job right now, two days into his career as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers: get up to speed on the playbook and his assignments ASAP and start flashing the skills that made him the club’s first pick, sixth overall, in the 2025 Canadian Football League Draft.
He made a solid first impression on Wednesday, his first in Blue Bombers colours, with an interception during a period late in the practice session. And the crash course on the rest of the stuff — this after diving into two other playbooks recently at New York Jets and Green Bay Packers rookie mini-camps — has meant his frontal lobes are truly working overtime right now.
There’s more he’ll have to get to as well, especially as a California kid who qualifies as a homegrown because his father was born in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Stuff like the musical and cultural significance of The Tragically Hip, why Smarties are better than M&Ms, how to properly pronounce Saskatchewan and not giggle whenever someone mentions Regina and, oh yeah, knowing the words to ‘O Canada.’
“Shoot, I’m going to have to get that down,” said Shay with a grin after practice Wednesday. “I couldn’t tell you right now.”
The Blue Bombers were giddy to see Shay’s name still there on the draft board when they grabbed him earlier this month. Rated the top prospect in respected mock drafts, he was also atop the club’s prospect list for his speed and versatility. His game film popped and there is a consensus — not just in Bomberland — that his upside is enormous.
“It’s awesome. I’m super-excited to be here. This stadium is really cool,” Shay said as he met with Winnipeg reporters. “This is my second time in Canada — I’ve been to Vancouver before — so this is all new to me and I’m excited to get started.
“Once (the Jets) released me I was jumping on this opportunity. I couldn’t wait to get out here.”
A product of Danville, Ca. — just east of Oakland — he grew up wanting to be a pro athlete, initially drawn to baseball as his role model was New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter. He didn’t start playing football until his freshman year of high school but has proven through his time in the game — including his days at the University of Wyoming — to be a quick study.
He watched the CFL Draft at his parent’s house — although he had difficulty making the live stream work — and was ecstatic when he heard the Blue Bombers had called out his name.
“My agent, Fred (Weinrauch), sent me the link and we were trying to get it work so I had to live stream it on YouTube. It was a cool experience and I’m very happy I ended up with the Bombers. It’s funny… my agent called me, and he was like, ‘Hey, the Bombers are picking you up’ and I was like, ‘No way.’ Then he’s like, ‘Act surprised when they call you.’ Once they called me, I was thrilled and super-stoked.”
Wednesday was Shay’s first time stepping onto a Canadian field and his eyes grew wide with excitement because “it’s massive but I think that plays to my strength. There’s little different nuances but I feel I can pick it up quick. It’s going to take some time, for sure.
Connor Shay (#34) gaining knowledge from veteran LB Shayne Gauthier
“Fans will notice I play with a lot of energy,” he added when asked for a self-scouting report. “I fly around. I run to the ball, and I love to make plays. When I’m out there I’m going to try and make plays. I’m a ball hawk.”
He’s also going to be learning from an outstanding coaching staff, including a head coach who is the greatest Canadian linebacker in league history and a hall of famer. To that point, Mike O’Shea was asked following practice if he had any tips he could pass along to the young prospect.
“Yeah,” he said with a grin. “Put your hands behind your head and breathe with the amount of running you’re going to do. Don’t bend over because it’s not going to do you any good.
“He’ll get used to it. I mean, he steps off the plane and he’s already into a special teams drill where it’s a compete drill, it’s highly physical and he’s going against guys who know what they’re doing in the Canadian special teams element. He played special teams before but it’s still going to be different. It’s pro football.
“He got his feet wet pretty quickly and managed to get an interception today, which is good. He’s a good football player. I’m sure he absorbs things pretty easily. This is going to be a little different for him, but it’s football.”
DEEP CUTS THE KNIFE: The Blue Bombers released seven players to get down to 75 (not including draft picks) and that listed included defensive backs Patrick Rogers and Marcus Hillman, defensive end Ryan Johnson, offensive lineman Austin Euler, kicker Andrew Mevis, receiver Scotty Brown and veteran QB Shea Patterson.
The release of Patterson drew some raised eyebrows from outside the building. Signed in the offseason following his release from the Roughriders, he was seen as a potential No. 2 when brought aboard.
But a healthy Chris Streveler and the improvement in Terry Wilson — rookie Chase Artopoeus is also still here — was part of the decision to part ways.
“We had a full (quarterback) room. It was tough to spread out all the reps,” said O’Shea. “But with Strev flying around out there and Terry coming back and looking like he’s improved it’s how you get keep everybody in reps until the first preseason game — it just wasn’t going to work.”
FYI: RB/KR Peyton Logan left practice Wednesday morning and returned near the end in street clothes and with a noticeable limp. No update yet on his status… Also not practising on Wednesday was RT Eric Lofton and Global DE Kemari Munier-Bailey.
ICYMI: We had a great chat with Canadian Football Hall of Famer Danny McManus, the Blue Bombers Assistant GM/Director of U.S. Scouting in our latest edition of The Huddle on Tuesday.
Check it out here:
