Brad Sinopoli went from a cut QB in Newfoundland to the CFL's top Canadian

WINNIPEG—Just over three years ago, Ottawa Redblacks' slotback Brad Sinopoli was out of football and on the banks of Newfoundland. This week, he was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian. It's been a remarkable career for Sinopoli, who starred at quarterback for the Ottawa Gee-Gees from 2007-2010, winning the Hec Crighton Trophy as Canada's top university player in his final season, was drafted as a quarterback by Calgary in 2011 and was cut at the end of the 2012 preseason. That led to Sinopoli heading to Newfoundland to think about what was next for him, before he got a call to tell him that Calgary quarterback Drew Tate had been hurt in the season's first game and that the Stampeders wanted to bring him back.

"I was sitting in St. John's, Newfoundland, right after I got cut, just kind of wondering, you know, what's next," he said Wednesday. "It was pure luck that Drew ended up being hurt and I got called back. I definitely didn't think that I was coming back. ...I didn't think that someone was going to be interested in me at quarterback again."

He said Thursday that he was in Newfoundland to reflect and think about his post-career plans.

"I was just out there pondering life every day, to be honest with you, and getting ready to watch that weekend's CFL games, because I'm such a big fan," Sinopoli said. "I was just trying to figure out where I was going. I had no idea."

After the Stampeders called and brought him back, Sinopoli stayed with the team as a quarterback fo the rest of the season, mostly as the third-stringer, and dressed for them in the 2012 Grey Cup. Even at that point, there was talk that he might have to switch positions to stay in the league given the rule that makes Canadian quarterbacks' nationalities not count towards the ratio, unlike any other position. Sinopoli became a full-time receiver ahead of the 2013 season and started making dazzling catches. The Stampeders' receiving depth made it difficult for him to put up big numbers though, and he only recorded 417 receiving yards in 2013 and 133 in 2014.

Still, he showed enough potential for the Redblacks to sign him in free agency this year, and he had a memorable homecoming to his home province (he's from Peterborough) and the city where he shone in university, recording a team-high 99 yards on nine catches in Ottawa's home opener against the B.C. Lions. That was just the start; Sinopoli hauled in 86 catches for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns this season, earning the Most Outstanding Canadian nod as a result.

He said he's happy he made the transition, even if it wasn't the smoothest path (one similar and yet different from other award winners: Outstanding Rookie Derel Walker had to get the CFL's attention at an open tryout, while Sinopoli had to wait for the Stampeders to become interested in him again), and he's committed to playing receiver now.

"It's been an interesting road for me," he said. "You get the itch here and there to throw around, but once you throw a couple of ducks, it quickly humbles you to get back to your position now."

Sinopoli said despite his success, he's still picking up some of the tricks of the trade as a receiver.

"It's been a process, it's been an interesting one," he said. "I just feel like I'm still always learning in everything I do. I play around some very amazing receivers right now, and I'm very lucky. Even in Calgary, I played around some amazing receivers. I've had a lot of good receivers around me, and every day I'm still learning something and picking up something that these guys do and trying to bring that to my game.

"It's an everyday thing, it's still a process, but it's a fun one, though. It's fun to play a different position and get out there to run around and catch balls."

He said winning the Outstanding Canadian award was special, but also hard for him to accept given how much of his success was thanks to his team.

"It's unbelievable, it's a tremendous honour, but it's hard to sit up there and be singled out with the team we had," Sinopoli said. "I'm happy to be part of this team and to being in this position."

Sinopoli said when he was out of the league in 2012, he never envisoned playing again, much less winning an award like this.

"No, never, to be honest with you," he said. "At that time, I didn't think I'd ever play another down of football in my life. But that's just the situation I was in. I'm extremely lucky to be back in the league, and I'm lucky to be on a team with the opportunity I've been given. I'm always going to be grateful for that."

He said he appreciates getting a chance at quarterback, and also getting a chance to stay in the league after that didn't work out.

"I have zero regrets whatsoever," Sinopoli said. "I had two years, a fair chance there, it just didn't work out. I'm lucky that I had an opportunity to keep playing football. A lot of those quarterbacks didn't, so I'm very, very grateful there. I had my shot and that was it. I had a good run."

Despite the rules that hinder them, Sinopoli said he thinks we will see a Canadian quarterback get a real chance in the CFL someday. Montreal has one Canadian QB in Brandon Bridge, and Sinopoli said other current CIS QBs may follow.

"I think there will be a Canadian, probably pretty soon," he said. "If you look at CIS, there are a lot of great quarterbacks that are coming up. I can't tell you when or who that's going to be. The timing has to be right and the opportunity has to be right."

For Sinopoli, it turned out the opportunity was very right—just not at quarterback.