Brandon Bridge is going far afield as he searches for the recipe for success.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback watched game film over the bye week with former CFL receiver Nik Lewis, getting Lewis’ input on what Bridge did well — and not so well — in Saskatchewan’s 18-13 victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 5.
Lewis is just the latest big name on Bridge’s contact list to get a call. The Roughriders’ pivot has been in touch this season with the likes of Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Kevin Glenn and Canadian Football Hall of Fame QB Damon Allen, eager to learn any and every lesson they might have for him.
“They played the game for a long period of time, they understand defences and (it’s helpful) to hear (what’s on) their minds,” Bridge said after Sunday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “I’m trying to pick at everyone and to take a piece of their game.
“When you make food, you always try to put in a lot of seasoning and different seasonings; you’re not just going to put in salt and pepper. You want to get a piece of everyone’s mind, grab it and (hope that) you’re going to have a great meal. Hopefully I can have a great meal on Thursday and play very well.”
With Zach Collaros still sidelined with a concussion, Bridge is slated to start again Thursday when the Roughriders visit the Tiger-Cats. Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones said Sunday that Bridge will start, but backup David Watford will get some plays.
The QB rotation was used during the Roughriders’ victory over the visiting Tiger-Cats 10 days ago and will be used again.
“There are certain plays that we like to run with certain guys,” Jones said. “It’s like anything else. Last night, (the Winnipeg Blue Bombers) didn’t ask (backup quarterback Chris) Streveler to come in and throw the ball. They asked him to come him and run the ball (in their game against the B.C. Lions).”
After the Roughriders defeated Hamilton in their last game before a bye week, Jones said his quarterbacks could have eliminated the need for the rotation if one of them had repeated success. Neither Bridge nor Watford seized the job by the throat in that game, but that could happen Thursday.
“It’s like in baseball,” Jones said. “When the starter comes in and he is acing the opponent, then he stays in the game until he starts to struggle. Then, if he starts to struggle, the reliever comes in. (The Roughriders’ current strategy) is nothing any different. It’s the same thing we did last year.”
During the 2017 season, Glenn was the Roughriders’ starter and Bridge was the backup. In 11 regular-season games and one playoff contest, Jones pulled Glenn and inserted Bridge to try to spark the offence.
Now Bridge is the one getting hooked — he was replaced by Watford in each of Saskatchewan’s past two games — and he has had to accept it. Being close friends (and roommates on the road) with Watford has made it easier.
“Coach Jones is the leader of this organization and we’re going to support whatever decision that he has,” Bridge said. “Whenever you’re out there, you’ve got to execute. If your number is called, you’ve got to be a professional and play.
“It’s kind of like baseball. I’m sure every starting pitcher always wants to be in for the whole nine innings. If you’re not, you’ve got to come out for the reliever and let him do his thing and finish out the game or vice versa.
“At the end of the day, I’m going to support it, I’m going to do my best for the plays that I do have and the series that they do give me and make the best of my opportunity.”
Bridge got to know Glenn when they were teammates with the Montreal Alouettes in 2015 and the men got closer in 2017 when both were with the Roughriders. Allen, meanwhile, has known Bridge (and offered him advice) for years.
Other current and former players have called Bridge to give him their thoughts on his situation and how to handle it.
“Henry Burris reached out to me,” Bridge said of the former CFL quarterback, “and a couple of other guys reached out to me who just wanted to voice their opinion and let me know that, ‘Hey, y’know what? Just go out there, have fun, do the best you can and let the chips fall wherever they may.’ ”
Food played a central role in another moment in Bridge’s life during the bye week.
During a visit to a Regina restaurant Tuesday, Bridge picked up the tab for a family of nearly 30 people who had gathered to celebrate the return of a family member from overseas.
“It was spur of the moment,” Bridge explained Sunday. “I didn’t think it was going to get publicized and be on social media. I did it because the woman was telling me a great story, how the family came down from Bali and it was like a family reunion.
“It was just kind of a coincidence because I didn’t go home to see my family (in Mississauga, Ont.) on the bye week, so to see their whole family together made me feel like I wanted to do something special. I didn’t want any praise from it. I didn’t want to spend any more time with it. I just did it.”
The family has decided to take up a collection and make a donation to the Regina Food Bank in Bridge’s name — a move that he called “amazing.”
“I appreciate them for doing that,” Bridge said. “It makes me feel good.”
