Eskimos bring in Bauman
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/02/2011 (5443 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
It didn’t take long for Chris Bauman to find a new team.
Hours after clearing Canadian Football League waivers, the 26-year-old Brandon native signed a three-year contract — two years plus an option — with the Edmonton Eskimos late Monday afternoon.
"It feels good that it’s done and it’s time to get ready for the season," Bauman said via telephone from Florida where he is spending the off-season. "I’m happy. We worked through our contact negotiations pretty quick … There were some other close (offers), but after weighing everything, it was the right choice."
One of those offers was from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, with Bauman confirming his decision came down to Winnipeg or Edmonton.
"(The Bombers) were in the mix, but I just felt after talking with the head coach (Kavis Reed) and the GM (Eric Tillman) in Edmonton, that was the place for me," Bauman said. "I’m really looking forward to it. I had a lot of highs and lows in Hamilton. I loved the city, I loved the area and I am going to miss my teammates most of all. But I am looking forward to getting a fresh start in Edmonton and moving on."
Bauman, the No.1 overall pick in the 2007 CFL draft, was waived by Hamilton last week after four seasons with the Tiger-Cats. After clearing waivers, the 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver received five formal contract offers yesterday, according to his Montreal-based agent Darren Gill, with the Eskimos presenting the best opportunity.
"I think in all honestly, Chris, throughout the process, would have loved to have played for his hometown team, but what it came down to for him was really opportunity," Gill said. "No.1 on his list was going to be able to get on the field and make an impact and certainly Edmonton presented the best opportunity for him … So it made it pretty easy because we knew where his (salary) number was going to be to get a deal done."
The graduate of the Vincent Massey Vikings high school team caught 17 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns in 18 regular-season games in 2010, adding five catches for a team-leading 108 yards in the East Division semifinal.
”We’re very pleased to have Chris as an Eskimo,” Tillman stated in a press release. ”He’s still in the formative stages of his career, but we certainly believe he is a young man with significant upside."
In Edmonton, Bauman joins a team led by veteran quarterback Ricky Ray, who signed a three-year contract extension last month.
"Yeah, that always helps when you have a quarterback like Ricky Ray," Bauman said. "… I am just excited to get things going there."