Calgary's Brad Sinopoli is getting an opporunity that Danny Brannagan never got in Toronto.
On the same day Danny Brannagan’s professional career ended, Brad Sinopoli’s truly began.br>
Toronto Argonauts' general manager Jim Barker announced on Friday the team's final player cuts, including second-year Canadian quarterback Danny Brannagan. He said the Brannagan "experiment" is over for now.
The Argos brought Brannagan to training camp last year, amid suggestions it was all designed for publicity. Barker vehemently shot that down, claiming the quarterback truly deserved the invitation, having demonstrated his skills at the Canadian university level. Brannagan had gone through the draft the year before with no takers.
The reality is it was a no-lose move for Barker. He could sign Brannagan to a contract and then subordinate him to the practice roster for about one-fifth the weekly cost. Brannagan received more publicity in training camp and throughout the pre-season than teammates with higher profiles and who stood to have a great impact.
In the Argos' final regular-season game -- a meaningless one in the standings -- they promoted Brannagan to the active roster and allowed him to take a few snaps. It would become his only game action of the season and, barring something profound, his entire professional career.
Brannagan returned to the Argos as a sophomore this year, but even though he had banked a year's worth of experience, which is invaluable for a quarterback playing in the same system, he was just another player in training camp and the publicity vehicle ground to a halt.
Following the pre-season schedule, B.J. Hall, a first-year American player with far greater athletic ability, was chosen as the Argos' third-string quarterback. Hall doesn't have nearly the same knowledge or experience in the Argos' system but possesses greater upside then Brannagan.
It is a slight example of how CFL coaches are more drawn towards American pivots than Canadians, even ones in whom they have invested time in. No one could argue that Barker didn't give Brannagan an opportunity, but nothing short of a miracle would keep Brannagan around heading into the regular season.
That said, he received the respect of his teammates, two of whom, offensive linemen Rob Murphy and Chris Van Zeyl, praised him on their Twitter accounts. Murphy said: "You have no idea how many people respect you in this league." Van Zeyl said: "Farewell to the 'Great Canadian Hope'…You will be missed and always respected."
Brannagan, a Queen's grad, had a job waiting for him with an accounting firm, so it's not as if he will be bouncing from one team to another looking for a shot compared to other young quarterbacks with great aspirations of playing professionally. He had his chance, albeit it was a slim one.
Conversely, the Stampeders drafted Sinopoli in the fourth round out of Ottawa, where he set a school record for passing yards and led the nation. He was voted as the top university player in Canada. Drafting Sinopoli was considered somewhat of a surprise, if only because Canadian quarterbacks are often signed as free agents.
The Stamps felt otherwise. Heading into training camp, Stamps' general manager/head coach John Hufnagel said he planned to start the season with three quarterbacks, unless there was salary-cap room to add another.
So, at the very least it seemed Sinopoli would start the season third on the depth chart, given the greatest opportunity of any Canadian quarterback in many years. He would at least be on the sidelines in uniform compared to Brannagan who was a spectator in street clothes for all but one game.
When second-string quarterback Drew Tate suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder against Edmonton on Friday night, Sinopoli moved up to second on the depth chart. He will now head into the Stamps' season-opening game Friday night at home against Toronto as the primary backup behind veteran Henry Burris, depending on how quickly the Stamps' new quarterback can learn the playbook.
Tate received quality playing time behind Burris last year, who often exited games with a healthy lead. Tate re-signed with the team in the off-season because he is considered the heir apparent to Burris.
The injury does little to change that. Depending on what the Stamps do going forward and forever how long he is the legitimate backup, Sinopoli just might find himself in meaningful game-time situations sooner than Brannagan.
Sinopoli is now the latest Canadian Dream.
