WINNIPEG 鈥� Dalton Schoen is confident he didn鈥檛 make a mistake by re-signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The team鈥檚 top receiver inked a one-year deal on Tuesday after drawing interest from some CFL clubs that could have thrown more cash his way.
鈥淚鈥檓 100 per cent confident that it was the right decision for me,鈥� Schoen told reporters Thursday in a Zoom call from his Kansas City home.
鈥淭here was a reason that this was on my heart the whole way through the process. I鈥檓 where I鈥檓 supposed to be. I know that 100 per cent.鈥�
Schoen said he and his agent received 鈥渁 significant amount of interest from a handful鈥� of teams.
鈥淲hen it got down to the crunch time and me making my decision, the financials from other people wasn鈥檛 significant enough, to me, to give up what I have here in Winnipeg.鈥�
What he believes he has with the Blue Bombers is special on and off the field.
鈥淎fter the first couple days of that process, I really looked at the whole picture. You know, what other teams were telling me, what they could offer, how I fit in and stuff like that,鈥� Schoen, 27, said.
鈥淚 think the main overarching thing was Winnipeg is where I wanted to be. We have such a good culture. It鈥檚 just such a good fit. I know how I can contribute to the team offensively. I love the guys in the locker room.鈥�
Schoen was the league鈥檚 2022 top rookie with 1,441 receiving yards off 70 receptions, including 16 touchdowns in 18 games.
Last season, he hauled in 71 catches for 1,222 yards and 10 TDs in 16 games before injuring his ankle, which he said is almost back to normal.
Schoen said he considered past scenarios where CFL players such as fellow Bombers receiver Kenny Lawler left Winnipeg for a bigger paycheque with the Edmonton Elks, but returned to the fold last year for less money.
Schoen鈥檚 contract is reportedly for $230,000, a leap from the $70,000 he earned last season.
Winnipeg鈥檚 post-season paycheques were weighed in his decision.
鈥淭here is that potential to make that playoff money, but more than anything for me as a competitor you want to be somewhere where you鈥檙e going to win,鈥� Schoen said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if you can put an exact dollar value on what it is worth to you to go somewhere else and go 3-15. That鈥檚 not something I really wanted to be a part of.鈥�
The Bombers have been in the past four Grey Cup games, but only won the first two in 2019 and 2021 when Schoen wasn鈥檛 with the club.
After injuring his ankle last Oct. 6, Schoen only stepped on the field again in the Grey Cup. He caught three passes for 36 yards as the Bombers were upset 28-24 by the Montreal Alouettes.
鈥淚t's tough when you've been part of the team for two years and you've had a lot of success as a team, had great seasons, but ultimately fell short of that goal,鈥� Schoen said. 鈥淥bviously, that's the goal again is to get back there, but to win it this time.鈥�
Schoen had a couple of workouts with NFL teams before he returned to the Bombers last year. This off-season, his agent talked with some NFL teams, but Schoen didn鈥檛 wanted to do workouts because of his ankle and believed his game film spoke for itself. No commitments followed.
The CFL all-star said he鈥檚 not disappointed and is looking forward to stepping on the field with so many familiar faces.
His teammates feel the same way about him, including running back Brady Oliveira, whose two-year extension with Winnipeg was announced just hours before Schoen鈥檚 deal was revealed by the team.
鈥淗e's obviously getting a nice little raise from what he was getting last year, but the guy deserves it. He's one hell of a guy,鈥� Oliveira said about Schoen to reporters on Wednesday.
Winnipeg has re-signed key players on offence such as linemen Stanley Bryant, Pat Neufeld and Chris Kolankowski. Veteran receiver Drew Wolitarsky and running back Johnny Augustine are also returning, plus Schoen will get to know backup quarterback Chris Streveler when he rejoins the club.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a ton of potential. As long as we just keep innovating, keep moving forward,鈥� Schoen said.
On defence, the Bombers also re-signed West Division all-star safety Brandon Alexander, tackle Jake Thomas and defensive-back brothers Nick and Noah Hallett.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2024.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
