He became a local hero in Philadelphia, then an extremely popular player in Winnipeg. Now, Rasheed Bailey has brought his talents and intangibles to Toronto.
The receiver signed a free-agent deal with the Argonauts on February 26 after spending the first four of his CFL seasons with the Blue Bombers, where he reached the Grey Cup all four years, winning twice.
It’s been so far, so good in his new surroundings.
“It’s different, in good way,” he told Argonauts.ca. “I think you get so comfortable with things being a certain kind of way. I think ultimately to grow and see real change you’ve got to go somewhere different.”
That change almost happened a couple of years ago, as the Argos made a serious offer to Bailey during free agency. Instead, he opted to remain with the Bombers. The decision he reached at that time was more than about just money.
“My mission wasn’t complete,” he explained. “I’m a God-fearing man and I feel like my mission is bigger than anything and my purpose is bigger than anything. I felt that a couple of years ago it wasn’t time yet.”
Bailey’s pro career started with the Philadelphia Eagles. He quickly became a fan favourite for a myriad of reasons. He was a local kid from Roxborough, a suburb along the shores of the Schuylkill River just northwest of downtown Philly. He was an underdog as he played his college ball at a nearby Division III school, Delaware Valley. Most importantly, he started producing in the 2015 pre-season after signing as an undrafted free agent.
That pre-season he caught 10 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown – the final TD pass Tim Tebow would throw in the NFL – but it wasn’t enough for head coach Chip Kelly, and Bailey was among the final cuts. After a handful of NFL stops, including a second stint with the Eagles, Bailey would head north where he would establish himself as a talented receiver who wasn’t afraid to block.
It made him a wildly popular player with Winnipeg, evidenced by an enormous outpouring of emotion from fans when the Bombers opted to not re-sign him.
“I shed a lot of tears,” Bailey confessed. “I’m a person who is not a halfway in, halfway out kind of guy. To see that outpouring, it means a lot. You give everything to an organization, you give everything to a fan base and to your teammates, and what you get back in love, I don’t think you can put a price on that. I think that love and sacrifice, I think people see it and you don’t have to go out of your way to make sure people see it, when it’s natural, it’s natural.”
That final chapter in the ‘Peg was just another part of Bailey’s learning curve, something he’s adding to in his new environment. He’s a veteran who oozes leadership intangibles, but he’s joining a receiving corps in Toronto that already has an established leader in DaVaris Daniels, as well as a handful of veterans who already have their spot within the group dynamic.
It can be tough for someone to find their way into a leadership role in a group. Bailey says that hasn’t been the case with the Argos and that the receivers have lived up to their position and received him well.
“It hasn’t been difficult at all. I introduced myself to everybody when we got together (for a group workout) in Florida in the off-season. They got a chance to see a flash of who I am. I think my track record and me being where I’ve been and the success that I’ve had speaks for itself in terms of a respect level. But I also understand that there has to be a level of transparency and understanding that you can’t come in here and think that you’re about to be a certain kind of way without having to earn it. Each day I’ve got to earn that respect no matter what I’ve done anywhere.”
He’s fit in well within the group off the field, while on the field he’s been a member of the first offensive group since the first day of camp and has shown no signs of relinquishing that position.
The conversation between player and reporter was free flowing yet low key, that is until one specific topic was raised. If Argo fans were worried whether Bailey would fit in, he removed any doubts as he suddenly became animated when talking about one subject: the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the team that Bailey’s Bombers beat in consecutive Grey Cup games.
“It’s definitely been a natural thing for me in beating them twice back-to-back, and you can put that on the record,” he said with a huge smile. “I’m definitely going to fit in here very, very well. Just hearing about the rivalry and hearing about that kind of energy, I’m excited to be a part of it and excited to help win and keep that tradition alive.”
A talented veteran receiver who oozes leadership skills and already hates the Ti-Cats? As Rick said to Louis in the last line of the movie Casablanca, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
ARGO NOTES: There was no practice on Tuesday, the day following the Double Blue Game. The players did get together for meetings with the coaches…The morning and early afternoon was reserved for media day, where players donned their full game uniform and took part in assorted video and interview sessions. The results will appear on social media and during games at BMO Field throughout the season…An example of things to come from the sessions appeared on the Argos social media channels after Tuesday’s event concluded…You can see the full Argos practice schedule for the week on your humble typist’s Twitter, er, X account @MikeHoganArgos…The Argos first pre-season game is Saturday night in Montreal. The final pre-season game is set for Friday, May 31 at 7:00 at Alumni Stadium in Guelph against Rasheed Bailey’s favourite team from Hamilton.
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