East Division all-star Greg Bell thought he was going to sign a contract extension with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but the Ottawa Redblacks had other plans in CFL free agency.
“There was contract extension talks with the Tiger-Cats, but business being business, everybody looking out for their best interests and we had to go another way,” Bell told 3DownNation.
“I heard from Ottawa. My agent talked to Toronto a little bit, but Ottawa was the main team that we heard from.”
When the three-down league’s negotiation window opened on Sunday, February 1 at noon ET, the Redblacks called him three after. General manager, head coach and offensive coordinator Ryan Dinwiddie was the first Ottawa representative to talk to Bell. Running back coach Evan Harrington, offensive line coach Mike Gibson, and vice president of football operations Shawn Burke spoke to him following Dinwiddie.
“That’s all the big people you want to hear from, they made me feel welcome,” Bell said.
The Redblacks secured Bell’s signature by making him the highest-paid American running back in the Canadian Football League, edging out Dedrick Mills. The 27-year-old will make $175,000 in hard money for the 2026 season, including a $50,000 signing bonus. If he rushes for 1,000 yards that gives him another $1,000 plus an additional $6,000 available in all-star and award bonuses.
“I want to thank God for that because without him I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing right now. My agent worked his butt off helping me get to where I’m at. Putting in the work in the off-season, working hard on the field, being a great person and then being a great person in the building. That carries a long way and I feel like that’s what carried into it,” Bell said.
“Being around the NCAA, the NFL, you see how the business works. You got to make sure you’re doing the right thing and taking care of business when business is being done.”
Bell looked at Ottawa’s offensive talent through his decision-making process. He believes it’s a talented unit with Dru Brown and Jake Maier at quarterback, experience along the offensive line and proven receivers such as Eugene Lewis, Justin Hardy, Kalil Pimpleton, Ayden Eberhardt and Keelan White projected starters.
“That is definitely a great receiving core. I think we can get it done for sure, I know we can get it done,” Bell said.
Even though the Redblacks finished 4-14 last season, last place in the CFL, Bell wasn’t fazed. He views Dinwiddie as a proven winner, evidenced by two Grey Cup rings in his time as the Toronto Argonauts head coach, who can lead Ottawa back to CFL title contention.
“When I got to Hamilton, we were last place. So it could turn around quick, I believe we could turn it around,” Bell said.
There’s one player Bell knows currently on the Redblacks roster: Pimpleton. Both players went unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, but signed undrafted free agent contracts with the Detroit Lions. Bell suffered a hamstring injury two days into training camp, which landed him on injured reserve for the season. Pimpleton was waived among final roster cutdowns.
“We came into the NFL together, so I know him pretty good. Everybody else, I look forward to building relationships with them,” Bell said.
Despite Bell being a running back and Pimpleton a receiver, he caught nearly as many passes last season. The six-foot, 200-pound back led all CFL runners with 62 receptions while Pimpleton registered 68. That’s one way Dinwiddie told Bell he fits into his offensive scheme.
“I’m more comfortable getting handed the football for sure, but catching the ball is something that comes natural. I work on my hands every day and try to make sure I’m not dropping no passes so the quarterbacks can be comfortable throwing it to me,” Bell said.
“I’m going to be electrifying, try to make as many plays as I can and help us win.”
