Courtesy Winnipeg Free Press:

He’s as big as a linebacker and sports a throwing arm so prodigious he can rifle a ball through a car wash without the ol’ pigskin getting wet, as the old expression goes.

Question now is, can Darrell Hackney be a contender in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ wide-open quarterback derby or is he just another live arm recruited for training camp?

“Believe me,” said Bomber director of player personnel John Murphy, “this guy isn’t a project. We’ll see how quickly he adapts, but we wanted to bring in somebody who isn’t battling just for the third spot. And if his learning curve isn’t exceptionally long, we could have a situation like B.C. and how they developed two quarterbacks (Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson), or like (CFL rookie) Quinton Porter did last year in Hamilton.

“He has a skill set that really works for this league. He will definitely have the best arm of anybody here. When you just watch this kid throw, he’ll draw the same ooohs and aaahs that (longtime CFL vet) Michael Bishop did.”

Hackney (6-0, 235, Alabama-Birmingham) becomes the fifth quarterback on the Bombers’ depth chart after Stefan LeFors, Ryan Dinwiddie, Bryan Randall and James Kilian, and heads north after spending two years with the Denver Broncos. He holds several UAB career passing records, including yards (9,886), touchdowns (71), completions (694) and most total offence per game (243.4 yards).

A project-type player for former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, Hackney knew his days in Denver would be short after the coach was fired and Denver traded Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton following the signing of free agent Chris Simms. Sure enough, four days after Cutler was traded, Hackney was released and, according to Murphy, he was put on the Bombers’ neg list about 30 seconds later.

The Bombers opted to sign Hackney over two other QBs they’ve mentioned previously — former Jacksonville Jaguars starter Quinn Gray and Utah Utes star Brian Johnson — because both those pivots remain on NFL radar screens.

“I look at this as an opportunity to progress and keep my career going,” Hackney said Thursday from his home in Atlanta. “I’m looking forward to the CFL, the longer and wider field and all the passing. That’s the type of quarterback I am. I’m a pocket passer.

“I learned a lot from the quarterbacks in Denver when I was there — Jay Cutler and Patrick Ramsey. They taught me a lot about how to be an NFL quarterback and putting the time in to study the game. Coach Shanahan taught me a lot about preparing myself. He used to quiz me a lot on plays and formations the night before a game. The offensive co-ordinator, Jeremy Bates (now at USC), also taught me to make every opportunity count and to leave it all on the field.

“I’m just looking forward to this opportunity and I’m thankful for the Winnipeg organization for giving me that. All I want to do is compete. I love competing. Hopefully I get a shot to stay in Winnipeg for a long time or wherever my career takes me.”

BLUE NOTES: The Bombers also announced the signing of import defensive back Jonathan Hefney and extended the contract of defensive end Fred Perry through 2011. Hefney (5-foot-9, 190, Tennessee) was a four-year starter at either cornerback or safety with the Volunteers. Perry was picked up in the Kelly Malveaux trade with Edmonton two weeks ago.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Meet the newest Blue QB

Name: Darrell Hackney

Ht.: 6 feet; Wt.: 235

Born: Aug. 7, 1983.

Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.

College: University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Holds several UAB career passing records; Conference-USA All-Freshman Team (2002); C-USA Freshman of the Year (2002).

Pro: Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns in 2006; released that year. Signed by the Denver Broncos in 2007 and spent ’07 and ’08 there. Started two pre-season games for the Broncos. Cut by the Broncos on April 6, 2009. Signed by the Bombers on May 28, 2009.

Video clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baAT5jQQZg0

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