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Bomber wide receiver Derick Armstrong absent from practice
Derick Armstrong (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)
WINNIPEG--Winnipeg Blue Bomber wide receiver Derick Armstrong was not at practice today.
Armstrong refused to play in the Bombers' last game against the Eddmonton Eskimos on July 2 after coach Mike Kelly put him a back-up role.
No reason has been given for Armstrong’s absence at practice.
Related Items
Wide receiver Kyle Smith took the practice field with the Bombers today. Smith has been injured since training camp, but with Armstrong's status up in the air the team wanted to get a better look at him.
More information to follow as details become available.
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25 Comments
Posted by: bobganason
July 6, 2009 at 5:20 PM
He will be there if invited. I will tell you something, you are not going find a wide reciver of his caliber. There are some whereas we wont be able to bring one back to winnipeg easily. Derick first played for SASK before heading out to NFL. He was injured that's why he headed back to CFL. In 2006 we had no receivers other than Uncle Milt. Running back was Charles. They produced the end results. Kwame Cavil and Chris Brazzel never produced any results. BT out bid other teams and landed DA during the middle end of the 2006 season. With 300 plus yards he took us to the play offs. We were 9 & 9. Management should learn to respect our vets. If they don't perform then release them. Don't create a "drama" and bring down the morale of the team or players. A wise management team ofcause will take DA back.
Look at other areas. We couldn't land good kickers(Canadian), QBs, Kick returners and DBs except Lenny Walls. Some good DBs, LBs and DLs were released. So do we have get rid of our good players. The problem originated from the Coach therefore he should take the responsibility not others. Let Milt solve this problem for the team he loves. He is the only one who could keep everyone together. He is going to be here tomorrow. I do care for what he did to this team. Go Bombers Go and Win. We are the best.
Posted by: BlueBlood
July 6, 2009 at 4:04 AM
Coaching a football team must not be an easy task. Especially when you're new to the team, and the previous coach was such a [edited]. Add to that, a roster of new players who are still getting used to each other, and I think the Bombers are doing just fine so far. (Awesome Defense, keeping the unflappable Ricky Ray down to 17 pts!)
I don't really get Derick though... maybe he wants to be turfed, so he doesn't have to exit the way Lumsden did..? because with all of the cuts that have been going on, I can't imagine anyone feeling indespensible right now. Somehow, he seems to be taking a few pages from Charlie Roberts' book...
Chapter One ... Start Me or I Walk
Chapter Two ... Practice is Optional
I think Coach Kelly has been more than reasonable up to now. But what's next?
Chapter Three ... Want Fries With That?
(just a thought)
Posted by: No 1 Fan
July 6, 2009 at 12:51 AM
Kelly has gutted the Bombers. Lots of guys can coach; few can catch like Armstrong - keep Armstrong - trade Kelly. If Kelly stays I predict the Bombers will win 3 or 4 games - no more. It will take years to rebuild after he's gone. All he had to do to avoid this was show the 1000 yard man a bit of respect. The team does not appear to respect him and you cannot win if you do not respect the leader.
Posted by: lwj01998
July 5, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Seems like a symptom of a great deal of unrest to me--and it's only going to create a whole lot more. This needs to be ironed out and soon.
Posted by: craig
July 5, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Kelly has had a real problem communicating with his players. I respect his position as coach being able to pick the players for his team but it sure seems that he has failed to be accepted by the vets.
He has repeatedly talked about the tradition of the team but his actions speak otherwise.
This is worse than Rheinbomb!
Posted by:
July 5, 2009 at 11:02 PM
I don't play unless I start. Like school on Sunday Armstrong, no class. Thought he was a team player, so much for that just another CFL diva extending his college career here because he could never make it in the NFL. Those 30 year old knees will not carry you to another team especially if they already know you're a whining you know what! Pay the fine and be thankful someone will pay you to play football you are not or ever will be as good or valuable as Milt that's Romby.
Posted by: RememberNorthPortage
July 5, 2009 at 10:47 PM
It's not about supporting Kelly. It's about rejecting the idea that you can refuse to play for the team on which you are a player because you think you should start. Sorry. It won't be tolerated in this city. The majority have spoken.
Bye-bye Derick.
Posted by: Buster Brown
July 5, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Mike " Reinebold" Kelly !!
Posted by:
July 5, 2009 at 9:56 PM
You people who are supporting Kelly on this are fools. Kelly is a disaster, he's dismantled the team, got nothing for Joe Smith and now he won't get anything for Armstrong. The team is going downhill fast. If Kelly lasts the season, it will be a miracle, and unfortunate.
Posted by: larry
July 5, 2009 at 9:13 PM
One man will not make this team a contender, but one man can be a cancer for a team. There are excellant athletes out there just waiting for an opportunity, just like #40 was. Either Armstrong is a team player or he is not, but he should know that there is no "I" in the word "Team".
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