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Bombers not surprised Khan back on the field

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 08/14/2012 2:26 PM | Comments: 0

Obby Khan, left, retired from the CFL earlier this year, but he will be back on the gridiron playing for the Calgary Stampeders. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store

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Blue Bomber No. 82 Terrence Edwards at practice Thursday. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were not surprised to hear Obby Khan found his way back to the football field.

Khan, the former Bombers centre who announced his retirement prior to the season, came out of that same hiatus to officially join the Calgary Stampeders. The West Division club added him to the 46-man roster and gave him No. 60, the number he wore as a member of the Blue and Gold for six seasons.

"Not really," Bombers left tackle Glenn January said when asked of Khan’s return after practice Tuesday. "I think that he still felt like he could play and an opportunity opened for him, so not very surprised at all."

Khan retired after the Bombers told him they wanted to go in a different, younger direction along the offensive line. He never did file his retirement papers, though, and still felt as if he could contribute on the gridiron. January wished his former teammate well, and said the circumstances surrounding his departure are just the nature of the business.

"Whenever you come to an end of a career or a time period with any team, it’s difficult," he said. "He was a great teammate and he was a welcome part of that room. We had a lot of good times together, and we had some difficult times, but we got it all together at the end and almost finished great last year."

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said this is the time of season when CFL teams are looking for Canadians and wasn’t too shocked when Khan landed in another city, as injuries are starting to crop up around the league. LaPolice said if Winnipeg didn’t bring in non-import special teamer James Green when they did (during the bye week), some other club would have grabbed him.

"As the season wears on, people are trying to find Canadians, and he (Khan) was an experienced guy," LaPolice said.

When asked if Khan offered his services to the Bombers before heading to Cowtown, LaPolice wasn’t sure how the process went, adding that it was unlikely the Bombers would have brought him back – despite the challenges Winnipeg’s offensive line has had through the first six games

"I don’t know that," LaPolice said. "His agent may have called, but if he would have said that we would have said not at this time. We just didn’t have any roster spots at this time.

"We just wouldn’t have gone in that direction at this point."

The last-place Bombers (1-5) face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-3) Thursday at Canad Inns Stadium (7 p.m.).

In other Bombers (and CFL) news Tuesday:

Winnipeg is dealing with a few nagging injuries heading into the game. Kick returner Demond Washingtondid not participate Tuesday, as he’s nursing a swollen ankle, while defensive end Jason Vega also took the day off to deal with a sore Achilles. He got stepped on during practice Monday.
Middle linebacker Henoc Muamba and right tackle Jordan Taormina will get start for the Ticats. Muamba starting means he will have to come off a couple of special teams assignments, LaPolice said. Safety Ian Logan will also start, though he didn’t get too much work at his spot Tuesday.
Calgary running back Jon Cornish was named the offensive player and Canadian player of the week Tuesday. Cornish ran for 170 against the Tiger-Cats last week. Edmonton linebacker JC Sherritt was named the top defensive player, and Stamps kick returner Larry Taylor was awarded the special teams honour.

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