It was a Winnipeg Blue Bomber practice not quite like any other in recent memory today.
Quarterback Kevin Glenn, for the second consecutive year, handed a dead duck off to a rookie today — in this case, American running back Fred Reid, drawing huge laughs near the end of practice for the first-place team in the CFL's East Division. The same stunt was pulled on Arjei Franklin last year.
But earlier in the practice, a mysterious No. 19 showed up, and he's a blast from the past — running back/kick returner Keith Stokes, who was brought in as depth in case No. 1 running back Charles Roberts can't play in this Saturday's game vs. the Toronto Argonauts.
Head coach Doug Berry said he's also considering putting Stokes in at kick returner, in place of Albert Johnson III. The Bombers can wrap up first in the East with a victory over the Argos.
The most compelling story line out of today's practice, however, was the arrival midway through of rookie American placekicker Aaron Barret, who spent some time with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. The soccer-style kicker was booming some big three-pointers while practice wore on.
After it ended, however, Berry had incumbent and veteran Troy Westwood come out of the locker room for a one-on-one duel with Barret — first-year Canadian Rob Pikula injured his ankle earlier in practice and was not involved — and at the end of the so-called "kick-off" Berry said the duels might continue all week.
"It happened today, we'll probably do something similar tomorrow," Berry said, at first refusing to disclose which kicker did better booting from different distances from each hash mark. Berry was stationed behind both kickers marking down their hits and misses. "It wasn't that noticeable.
"One guy's a Canadian (Westwood) that didn't quite do as well and the other guy's an American that had a little stronger leg and (was) a little more accurate. So you have to weigh that."
Berry said Pikula, who connected on only one of his three FG attempts in Friday's 27-13 win over Calgary — which prompted the Bombers to start looking for American kickers — apparently hurt his ankle or foot while bending down to pick up a ball near the end of practice.
Pikula also would have been involved in the kick-off with Westwood and Barret if he hadn't hurt himself, Berry said. Westwood has been replaced by Pikula in the last three games.
Berry said Roberts, who rushed for 154 yards on 17 carries Friday night, is getting better and is still considered day-to-day with his deep thigh bruise, while LB Ike Charlton (shoulder), DB Ian Logan (groin), DB Davin Bush (ankle), DB Greg Bearman (concussion and Franklin (shoulder) are day-to-day and could play Saturday.
OL Matt Sheridan is expected to play, along with DB Anthony Malbrough.
■ chris.cariou@freepress.mb.ca
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