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'They're going to get rid of everybody': Simpson

By: Paul Wiecek

Posted: 10/1/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

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Chad Simpson (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

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HE'S competed at the very highest levels of professional football. It's called the Super Bowl -- perhaps you've heard of it.

And so while he's a rookie in the Bombers locker-room, running back Chad Simpson's opinions quite rightly carry the added heft of a man who knows what it takes to be a winner.

And as Simpson saw it Saturday night, a few of his teammates don't have what it takes and are about to get steamrolled off the field, just as they have on it in this joke of a 3-10 season.

"They're going to get rid of everybody. This is football. They're going to find somebody to do the job. Then you've got to feed your family. Then what?" Simpson observed in the Bombers locker-room following a 29-10 loss to the Toronto Argonauts.

"They can't keep accepting failure. I would hope everyone looks in the mirror -- starting here. The real world is coming soon. They're going to bring people here."

Asked if he was saying some of his teammates have been too easily accepting of all the losing this season, Simpson chose his words carefully but left no doubt about what it looked like from the perspective of a man who played three seasons in the NFL, including the 2009 Super Bowl as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

"Some people, more or less, you can see that they can accept it," said Simpson. "I'm always with my team. That's the rules I've been taught since I was a little kid: Stick with your team. But of course, I can see it in some people's eyes.

"The one thing I do know is we're going to keep fighting. But again, it comes down to being a man. You can't let guys do to you what they want to do against your will. At some point in your life, you're going to have to get mad and you're going to have to step up."

Bombers head coach Tim Burke said he feels that while the results haven't been there this season, the effort has been -- including in Saturday's loss.

"Whether we drop the ball or throw an interception, I don't think that has anything to do with caring or how hard they're playing," said Burke. "I think they are very appreciative of the fans and they know how important it is to the community. And they are trying."

Burke singled out for praise the play on Saturday of defensive back Jonathan Hefney -- "He was playing with his hair on fire the whole game" -- and linebacker Marcellus Bowman, who finished with nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

Asked how he intends to motivate his team through the final five games of the regular season, Burke said he expects his players will be professional.

"I really think we'll get everything out of these guys. I really do."

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 1, 2012 C1

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