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Bombers GM responds to angry player Tweets

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/16/2012 11:12 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies) | Last Modified: 02/16/2012 2:30 PM | Updates

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Bombers Vice-President and General Manager Joe Mack spoke with media this morning.

The early reports from Winnipeg Blue Bombers players regarding the team's free agency work were not favourable.

Bombers defensive backs Jonathan Hefney (@hefney23) and Deon Beasley (@dbeasley20) used their Twitter accounts early Thursday to chastise management for its inability to resign import receiver Gregg Carr and non-import linemen Brendon LaBatte and Don Oramasionwu.

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"Man seems like every team has gotten better except us... I guess our 3 quarterbacks gonna play some receiver get the F outta here man #Sad," tweeted Hefney, prior to launching this missile at Bombers GM Joe Mack. "B4 someone text me bout my Tweets just wanna say we really F-ing up... Feel like Micheal Jordan Making Decisions in out office #epicfail"

Beasley called on management to take action today.

"Whats the chance someone from the Bombers brass will stick their head out today and reply to this stuff?," tweeted Beasley. "How did we go to the GREY CUP and still being cheap....I'm heated AF."

Beasley is worried about the Bombers being able to repeat as East Division champions.

"Winnipeg Fans I LOVE you guys, but SOMEONE needs to get the front office right...we wanna remain champions RIGHT," he tweeted.

As expected, Mack wasn’t too impressed with the remarks from two players under his watch. He told media Thursday he was disappointed in the comments, and said he’ll deal with Hefney and Beasley accordingly.

"I would say they are unprofessional and they’re uncalled for and it’s not acceptable," the Bombers GM said. "You can’t be taking a shot…particularly because there are other things. Players, like anybody in the organization, aren’t perfect but the coaching staff and the organization does everything possible to make sure we present our players in a positive light.

"I think it’s their responsibility to make sure that they take that into account when they’re making comments about the club. That’s something I will address and they’ll be very clear abut what my opinion about that is."

Mack pointed out that management has done a pretty good job leading the Bombers into a winning operation. The Bombers GM then fired what sounded like a warning shot across the bridges of the two players.

"If you look at our track record over the last two years we can make a strong case. We did get to the Grey Cup last year, we have brought in a fair amount of talent — and will continue to do so.

"And there will also be a fair amount of talent at defensive back next year."

The Bombers added an update on their free agency plans now that all-star Canadian offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte, import wide receiver Greg Carr and non-import defensive lineman Don Oramasionwu have moved on to other teams.

LaBatte officially signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders Thursday, while Carr and Oramasionwu came to terms with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Winnipeg did have an interest in one free agent offensive lineman (believed to be Dominic Picard), but that interest cooled when he announced his intentions to sign with the Riders.

The club did make a call on Canadian receiver Andy Fantuz, but were told that the former Most Outstanding Player (2010) was looking to sign with a club in the Southern Ontario market.

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Updated on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 2:14 PM CST: Adds reaction from Mack

2:30 PM: Adds free agent update

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