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From oilpatch to O-line

ADAM Rogers went from protecting workers in the oilpatch to protecting quarterbacks in the CFL in the span of one weekend.

Rogers (OL, non-import, 6-5, 310, Acadia) had just recently begun working as a safety supervisor for an oil company in northern Alberta when he got a call from Bombers assistant-general manager Ross Hodgkinson asking if he'd like to put his new off-field career on hold to see if maybe he still has an on-field career left in him.

Rogers gave his answer on Sunday morning when he showed up on the practice field at Canad Inns Stadium.

"They called me up (Friday) at 2 o'clock and said, 'When can you get here?' " said Rogers, who played in 18 regular-season CFL games over the past two seasons, 17 with Edmonton.

Rogers also played the final game of the 2011 regular season with Hamilton and was on the Ticats roster until about three weeks ago, when he was released just prior to training camp.

"I was planning on playing ball this year and things kind of got turned around," explained Rogers. "I had a couple jobs lined up. I figured I'd given it up and was ready to start working and I got a call the other day from Ross.

"He said, 'If you want to come, we'd love for you to be here.' It was kind of up in the air but eventually I came to a decision. Why not? What's one more year?"

Rogers, a CIS all-star twice in his university career, should get a good look on a Bombers offensive line where there are gaping holes to fill with the off-season departures of G Brendon LaBatte and C Obby Khan.

Left guard up for grabs

STEVE Morley has the right guard position locked down, but the left guard position -- which Rogers says is his natural position -- is still a work in progress.

Chris Greaves -- who dressed as Winnipeg's sixth offensive lineman all season in 2011 and also started the final three regular season games -- has been getting almost all of the first-team reps at left guard this training camp and would appear to have the job to lose.

But Greaves doesn't think he's won the job yet -- perhaps wisely given the sudden arrival of Rogers in camp on Sunday. "This was never my job to lose," said Greaves, who the Bombers drafted as a defensive lineman in 2010 but immediately converted to an offensive lineman.

"There's plenty of skilled players in camp. I just have to work hard every day in camp. Because any one of us are capable."

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Field notes

DT Dorion Smith and WR Jade Etienne returned to the practice field Sunday. DL Brandon Collier and Alex Hall, DBs Jeremy McGee and Deon Beasley and OL Andre Douglas were among the players who sat out...OL Justin Sorenson got some first-team reps at tackle...SB Cory Watson dropped a couple of balls...Rookie safety Johnny Aprile picked off an overthrown ball by QB Joey Elliott.

Prepping for Pre-season

With their first pre-season game looming this Thursday in Montreal against the Alouettes, the Bombers are slowly installing the basics of their offence. On Sunday, it was the short yardage offence and the packages for when Winnipeg is backed up under their own goalposts. LaPolice said the team will review tape of Montreal from last season, but his focus on Thursday will be more on his own team.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 11, 2012 C3