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Ken Gigliotti / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Receiver Terrence Edwards struts the catwalk, modelling retro-style uniforms.

Monday, the Bombers unveiled a 1960s-style uniform that they'll wear Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They'll also wear it at home on Aug. 15 against Toronto.The cleanly-designed, white jersey has blue numbers and blue and yellow striping. But the blue is a little darker than head coach Mike Kelly prefers.

"I lean more toward the royal blue we wore in the '80s and early '90s," said Kelly. "But I think it's a good, clean look."

Like last year's 1950s-style uniform set, the helmet will not feature a logo.

Kelly, the offensive coordinator and head coach, scoffed at what he perceived to be another duty piled onto his workload.

"Now, all of a sudden, I'm a fashion critic here, too? Do I have to put on a boa or anything?"

Doug Brown is back

FAN-FAVOURITE defensive tackle Doug Brown was back on the practice field Monday.

Brown will get a late start to the season after coming down with meningitis just days before the season opener in Edmonton.

"It's like being born again," kidded Brown. "It's one thing to feel better and another thing to exert yourself pretty strenuously and today, it was all thumbs-up."

Kelly said that the club is taking it slow with the 35-year-old, and wasn't sure if Brown would play on Saturday in Hamilton.

"We'll see," said Kelly. "We want to make sure that his weight is up and he has a good energy level. As long as he has those two things, I'm expecting he's going to want to be out there."

Defensive end Riall Johnson (hamstring) was also back on the field, while wide receiver Terrence Edwards, linebacker Joe Lobendahn (shoulder) and running back Fred Reid (ankle) all sat out. Reid is expected to play on Saturday.

Kelly confirmed that wide receiver Arjei Franklin is expected to miss six to eight weeks with an ankle injury.

New players

AFTER losing Franklin to injury and releasing Derick Armstrong, the Bombers recharged their receiving corps Monday. Craphonso Thorpe joins the team after being waived by the Tennessee Titans on July 7. The 26-year-old Thorpe, a product of Florida State, played in five games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007, catching 12 passes for 70 yards. Kelly said that Thorpe will also get a look as a kick returner.

Lorne Sam also arrived yesterday. The 24-year-old Sam split last season with Denver and Green Bay, but was released by the Packers on June 23. His brother is former Argo and current Buffalo Bill P.K. Sam.

New running backs coach

THE Bombers had another new face who didn't strap on a helmet, as the team announced that they've hired running backs coach Manny Matsakis.

Matsakis, who has coached at Hofstra, Kansas State, Emporia State, Wyoming, Texas Tech, Texas State and Capital University, was a guest coach with the Blue Bombers during training camp.

"He brings a valuable skill set to us and I'm very pleased to have him with us," said Kelly.

Matsakis replaces Andy Cox, who left the team for health reasons.

Play till the gun sounds

KELLY was happy with about 57 minutes of Friday's 42-30 win over Calgary.

The other three minutes saw Stampeders Jermaine Copeland and Teyo Johnson romping for majors 59 seconds apart.

"One of the things the team learned was that the last three minutes of a Canadian Football League game are a lot different than the last three minutes of an American football game," said Kelly. "We have to play every snap.

"I wasn't pleased with the fact we allowed 12 more points in the last three minutes."

The Stampeders attempted two-point conversions on all four of their touchdowns, but only one was successful.

"What I saw, though, was great character on our players' behalf by not allowing them to score the two-point conversions that they went for. The last snap on our defensive tape is us keeping them out of the end zone on a two-point conversion. To me, that shows great intestinal fortitude and toughness."

Tiger-Cat turnaround?

NEW Tiger-Cat Otis Floyd, who was accustomed to winning with the B.C. Lions, said that Friday's win over his old squad could mark a change for his new one. The Ti-Cats haven't recorded a winning season since going 9-8-1 in 2004.

"It could be a turning point if we don't let it get to our heads. This game don't mean nothing, for real, it really don't. We have to get ready for next week," Floyd told the Hamilton Spectator.

Hamilton also started last season at 1-1, then reeled off four straight losses en route to finishing a dismal 3-15.

daniel.falloon@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 14, 2009 C5