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Jonathan Hefney (POSTMEDIA POSTMEDIA NEWS)

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HEFNEY HAS NO REGRETS

VANCOUVER -- Jonathan Hefney and his controversial off-season tweets have long since been forgiven by Winnipeg Blue Bombers management.

But there is one tweet in particular the Winnipeg defensive back sent out in the off-season that is still remembered by some B.C. Lions players. And not fondly.

Two days after the Lions defeated the Bombers 34-23 in the Grey Cup last November, Hefney sent out a tweet that still rankles players here.

"Everything about the Grey Cup was set up for BC," Hefney tweeted. "Y'all got an average team with some of the softest players in the league."

If you think that one's all water under the bridge here in Lotus Land, think again. "That's just being ignorant and not knowing when to be quiet," B.C. defensive back Korey Banks told The Province's Lowell Ulrich this week.

"Say what you want. We have the diamonds. I don't think they were ever in that (Grey Cup) game. Hefney can play. He's on that media high. But him on Geroy? All day, I'm taking Geroy. Him on Arland? I'm taking Arland. Him on (Kierrie Johnson)? I'm taking (Johnson). I like our receivers over their secondary. It don't matter. You can print it any kind of way you want."

Lions DB Ryan Phillips also wasn't a big fan of Hefney's comments. "It was blatantly disrespectful. I felt like it was a coward move to say after the fact...," Phillips told Ulrich.

So, any regrets about that tweet, Hefney was asked here on Thursday?

"I don't regret nothing," said Hefney. "That's just me. That's just my personal opinion. I always give my personal opinion. I would tell them right on the field. When I'm on the field of play, I'm going to tell them the same way. I always talk because I always feel like I can back it up...

"But that was last year. Last year was last year."

GRIN AND BEAR IT

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going to relive their 34-23 loss to the Lions in the Grey Cup last November -- whether they like it or not.

The Lions will unveil the sixth Grey Cup championship banner in franchise history prior to tonight's regular-season opener against Winnipeg. If that's not annoying enough for the Bombers, a bagpipes and drum band will also be on hand to mark the occasion.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS

The sports gambling website www.bodog.ca released these Bombers-related odds on Thursday:

Buck Pierce (total passing yards in 2012)

Over/under: 3,200

Buck Pierce (total TD passes in 2012)

Over/under: 14.5

Buck Pierce (total Interceptions in 2012)

Over/under: 15.5

Terrence Edwards (total receiving TDs in 2012)

Over/under: 8.5

Terrence Edwards (total receiving yards in 2012 ) Over/under: 1,100

ONE YARD TO SPARE

Lions head coach Mike Benevides was jokingly asked at his pre-game news conference Thursday if his team has drawn up a 67-yard play for slotback Geroy Simon tonight.

"We've got a 68 (yard play)," Benevides said. "We're going to try to get it right over."

Simon is 67 yards short of breaking Milt Stegall's all-time career record for receiving yards in the CFL of 15,153.

-- Wiecek

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 29, 2012 C3