Enlarge Image

Kyries Hebert

Related Items

1. Columns

   • Is Calvillo kaput?

Enlarge Image

Shea Emry

FOND MEMORIES

MONTREAL -- Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers safety Kyries Hebert is the starting safety in Montreal these days, but he still has a soft spot for the two seasons he spent in Winnipeg in 2006 and 2007.

Hebert was asked Thursday at the Alouettes pre-game media availability what he remembered most about his time as a Bomber.

"Playing with Milt Stegall and Barrin Simpson and Kevin Glenn and just some really awesome guys. The city was really good to me," said Hebert, adding football wasn't the only thing he remembered about Winnipeg.

"Earl's -- the food was amazing there," Hebert laughed, referencing the restaurant chain that has long been a popular haunt of pro athletes.

Hebert, 31 -- who went on after Winnipeg to play parts of three seasons in the NFL on special teams for the Cincinnati Bengals -- said Winnipeg's loss in the 2007 Grey Cup continues to motivate him.

"Losing the Grey Cup there really left a bad taste in my mouth," said Hebert. "I really wanted an opportunity to win one before it's all said and done."

DIAL M

There was a murder Thursday morning in a Montreal park located directly across the street from the downtown hotel the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are staying in this week.

Police were releasing few details but did say they were called about 9 a.m. after a man cleaning the park discovered the body of a male. Police said the dead man had multiple injuries to his upper body.

The park was cordoned off by red police tape and the body and a police identification unit were still on scene when the Bombers arrived at their hotel Thursday afternoon.

BUCKING FOR TROUBLE

Montreal linebacker Shea Emry was asked Thursday if the Als defence had anything special in store for Winnipeg Blue Bombers starting QB Buck Pierce, who added last week to his long reputation for failing to finish games he started because of injuries.

"We're not trying to take the quarterback out of the game," Emry insisted. "He does have a tendency to go down, but they also have a great backup quarterback (Alex Brink) as you guys have seen before. So that's not really what's on my mind -- we're just concerned with whoever's in there, making the plays."

Emry, of course, made headlines last Sunday for his late hit on Calgary QB Drew Tate, which led to him being fined by the CFL this week.

TURNING HEADS

The three sacks by Bombers defensive tackle Bryant Turner against the Lions last Friday represented almost 25 per cent of the total sacks in the CFL in all of Week 1.

There were just 16 sacks combined by all eight teams playing on opening weekend. Turner's hat trick makes him the league sack leader heading into Week 2, one ahead of the Lions' Keron Williams and Eric Taylor and the Eskimos Almondo Sewell, who each had a pair.

CHIPPING IN

Montreal linebacker Chip Cox has a 36-game streak of recording at least one tackle -- but even against that backdrop, Cox had a remarkable game last Sunday in Calgary. He recorded 13 defensive tackles against the Stampeders to lead the CFL in Week 1.

-- Paul Wiecek

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 6, 2012 C3