Enlarge Image

Brendon LaBatte

For a team that went to the Grey Cup last year and presumably wants to again this season, losing three starting offensive linemen should be worrisome.

That's the situation the Winnipeg Blue Bombers could be facing Wednesday.

With just four days remaining before the opening of free agency the Bombers have failed to secure starting Canadian guards Brendon LaBatte and Steve Morley along with import tackle Andre Douglas. The club expects all three to hit the street when free agency officially begins Feb. 15.

American tackle Glenn January is poised to sign a deal, joining non-import Obby Khan as the only returning starters from the group that finished its season at the Grey Cup. Backup Chris Greaves, who many believe is ready to become a full-time starter, is under contract.

Also looking like they're headed to free agency are non-import defensive lineman Don Oramasionwu, Canadian receiver Aaron Hargreaves and import wideout Greg Carr.

Backup quarterback Alex Brink is also on the verge of signing.

The question for Bombers GM Joe Mack is can he upgrade his offensive line with free agents of his own or does he need to meet the demands of his current players?

With Morley and Douglas that appears to be a possibility but it's difficult to argue that's the case with LaBatte. His combination of youth (he's just 25) skill, toughness and locker-room savvy make him irreplaceable.

LaBatte is the Bombers' best offensive lineman and word is the market is bullish on the durable and versatile player. No talks are scheduled between the club and LaBatte at this point but that could change in an instant. One last push to try and get a deal prior to Wednesday is a possibility, however the Bombers weren't sounding very positive on Friday.

"He's going to hit the street. We made him what we considered a reasonable offer but we appear to be a ways apart," said a club source.

Losing LaBatte would be a huge blow to the Bombers.

Some make the argument interior lineman are not as valuable as tackles, but LaBatte's versatility and effectiveness at both guard and centre, as well as his birth certificate, make him attractive.

An all-star in three of his four seasons in the CFL, word around the league is there will be considerable interest from both the Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

LaBatte made in the area of $130,000 last season and is looking for close to $200,000 per season.

Saskatchewan is an obvious fit for the Weyburn, Sask., native, where the man who drafted him -- Brendan Taman -- is now GM. The Riders have cut expensive Canadian offensive linemen Alex Gauthier and Marc Parenteau this off-season and icon Gene Makowsky is considering retirement. The Saskatoon-born Makowsky is the Riders highest paid offensive lineman and LaBatte would seem to be a natural replacement on the field and in the community.

LaBatte would follow in the tradition Roger Aldag and Makowsky of Saskatchewan born offensive lineman to play for the Green Riders.

The Bombers offensive line looked shabby early last season but seemed to find its stride when running back Chris Garrett took over from an unproductive Fred Reid.

Job No. 1 for the Bombers front five last season was to keep Buck Pierce healthy and they were mostly successful, despite allowing the second most sacks in the league at 46. The Bombers were fourth in rushing the ball with 1,988 yards but gained momentum when Garrett took replaced Reid. The second-year back picked up 689 yards on 111 attempts, getting most of his work in the season's final six games.

The offensive line also led Winnipeg to its one playoff win last season as the team picked up 271 yards on the ground in a 19-3 East final win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Certainly there's room for improvement but the foundation is sound and it all starts with LaBatte. Letting him go doesn't make football sense. Financial sense? Maybe.

But nothing's better for the cashbox than winning and keeping LaBatte is a big step in that direction.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless

Gary Lawless, Winnipeg Free Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 11, 2012 C1