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Winnipeg Blue Bomber Report Record: 7–11–0

Bomber Report

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Courting Pacman makes Bombers look clueless, short-sighted

By: Randy Turner

3/09/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 23

John MURPHY'S wish almost came true.Just the other day, the Bombers' director of player personnel -- and, apparently, a self-appointed marketing whiz -- was yakking to SI.com about the wisdom of courting Adam (Pacman) Jones.

"From a marketing standpoint, a business standpoint and a football standpoint," Murphy opined, "I could go to 100 NFL training camps and every pre-season game and more people will hear and know about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the next two weeks -- from the coverage we'll receive -- than in the last 10 years."

In fact, the Bombers hadn't even signed Jones when Murphy's Law began to manifest itself. To wit, a blogger for the Dallas Morning News inquired, "Is Pacman going to make it snow in Winnipeg?" And USA Today observed: "Pacman Jones goes to Canada. Somebody must have convinced him the North Pole was a strip club."

Even your own humble agent's column, documenting the reaction from local exotic dancers, appeared on the football blog of the august New York Times website. I'm blushing.

So, yeah, a lot more people in the United States know about the existence of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers today. We're not exactly sure how that translates into one penny of revenue, or the sale of one ticket for the Banjo Bowl, but it's publicity all right. And it's free.

Or is it? Because while a lot more folks are aware of the Bombers, we'll bet you dollars to Timbits they couldn't pick out Winnipeg on a map. They won't know a lick about the team's storied 79-year history. They won't know about Kenny Ploen or the Fog Bowl. They'll have no clue about proud Hall of Famers like Joe Poplawski, Chris Walby or James Murphy. They don't know that the West Side sucks.

Personally, I could care less that some American wearing a Brett Favre jersey in Mississippi today is saying, "Did you hear Pacman Jones might sign with some team up in Canada? Do you think he'll be able to cross the border? Ha,ha, ha!!"

It's never good to be a punchline. Unless you can make a living at it, which in itself is pathetic.

Just as disconcerting, frankly, are other quotes Murphy served up to the Sports Illustrated website. Sentences that start with "If I was in the same position in the NFL..." Or, "I'm smart enough to know..." And this beauty: "But for me it's a win-win." Not "us," mind you. Me. Maybe next time Mr. Murphy can be a little more subtle when he pimps himself out for an NFL gig.

Which brings me back to the point: We know that for many players and coaches, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are simply a stepping stone, if they're good, to bigger and better things. It's just another uniform. It's a chance to be seen and get paid. And that's fair enough.

But we live here. This is our team. This is our history and it will continue to be passed from generation to generation long after the vast majority of those just passing through are gone.

So I can't believe there wasn't a constituency of football fans out there that got a little nervous, or even a little outraged, when the team's brain trust considers bringing in an individual -- and this can't be understated -- who cannot find employment, despite his considerable athletic talents, in a league that routinely embraces convicted felons as a matter of doing business.

Even Jones claimed on a live chat Tuesday that there's an escape clause in his yet-to-be-official contract with the Bombers that allows him to sign with an NFL team at any time. "I actually got two calls today, so if they tell me tomorrow that Pacman's back (in the NFL), that would be a bummer for Winnipeg fans," Jones said. "At least I'd like come out and play one game."

Great. Glad we were almost here for you, Pacman.

Meanwhile, the Bombers' reported attempts to sign yet another malcontent, former Detroit Lions receiver Charles Rogers, were thwarted because the former first-round pick is still under "indefinite suspension" by the NFL. Lovely.

Look, we're not saying Jones, like any other troubled player, should be denied a second or fourteenth chance. Fullback Mike Sellers is a poster boy for using his two-year stint with the Bombers as a ticket back to The League. Good for him, too. That was a forced marriage that benefited all parties -- the player, the team and the fans.

It's just that the Blue Bombers don't need another NFL castoff with sordid baggage that has trouble getting through customs. They need another Milt Stegall. They need another Poplawski, another Murphy, another Walby.

Or maybe it's just gotten to the sorry state in Bomberville that character and doing the right things is secondary these days to the short-sightedness of the storied franchise's current caretakers. Like they say, any punt returner in a storm.

One can only imagine the agent of Plaxico Burress thinking, "Hmmmm. Winnipeg, eh?," while looking up the Bombers' website. It's good to be known, isn't it?

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 3, 2009 C3

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23 Commentscomment icon

I agree Chris. I think this whole fiasco got out of hand by who else, but the media as always. The fans didn't help either by adding more fuel to the fire. I just hope the Bombers were able to practice enough this week without all the hoopla around them. They're really going to have to focus on their game in Regina. Now I just hope they put this mess behind them and can play football on Sunday.

@ whosays:

Sorry that you just don't get it...

Ya know folks, I think the whole mess falls squarely on John Murphy. There is nothing wrong with inquiring or further investigating the potential of signing a player on your neg list. In fact, I'll bet you a pint that this kind of thing goes on unnoticed all the time throughtout the league. The difference here was it became public knowledge because Murphy, for whatever reason (giddy excitement?) decided to flap his gums to SI.
So what should have been one of those stories that you hear about down the road like, "Bombers at one time inquired and balked at signing Pacman Jones" became public knowledge through the actual investigative process.

Regardless, for me, the question remains; Would Pacman be in town today had the USTREAM video not come out?

GO BLUE!

Let me get this straight. We had no interest in Ramonce Taylor because despite his kick return abilities, he didn't have the other attributes which are more important. But then we go after a guy whose rap sheet makes Ramonce look like Mother Theresa. I guess when you're 3 and 5, character takes a back seat.

I get the points he's trying to make. You have to laugh at the nightmare that the WFC continues to find itself in time after time. Between Pacman and now Ross Brown, I kinda feel sorry for them. Tred carefully over there on Maroons Road.

Awwww.....ihavesomethingtosay is offended by strippers. Cute. Turner's a col-um-nist. That means he gets paid to write about his OPINION and FEELINGS about a subject. Nice that all the "died in the wool" Bomber fans have someone to hiss at though.....get it all out of your system. When the Bombers don't make it past the first round, THEN you can turn on the coach and demand your changes!

I think Brandon Taman would have fared much better with his experience and maturity. May be he would have signed a kick returner as he did with Armstead.I just want to keep my mouth shut.

Al, I also "could care less that some American wearing a Brett Favre jersey in Mississippi today is saying". But I do care about a talented young man living south of the border, not familiar with our league, looking to either continue his passion or take a job at the local 7/11, thinking his career is over because the NFL didn't want him or he had a bad rap, hello Mike Sellers, and doesn't know or think of our wonderful little loop! It's all perspective and columns like this do nothing to promote or help the situation. The only thing this obviously biased writer wants to do is rake everyone over the coals on every decision that is made. I think this is referred to as “Sensationalism”! This team is a better one than last years version. Yes mistakes have been made, but the future looks good from my perspective and all this team needs is the support it deserves from everyone including the media. Mr. Kelly’s passion should not be underestimated and he should be given the time to shape this team into his vision, after all, it’s what he was hired to do!

You should be blushing Randy, but not for the self-congratulatory reason you think. Now can we talk about football again?

I heard the Bummers made a huge signing today, DONKEY KONG, he may not be able to cross the border due to his fondness of throwing barrels at people.

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