Blue Bomber Report Record: 6–12–0

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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Orange flags cost Blue game

By: Paul Wiecek

Posted: 07/7/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Montreal Alouettes fullback Patrick Lavoie leaps to avoid Winnipeg Blue Bombers cornerback Demond Washington during fourth quarter CFL football action on Friday in Montreal. (PAUL CHIASSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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MONTREAL -- There was no turning back the clock, or undoing what had been done.

But if there was a way -- any way -- then Winnipeg Blue Bombers backup safety and special teams specialist Brady Browne would surely have done whatever it took Friday night to make things right.

Browne was inconsolable and on the verge of tears as he hung his head in the Bombers locker-room and related what it was like to have authored a costly offside call on a third-quarter Montreal Alouettes punt that transformed what was a Bombers possession in good field position into a second life for the Alouettes, who regained possession after the penalty and promptly marched down the field for a touchdown.

The margin of difference in a Montreal Alouettes' 41-30 victory over the Bombers was greater than that one play, but there was no telling that to Browne, a five-year CFL veteran.

"It's the most embarassing moment of my football career," said Browne, his voice cracking. "To let my team down like that. It sucks, it really sucks."

The Bombers punt return unit had come close previously to blocking a kick and Browne was trying to time his jump off the line of scrimmage perfectly. "But they hard-counted me," said Browne, calling the error inexcusable given that it was third and six and the five-yard penalty gave the Als an easy third-down conversion on the next play.

"Maybe (third) and 10, I could take a gamble on it," Browne continued. "It's something I'm going to have to live with. Unfortunately, I can't take it back. But we'll learn from this and move on."

Browne said watching the Als subsequently march down for a touchdown was excruciating. "It's the worst thing I've ever experienced in my professional career."

Browne wasn't the only Bomber, however, who had a career low at Stade Molson Friday night. Rookie tackle Jordan Taormina was also offside on a first-and-goal from the Montreal one-yard line in the fourth quarter, pushing the Bombers back to the Montreal six. The team was unable to advance the ball from there and came away with nothing for their effort after QB Buck Pierce got sacked on a third-down gamble.

"It was on 'set-hut' and I heard the first sound and made a reaction," Taormina explained after the game. "It feels terrible right now. I let down my team, my teammates and most importantly myself.

"There's no excuse... I made a mistake. It definitely won't happen again."

Taormina is a raw rookie but has started both games this year because of a lingering injury to projected starter Andre Douglas.

The two penalties -- leading to a TD for Montreal and taking away a probable TD for the Bombers -- resulted in a 14-point swing -- greater than the margin of difference in the loss.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 7, 2012 C6

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