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Terrence Edwards (CP)

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graham hughes / the canadian press archives Terrence Edwards celebrates a touchdown in Montreal Sept. 18, when the Bombers beat the Als 25-23. (CP)

The contract extension he signed was as a player, but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are also counting on Terrence Edwards to serve the role of mentor in 2012 to the very talented -- but still very raw -- group of receivers around him.

In announcing Monday that the Bombers had signed Edwards to a contract extension -- the sixth leading receiver in franchise history is now locked down through the 2013 season -- Bombers GM Joe Mack made clear the club has plans for Edwards beyond what he contributes on the field.

"Terrence has been one of our most consistent receivers since he came to Winnipeg and has great leadership qualities and work ethic that is looked up to by the rest of his teammates," Mack said in a statement announcing the extension. "He will continue to be a key component of our offence and we look forward to having him continue to mentor our young receivers."

He will turn just 33 this week, but Edwards is almost grandfatherly compared to the rest of the Bombers' aerial corps. Cory Watson is the next oldest at 28, followed by 26-year-old Clarence Demark, 24-year-old Kito Poblah and 22-year-old Jade Etienne.

With wide receiver Greg Carr jumping ship to the Eskimos in the off-season and the Bombers failing to land any big-name free agents over the winter, the club will be counting on those youngsters to fill the void.

The club is hoping Watson will continue to improve in his third season with the Bombers and Denmark can build on a standout rookie season. The club awarded Poblah a contract extension last month, betting that an injury-filled rookie year was an anomaly. And then there's Etienne, who looked lost at times in 2011 and had more than a few observers wondering if the Bombers had wasted their fourth overall pick in the 2011 CFL draft to take him.

And that's where Edwards comes in. The Bombers know exactly what they're getting in Edwards. Since signing with Winnipeg in 2007, Edwards has rattled off four 1,000-yard seasons -- including a team-leading 1,124 yards and 8 TDs in 2011.

The club will be looking for more of the same from Edwards in 2012, but is also hoping that he can lead by example and instill the same work ethic and consistency in players like Denmark, Poblah, Watson and Etienne.

It's a role Edwards relishes. "I really enjoy that part of the job," he says. "I like working with the young guys and watching them develop into the players I know they can be...

"We have to get better as an offence this year -- there's no question about that. And I take that personally. That's why they brought in a new offensive co-ordinator (Gary Crowton) in the off-season. We've got a fresh new guy with fresh new ideas and from what I hear, we should have a better offence this year.

"I really like the young guys we have right now."

And the Bombers really like Edwards. A CFL all-star in 2007 and 2010, Edwards says it was the club that approached him in the off-season about signing a contract extension prior to what would have been his option year this season. "I didn't have to come to them -- they came to me," said Edwards. "It's nice to know they still want me and think that I can still play at a high level.

"And I still feel like I can play at a high level. I haven't slowed down. I still love the game. I still love coming to work. I still love being around the guys. And I still love playing on game day."

NOTED...The Bombers announced Monday that Liam Martin and Ossama AbouZeid were elected to the club's Board of Directors. Martin is the son of NDP MP Pat Martin and a communications representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees. AbouZeid is the former interim CEO of the Bombers and has been the project manager on the new stadium going up on the grounds of University of Manitoba.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

A digital picture

THE Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Monday that they have signed all-star slotback Terrence Edwards to a contract extension that locks him up through the 2013 season.

Here's a look at Edwards by the numbers

2 -- Number of CFL all-star selections

3 -- Number of East Division all-star selections, including last season

4 -- Number of 1,000-yard seasons with Bombers since signing with Winnipeg in 2007

6 -- Place, in receiving yards, on Bombers' all-time list (5,602)

7 -- Place, in touchdowns, on Bombers' all-time list (41)

33 -- Age he will turn this Friday

82 -- Terrence Edwards SB

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 17, 2012 C1