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SUNDAY was sundown for a few members of the Blue and Gold, with four players receiving pink slips.

The club released import wide receiver Paul Hubbard, import defensive end Brandon Akpunko, import linebacker Javon McKinnon and import cornerback David Pender prior to practice at Canad Inns Stadium. The Bombers were required to get down to a league-mandated 65 players, excluding non-counters (2012 draft picks and CIS free agents).

Overall, the club still has 70 players in camp. Final cuts will come towards the end of this week.

The most notable trim was Hubbard, who looked good in camp and was challenging for the fifth starting receiver spot on the team. But the 6-foot-2, 215-pound pass catcher from Wisconsin struggled in the Bombers 22-10 pre-season win over Montreal last week, dropping a pair of balls and suffering a shoulder injury in the process.

That injury would have kept him out for at least the next two weeks, Paul LaPolice said. The coach did leave the door open for a possible return later in the year.

-- -- --

Now that the stadium issue has been resolved -- or at least the clouds of uncertainty which have hovered over where the team will play games this season -- the players can focus on football.

That's assuming, of course, that they were actually bothered by the fuss.

"I wasn't really concerned about it," quarterback Buck Pierce said, basking in the sun Sunday. "I mean, the one concern, I think, was just moving; getting everything over there in the heat of the season. But now, we're here.

"We love playing here. The new stadium is going to be amazing but we sold this place out nine times last year. This place was the loudest place in the CFL to play (in) and I'm looking forward to that. And I think the fans will enjoy it, as well. It's going to be a good atmosphere this year."

-- -- --

Pierce was also asked to compare this training camp to other CFL camps he's been through.

Has this one been too tough, or has it been too easy? Given that some of the vets were away from the field for four days last week (as the rookie-heavy club travelled to Montreal for a pre-season game) and that various workouts were cut short due to rain, appearances suggest the players have had an easier time of things.

"The quarterback is probably not the guy to ask," he laughed.

True enough, as a naked bootleg might be the most physical effort put into their day, but the starting quarterback often has the pulse of the team; what players are saying and what they like and don't like.

So, how strenuous has this camp been?

Pierce feels the appearances have been deceiving.

"We've worked extremely hard when we've been out here and we've been rewarded for that," Pierce said. "The weather hasn't been great. We've been taking care of what we've had to take care of in the meetings. The days are long in camp. A lot of time we're here until late in the evening."

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

SICK BAY

Starting offensive tackles Glenn January and Andre Douglas were both watching practice Sunday. They've both been out since last week. Linebacker Marcellus Bowman, who's been out since the early stages of camp, was also a non-participant. Running back Chad Simpson also took a powder. After practice he insisted he was fine; he just needed another day for maintenance.

LINEUP LOOK

With Paul Hubbard gone, Chris Matthews lined up as the starting fifth receiver with the first-team offence. Others starting with the No. 1 group Sunday: Centre Chris Kowalczuk and Paul Swiston at right tackle. On defence, Pierre-Luc Labbe was in at the middle linebacker spot, with Jason Vega, Dorian Smith, Bryant Turner and Kenny Mainor starting on the defensive line.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 18, 2012 C3