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Scott Mitchell, the new receiver in town, was on the practice field Tuesday but won’t play Friday. ( MIKE.APORIUS@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

Time to squelch a story before it gets too far out of control: There is no truth to the rumour that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be introduced for Friday's home opener by running through a big top led by a monkey playing a grind-organ.

And, for the record, head coach Mike Kelly won't be sporting a big, black top hat, nor open by addressing the crowd with 'Step right up ladies and gentlemen... '

That said, the 'circus' theme does seem more than a tad fitting this week given the whole Derick Armstrong soap opera and the club's attempt to trade him. But if you think the perception of this crew as the gridiron version of the Ringling Bros. -- minus the clown shoes and puffy red noses -- has crept into the locker-room, well, think again.

"To be honest with ya, it was over and done with and everybody just kinda moved on," began Kelly Tuesday after practice. "There is no talk about it. We are just proceeding as normal. It lingered in the media longer than it did in this building. The guys have really bought into the fact that we will not let any distraction deter us from our task at hand. It was a little bump in the road and we'll just keep moving forward.

"They reacted just like I thought they would because we have team-first guys here. They all just went out there, we've had two good days of practice and there's been no drama concerning that and, at least around me, zero conversation about it. None.

"I'm not happy with this whole situation at all," Kelly added. "Derick made a mistake. Derick knows he made a mistake. I've spoken with Derick since... I wish him the best elsewhere, but he understands the whole scenario and we move on."

Move on, yes. But they'll also be under the microscope against the Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders this week as everyone -- save the 50 or so players and coaches in Bomber colours -- will be looking for any evidence L'Affaire Armstrong has torn apart a squad just being put together.

If the Bombers win, frankly, this story goes away.

But if they get their pants kicked...

"But I really don't think this is going to galvanize us OR tear us apart," said centre Obby Khan. "We know we are a good team in here. Look, no one's ever won a Grey Cup in July. Part of being a professional is learning to block out what the media are saying, what the fans are saying. If we didn't do that, we wouldn't be professionals and we'd be torn apart in front of 30,000 people.

"When I'm out in the public I try to tell people, 'There's no reason to worry yet. Don't hit the panic button.' We've got a lot of new faces and I understand that concern. I had the same concerns with all the new players and coaches. But from the very first day I got here, that was out the window. I wish the fans could come in here and see what we've got growing. If they did, they wouldn't be worried at all."

That's the thing about pro sports. These guys have to bring a foxhole mentality to work every day. Don't get too comfy and don't get too close to the man beside you because he could be the next guy whacked. Case in point we give you Terrence Edwards, one of Armstrong's closest pals on the Bombers, but a guy who has been all business this week.

"This team? We're all good right now," said Edwards. "We're focused on winning this game and that's it. That's all you can do. You can't worry about things that are out of your control. This is what we're paid to do: You come in, do your job to the best of your ability and then punch out and go home. Look, it's no different than any other week.

"And, remember," added Edwards, "winning cures everything."

MILT WEIGHS IN: Bomber Hall of Famer Milt Stegall offers his take on the Derick Armstrong soap opera:

"Derick might be out of a job. He might be asking me for a loan. I wish I could've been there because I would've told Derick 'Just go out and play the game and worry about what's happened after the game.' The CFL rosters are already short enough and... an import receiver is difficult to replace. Of course, I wasn't there. But it's a tough situation right now. I don't know what happened but you somewhat leave your team hanging and that's pretty difficult. Guys look at him differently. I don't know what the case was. But I wish I could sit down and talk to him. I don't know if they're going to release him or if they're going to try to trade him.

"Derick is still a talented player. I know he's got some concerns with his injuries right now. If I had a chance to talk to him, I'd just tell him to keep your cool and hopefully, get another opportunity to play and when you get that opportunity, take full advantage of it because when it's over, it's over and there's millions of people who would love to be doing what you're doing so be happy in whatever situation you're in, just go out there and just do what you can do."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 8, 2009 C3