Winnipeg Blue Bomber Report Record: 7–10–0
Winnipeg Blue Bombers - News
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Tick... tick... tick
Armstrong's refusal to play Thursday could turn into an explosive situation
‘I don’t take anything back. I’ll stand firm. I believed in what I did at the time... But we’ve moved on. I want to retire a Blue Bomber and I’ll be at practice when we get back to work. I’m looking forward to winning some football games’ -- Derick Armstrong (JOE BRYKSA / FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)
WINNIPEG — Derick ARMSTRONG'S strong-arm tactics did not impress Winnipeg head coach Mike Kelly but it appears the situation has been resolved... for now.
The Blue Bombers receiver dressed but refused to play in Thursday's loss to the Edmonton Eskimos because he felt insulted when told that he would not be starting but instead would be rotated into the offence as a designated import. The militant stance didn't go over well with Kelly, the first-year Bombers coach.
"I'm disappointed on a lot of levels, from the moment it was conveyed, to right now," Kelly said Friday afternoon when the club had returned to Winnipeg. "It is resolved. I've met with Derick, it's being handled internally, things are resolved, and we move on."
Kelly added that it looks like Armstrong will practise this week and suit up when the Bombers host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. "I'm anticipating that, yes. Um, all indications are..."
Kelly did not discuss a fine or other form of discipline for Armstrong.
Armstrong, a 10-year pro, has turned in back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Bombers and despite a chronic bad knee is considered one of the CFL's top receiving threats.
"A little misunderstanding between me and the coaches. I didn't feel any love at the time," said Armstrong in a telephone interview Friday afternoon. "It was mostly over them wanting me not to start and to be a backup. I wasn't comfortable with the role after the years and dedication I've put into this game. But hey..."
Kelly, who in his short time as the top man in Bomberland has had to deal with fallout from his comments about former GM Brendan Taman, the province of Saskatchewan and waged a war with local TV outlets over filming practice, now has a full-blown player crisis on his hands.
The coach explained why the staff elected to make Armstrong a designated import.
"We had to take a long look at our ratio with the absence of (Canadian D-lineman) Doug Brown, and we went through an hour-and-a-half of different scenarios in case certain players went down... what would be of best service to our team," said Kelly. "I'm just gonna leave it as, 'we're gonna handle this whole thing internally.' That's all that needs to be said."
Finally, Kelly fell on his sword.
"Ultimately I'm in charge of everything that happens here, just like I took responsibility for not coaching well enough, this wasn't handled well enough, and I'll take full responsibility for it," he said.
Armstrong is in his fourth season with the Bombers and in the off-season spoke of filling a larger leadership role in the absence of retired wideout Milt Stegall.
"I wanted to play. I love to play the game but I felt stronger about some other things in other areas," Armstrong said Friday. "It was selfish of me but I think I owe it to myself to be selfish. Maybe I should have been thinking about the team. Because I am a team player. I guess in this situation I felt like I wasn't part of the team."
Armstrong said he wouldn't change his course of action if given the chance.
"I don't take anything back. I'll stand firm. I believed in what I did at the time," said the 30-year-old from Monticello, Ark. "It was just one of those things and one of those times. But we've moved on. I want to retire a Blue Bomber and I'll be at practice when we get back to work. I'm looking forward to winning some football games."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 4, 2009 D1
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31 Comments
Posted by: David
July 6, 2009 at 12:13 AM
I'm with bobganason. I think Kelly has screwed this up. This would not have happened under Mike Riley or Bud Grant, and I so wanted Kelly to be someone like that and make the Bombers into a dominant team. I fear it is not going to happen, because incidents of this type, where Kelly has to be front and center showing people he is the boss, are going to keep coming up and be distractions.
Posted by: bobganason
July 5, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Too bad, what's going on there. I had a lot of respect for Mike Kelly and hoped he would take us to the grey cup in two years. Everything is lost. I am very sad. This team needs a "Player Ombudsman". Can anyone suggest how player discrepancies could be handled? I think we have lost the locker room.
Too bad. Sad to see a great team go down. If Milt was there he would have used his PR and leadership skills to avoid any crisis. I will always continue to support this team. Good luck to everyone.
Posted by: BlueBlood
July 5, 2009 at 5:18 AM
I love being a Bomber Fan... I just love watching the Blue and Gold rush out onto the field and play a strong physical game. It has been a hard lesson for me to learn, but even the Bombers are a business. Player loyalty? Team loyalty? In the end it's all about numbers. And like any other business, the team members would do best to create a situation where they are perceived as a benefit, not a detriment.
No doubt about it, we have had our share of talent. We have some incredible talent right now. But in this business, you're only as good as your last season - sometimes, your last game. Anyone who doubts should talk to Charlie Roberts. I wonder what he's doing now...
Posted by: Bomber fan of Cal Murphy
July 4, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Wake up people. Derrick Armstrong has devoted 4 years here putting it on the line and doing very well. Mike Kelly is a first year coach making many stupid decisions. He lacked the balls to go down field and Lafor ass hung his reciever out to dry because he also lacks maturity in his position. Richie Williams should be the QB and boss Lyle Bauer should be stepping in to help Mike Kelly settle down into a better rythem. WAY TOO MANY MISTAKES BY MIKE KELLY. 2 perfect players were cut in camp and Carver stays when he is scared to tackle???
Posted by: bjp1055@live.ca
July 4, 2009 at 10:54 PM
So Armstrong wouldn't play because he found out he was not gonna
start the game, cut the spoiled brat loose. Obviously Mike Kelly
is a hypocrite-did he not say that he only wanted players that
wanted to play here, and then he keeps this dweeb.
Posted by: craig
July 4, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Coach Kelly needs to give his head a shake and smarten up before he loses the last shred of credibility he has with the fans.
This was a stupid decision by a stupid coach.
I thought that Kelly was smarter than this. If he can't see the error of his ways and apologize then I want him fired.
He walked into a great opportunity but has made some of the dumbest decisions in Bomber history.
Is this the second coming of Jeff Reinbomb? I certainly hope not.
Posted by: marshal
July 4, 2009 at 8:44 PM
@ bobganason "coaching staff lacked a lot of maturity" Are you kidding? More like Armstrong lacked maturity while pouting like a spoiled child.
Try refusing to participate in a project at work because you "aren't feeling the love" and see how far you get. Professional athletes don't get a free pass for bad behaviour. And he sure wasn't thinking of his teammates either.
Posted by: bobganason
July 4, 2009 at 6:02 PM
I agree with Derek Armstrong with what he did. He was our best receiver next Milt Stegal and is with the team for the fourth season. He can catch a ball in heavy trafic beating the defence and also that corner route.
We were lucky to get him signed by BT. He is a good player. Noway he should be demoted. He is senior and better than Bowman. Bowman should have been made the DI.
Very poor managerial skills by the coaching staff and Mike Kelly should take full responsibility. Good player public relationship should be maintained by the Head Coach including all management staff.
If D A was injured then he should have been made to remain in Winnipeg. The are many silent bomber fans in large numbers. They are already hurt. Kindly reconcile and settle all pending disputes on a results oriented
Posted by: bobganason
July 4, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Well I am with Derek Armstrong. Coaching Staff lacked a lot of maturity in how they dealth with this dispute. A Senior receiver cannot be demoted and treated in this fashion. Coach should take full responsibility and time will tell how the large number of silent fans will feel about it. We need Derek Armstrong. Bowman should have been made the DI. Management should maintain a good player public relation attitude. Kindly reconcile and resolve to make the BOMBER FANS happy. THANK YOU.
Posted by: Stiicks
July 4, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Armstrong needs to apologize to his teamates and show the leadership of a veteran, not act like a spoiled child.Its a team game Derrick, if you can't handle it go back to Texas becuase no other coach in the league would put up with that attitude.If you wanted to make Kelly sorry for not starting you how about going out on the field and lighting it up.I predict you're done here.
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