Blue Bomber Report Record: 0–0–0
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Two offensive free agents may soon bolt Blue
Gauthier, Picard test CFL waters
Alexandre Gauthier: door still open
Left tackle Alexandre Gauthier told the Free Press on Thursday that despite positive negotiations with the Bombers on a potential new contract, he will now test the Canadian Football League free agent market when it opens Feb. 16. And despite that progress with the Bombers, whispers began circulating late Thursday night that he has already verbally agreed to terms on a new deal with the Toronto Argonauts.
Gauthier, however, hasn't officially slammed the door shut on talks with the Bombers.
"We're so close to Feb. 15 this is probably my last chance to be a free agent and I've been thinking that if I don't wait now I might not get another opportunity," Gauthier said from Calgary. "I'm not closing the door at all on Winnipeg... I hope they're still going to be interested after Feb. 15. But I think I've given them a chance to talk to me.
"I don't want to have any regrets. This doesn't mean at all that I won't be back, but right now I'm looking at waiting until Feb. 15 to see what's happening. I still feel like some good things are going to happen and maybe those good things are with Winnipeg.
"I was impressed with how (director of football operations) Ross (Hodgkinson) and I were dealing with each other. I was surprised because sometimes he can be grumpy, but he dealt with me like a champ during this. We've been getting pretty close on an agreement in the past few days, but time is a factor right now."
Meanwhile, it seems like progress has been slow in contract discussions with centre Dominic Picard. In fact, rumour has it he has been staying at former Bomber offensive line coach Bob Wylie's place in the U.S. while working out, prompting speculation he will follow his tutor to the Saskatchewan Roughriders when his hiring there becomes official.
The Bombers, for their part, are still hopeful they can have the two starters -- both of them Canadian -- back in 2009 and beyond.
"Negotiations with both players will remain ongoing until the clock hits the free agent deadline," said Hodgkinson from El Paso, Texas, where he is scouting the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game. "Both players have basically set out their wish list and we are now trying to find some common ground."
The club did lock up two more potential free agents on Thursday, signing long-snapper Chris Cvetkovic and defensive end Shawn Mayne -- also both Canadians -- before they were eligible to hit the talent market. Cvetkovic will return for a seventh season in Winnipeg and is not only one of the longest-serving members of the team, but respected in the locker-room and solid at his job.
Mayne will be back for a fourth season with the club and is a valuable depth player along the D-line where he had eight tackles and a sack last season.
Those signings now leave the team with eight potential free agents, including Gauthier and Picard.
The others are fullback Graeme Bell, offensive linemen Kyle Koch and Matt O'Meara, defensive lineman Jon Oosterhuis and linebackers Ike Charlton and Cam Hall. Hall's agent has already been told by the team he has the green light to shop his services around the league.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 30, 2009 C3
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Bomber Report
Scoreboard
-
Last Game
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- Should the federal government be spending $7.5 million on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?
- LeAnn Rimes in pain following 'minor surgery'
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- Slain woman appears before jury on video
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- Easy, economical, healthy soup
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Winnipeg software company ranked top employer
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Lesson about war, power told with Shaw's comic touch
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Time, it appears, is on Assad's side
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Local shooting spoofed on SNL
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- The cost of calories: It's expensive to eat healthily
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.