Winnipeg Blue Bomber Report Record: 7–11–0

Bomber Report

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Two offensive free agents may soon bolt Blue

Gauthier, Picard test CFL waters

By: Ed Tait

30/01/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Enlarge Image

Alexandre Gauthier: door still open

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers may soon have one -- and possibly two -- gaping holes on their offensive line.

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.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 30, 2009 C3

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.