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Goodspeed latest to exit Bomberland

Top O-lineman lands in Steeltown; Malbrough shipped off to Edmonton

By: Ed Tait

2/04/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 11

The bandages won't officially come off until late June, but the major reconstructive surgery on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers roster is continuing in earnest.

Yes, set aside some loonies and toonies right now football fans, as you're going to need the extra cash to purchase programs for their home opener because this squad -- right now, at least -- is 'Blue Bomber' in name only.

The Bombers made two more deals on Thursday involving right tackle Dan Goodspeed -- in a three-team deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats -- and defensive back Anthony Malbrough, who was shipped to the Edmonton Eskimos for future considerations, believed to be 6-foot-8, 317-pound import offensive lineman Kelly Butler.

Winnipeg sent Goodspeed, their top O-lineman in both 2007 and 2008 to Saskatchewan -- who then dealt him to the Ticats -- as part of a complex trade that brings import receiver Adarius Bowman here but also involves draft picks and the rights to negotiation list players.

Interestingly, Bomber head coach Mike Kelly refused to confirm the Goodspeed trade because it hadn't been officially registered with the CFL yet -- even though both the Roughriders and Tiger-Cats announced the deal through press releases.

"I was just about to go out to dinner with my wife when my phone rings and it was (Ticat) coach (Marcel) Bellefeuille and he says 'I want to welcome you to the Hamilton Ticats,' " Goodspeed told the Hamilton Spectator. "The next call was from head coach (Mike) Kelly, which was a little disappointing, because I haven't talked to him this whole off-season. He says 'We've sent you to Saskatchewan.' So I didn't really know what was going on.

"They wanted those players and those draft picks more than they wanted me. That's fine. Hamilton wanted me so that's where I want to be."

Here's how the Goodspeed deal breaks down, courtesy of the Riders and Ticats:

"ö The Bombers sent Goodspeed, 31, to the Riders along with the negotiation list rights to import running back Tyler Roehl (who played last year at North Dakota State), a fifth-round pick in the 2009 CFL Canadian Draft (originally traded to Winnipeg for Jermese Jones), a fifth-round pick in the 2011 or 2012 draft and one of the following: the option to swap first-round draft picks in either 2010 or 2011 or, if not, then the Riders will receive two future second-round draft picks from the Bombers.

"ö The Bombers, in return, acquire Bowman, non-import offensive lineman Jean Francois Morin-Roberge, non-import defensive back Brady Browne (formerly of the University of Manitoba), an unnamed player from the Riders neg list, the Riders sixth-round draft pick in the 2010 draft and fifth-rounder in the 2012 draft. After landing Goodspeed, the Riders then immediately sent him and the fifth-round pick in this year's draft reacquired from Winnipeg to the Ticats for Canadian O-lineman Jordan Rempel and Hamilton's second-round pick in this year's draft (ninth overall).

Bowman (6-foot-4, 220, Oklahoma State) comes to the Bombers after an up-and-down rookie campaign with the Riders. Once touted as one of the top receivers in the U.S., he had six catches for 112 yards and a TD in his CFL debut last season, but finished the year with just 23 receptions for 358 yards and three scores in nine games. He became expendable with Saskatchewan's signing of Jason Clermont this winter. Bowman's addition -- and Kelly's silence -- immediately led to speculation that either Bowman or one of the Bombers other starting receivers, including 1,000-yard men Derick Armstrong, Terrence Edwards or Romby Bryant, could be on the move as part of another trade.

Morin-Roberge (6-foot-6, 325, Montreal), meanwhile, was a fourth-round pick of the Riders in 2008 and was a CIS first team all-Canadian in his senior season who spent all of last season on the Riders' practice squad.

Goodspeed has apparently already been paid a chunk of his 2009 salary, but the Bombers clearly did not want to start two imports -- including Glenn January -- along their offensive line. The Ticats will now start both tackles from last year's Bomber offensive line: Goodspeed and Alexandre Gauthier, signed in free agency.

The departure of Goodspeed and Malbrough -- plus the retirement of Milt Stegall -- means 14 players who started games for the Bombers last year have now been cut, traded, retired or lost in free agency.

 

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 2, 2009 C5

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11 Commentscomment icon

Blue Bomber Record 2009: 6-12.

Al Cohol nailed it. No QB (proven yet), no kicker, no chance.

As stated, they didn't want to start 2 Import O-Linemen which is understandable... however, you had better give me solid evidence that if you are to trade any of the following: Armstrong, Edwards & Bryant, you had better better have tons of reasons.

Armstrong - Height advantage, use him in mismatches all over the place

Edward - Good YAC player and has been solid ever since we got him, easily my favourite player

Bryant - Amazing deep-ball threat. He caught so much long passes last year that there's no way he should be gone either.

WOW!, GOOD TRADES I THINK..Sad too see Goodspeed go, but I think Kelly would not have traded him if he did not have someone in mind to replace him. In these trades we gota 6ft 6in 325 NI Olineman, a 6ft 8in I Olineman, a 6ft 4in 220 I receiver (with height)a quarter back off of Sask, neg list,..Yes the changes are huge, but so are the players we are getting...will it materialize into a championship; only time will tell...I for one am excited for the possibilities..GO BOMBERS!!!!

Maybe we could trade Kelly and Bauer to Saskatchewan for "Gainer the Gopher".

14 starters traded away or released. Point is we are giving away value and receiving nothing in return. Next up, ripping our receiving core apart followed by a disection of our defensive line. There may be truth to the rumor of Brown for a washed up kicker deal yet. Sorry Doug this is not a shot at you. Any player with any value has been released or given away. Maybe we could trade a 1000 yrd receiver for a 200-300 yrd receiver or a running back we'll dump after training camp. Mike has to have a Harley in his garage. I haven't seen this much change since the Jeff and TJ circus.

Change is fine...but what's the point in acquiring a running back and/or receiver when our best lineman isn't there to open up holes, or to protect the QB...it's arguably the most important spot on the team...and we just let go possibly the best guy at that position in the entire league.

As sad as it was to see Milt retire, it sure beats seeing Kelly ship him off for a few practice jerseys and some Eskimo season tickets!

Why all the negative NELLYS here in the Peg...relax people, change is long over due...a sub par team needed a complete make over...let's analyze the team after 6, 12 and 18 games before we cast scorn on the new coaching/management style....RELAX

Better not trade off Armstrong, Edwards or Bryant...

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