Now it’s getting personal

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/11/2010 (5807 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just because a team doesn’t have anything to play for doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to play for.

Ending the regular season on a good note is what both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders will strive to accomplish when the clubs tangle at Canad Inns Stadium Friday night (7p.m., CJOB, TSN), but while the outcome will do nothing to change the position of the Bombers and Stamps — one readying for an off-season of questions, the other preparing to host the West final — the game does hold certain consequences for a few members of the Blue and Gold.

“It’s not one of my goals that I set out at the beginning of the year,” said slotback Terrence Edwards on the CFL receiving title, a carrot he’ll be playing for this weekend (barring an injury setback, of course). “The most important things are team goals — trying to make the playoffs and trying to win a championship. Secondary goals… if you’re right there challenging for the receiving title, then that’s something to look at.”

The 31-year-old out of Georgia says he isn’t working over his teammates to help him grab the crown — not that he’s needed the extra help this season, anyway. The veteran has caught 75 balls for a career-high 1,325 yards, giving him a 22-yard lead over Hamilton’s Arland Bruce III and Saskatchewan’s Andy Fantuz (1,303), and he’s done it despite the unhappy merry-go-round at the Winnipeg pivot position.

While the challengers have relied on Darian Durant and Kevin Glenn to get them the ball, Edwards has had to work some chemistry with Buck Pierce, Steven Jyles, Alex Brink, and now Joey Elliott.

“It has been a strange situation, but whoever is throwing the ball, I just try to make the guys comfortable and give them a good target,” said Edwards, who should be a favourite as the Bombers most outstanding player when the CFL announces the team nominees today.

Running back Fred Reid, on the other hand, has to make up some ground to catch the front-runner. He trails Toronto’s Cory Boyd by just 11 yards (1,359 to 1,348), and says he’s at a bit of a disadvantage in the race: Boyd doesn’t play until Sunday, so the Argos back will know how many yards he needs to surpass Reid for the rushing crown.

“It’s on my mind a little — it’s something you can’t help think about,” Reid said. “I’ll get my carries and try to get some big yards out of them. I’m on a good pace, so hopefully that gets me the title after the weekend.”

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This is the second year in a row Reid has been in the mix for the league title. Last season, on the strength of 238 carries, he put up 1,371 yards — second only to Calgary’s Joffrey Reynolds (1,504).

Head coach Paul LaPolice was non-committal when asked if the club would try to get the ball into Edwards’ hands or tuck it under Reid’s arm more than usual during Friday’s game. He said their success depends on the team’s lot as a collective unit, subscribing to the theory that if the club is performing well then those players should get the yardage necessary to reach the personal milestones.

“We’re not going to run the ball 29 times in this game — we’re going to do what it takes to win the football game,” LaPolice said. “Part of us being successful should give all those players an opportunity to get the accolades that they deserve.”

NOTES: Thanks to six tackles and an interception, S Ian Logan (top Canadian) was named one of the players of the week Tuesday… DT Doug Brown was awarded the club’s Ed Kotowich Good Guy award for his involvement in the community… OL Matt Morencie, picked up off the Hamilton practice roster last week, had his first practice as a Bomber Tuesday.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca