Burke excited to rejoin Bombers

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This article was published 10/01/2012 (5012 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IF there was any question about Tim Burke’s loyalties heading into the 2012 season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator seemed to put them to rest in a conference call on Monday afternoon.

In his first comments to reporters since the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Saturday that they were bypassing Burke to hire George Cortez as their new head coach, Burke revealed that he remained loyal to the Bombers organization even as he aggressively pursued the Hamilton job.

Asked Monday if he at any point considered pulling out of the Hamilton coaching sweepstakes when it became clear late in the drawn out process that he was Hamilton’s second choice to Cortez, Burke offered a revealing answer.

“There was a point where I was considering pulling out, but not because of that reason,” Burke replied. “It was because I felt like the Bombers organization — it was becoming an unfair process for them. I kind of put a timetable on it and the day I was going to pull out (last Friday), I got a call from Hamilton saying the next day (Saturday) they were going to make a decision. So it pretty much timed out the same way…

“I’d be less than honest if I said I wasn’t disappointed,” Burke continued. “But I’m excited about coming back. I was having mixed feelings anyway because this was probably the most fun I’ve had as a coach since I’ve been in the CFL this last year. I think the Winnipeg fans are the greatest.”

In his first year with the Bombers, Burke sculpted the Bombers defence into the stingiest unit in the league and a key to the club’s surprising run to the 2011 Grey Cup.

Burke was asked about the challenges facing the Bombers in the coming season with major changes in both the Toronto and Hamilton organizations during the off-season that promise to dramatically improve the offences in both cities in 2012.

“Both those teams have aquired Grey Cup calibre quarterbacks,” said Burke, referencing the signings of Ricky Ray and Henry Burris in Toronto and Hamilton respectively.

“Obviously, the East is going to be a lot tougher race. It’s going to be a heck of a battle just to make the playoffs.”

Burke said he also expects Montreal GM Jim Popp to make some off-season acquisitions to bolster the Alouettes defence after a season in 2011 in which the Montreal offence dramatically outperformed their defence.

It’s not clear if Popp will be around the rebuild the Als defence in 2012, however. Indiannapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has confirmed that Popp is one of seven candidates for the GM’s job in Indy.

Burke was also asked on Monday about frustrated cornerback Jovon Johnson.

Johnson told the Free Press last week that he is upset the Bombers haven’t offered him a contract extension after he was named defensive player of the year in 2011 and is now aggressively pursuing jobs in the NFL, including a tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday.

“I think Jovon deserves a shot like that. He played really well for us,” said Burke. “But we’ve got some good young defensive backs who could step in and play well… I’d like to see him come back, obviously. But if he does go and can make it, I think we’ll be alright.”

Aside from 11-year veteran defensive tackle Doug Brown, who has retired, and Johnson, who is pursuing the NFL, Burke said he anticipates the defence from 2011 should return mostly intact this summer. “Other than (Brown and possibly Johnson), I don’t think there will be a whole lot of turnover.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca