Grey Cup is focus for all-stars

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This article was published 06/11/2019 (2131 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Six Winnipeg Blue Bombers were named CFL West Division all-stars on Wednesday and for the most part, they all had similar responses when asked about their individual achievement.

To summarize, their responses sounded something like this: “It’s nice to be recognized, but the focus is on winning the Grey Cup.” 

It’s the politically correct response. After all, the team is getting ready to travel to Calgary to take on the Stampeders this Sunday in the West Division semifinal. But for some players, you have to think an all-star nod means more to them than what they’re letting on.

Take Winston Rose for example. The third-year cornerback — who spent last season with the B.C. Lions — was in a five-way tie for the CFL’s interception lead last year with five picks. The other four players received all-star honours, but Rose didn’t. In an interview a couple of weeks ago, Rose said the snub added some fuel to the fire in the off-season and made him work even harder. 

Whatever Rose did clearly worked. He was the league’s interception king this season with nine picks. It’s the highest total by a Bomber since Les Browne picked off 10 passes in 1991.

“Yeah, I have a chip on my shoulder about that,” Rose said on having to wait until this year to get recognized. “But like I said, everything happens for a reason. Last year, I wasn’t in the position that I’m in now. I love where I’m at right now. I love everything about Winnipeg. They let me be who I am and it reflects.”

Halfback Marcus Sayles and special-teams ace Mike Miller were also named all-stars for the first time in their careers. Sayles, who plays next to Rose, was all over the field this season and finished with 66 tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks. Sayles was named the Bombers’ top rookie last year.

“It’s always a goal,” Sayles said of being an all-star. “I always want to play at the top of my ability. Whatever comes with it, comes with it. That’s not my mindset, though. My mindset is going out there each game and, hopefully, I can make every play that I have the opportunity to make. I’m excited and blessed… but we’re not done. Hopefully, there’s CFL all-stars down the road and, hopefully, this Grey Cup will come in a couple of weeks.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said Rose and Sayles get a lot of action and they have made the most of their opportunities.

“Obviously, they play well together. They have a pretty good level of communication that goes back and forth. You have to,” O’Shea said. “They are on the short side, which is the most active side in the CFL. A lot of footballs get thrown their way. For Winston to lead the league in interceptions and for Marcus to be recognized also, is a good thing because I think sometimes people just go on stats. But if you look at the way a guy plays, he plays hard football, too. For a little guy, he hits like a truck.”

While Sayles only had to wait until his sophomore campaign to become an all-star, it took Miller nine years to finally get some recognition. Miller shared the team lead in special-teams tackles at 25 with Kerfalla Exumé. Only the Toronto Argonauts’ Frank Beltre had more, as he finished with 27. Miller also climbed the ranks in the CFL’s all-time special-teams tackles list this season. Miller now has 185 career to put him in second place behind former B.C. Lion Jason Arakgi, who finished his career with 190.

“It’s awesome. This is my first in my career, so it’s a pretty cool accomplishment,” said Miller, who spent his first six CFL seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos. “But I couldn’t have done it without all the guys in the locker room, all the guys on special teams. They’re a great group of guys in there, and that definitely makes it easier.”

O’Shea said the stats don’t begin to tell the story on what Miller brings to the football field.

“It’s not just the tackles, right? That’s what they keep track of. They don’t keep track of the number of times he’s locked his opponent down or how many times he’s knocked guys down or made up for mistakes other people make on the field… I think he does set a standard out there that, obviously, other people would recognize,” O’Shea said.

But would these players trade in their all-star awards for a Grey Cup ring? In a heartbeat.

“Of course I would,” Rose said. “I want the Grey Cup more than anything.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

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