Trade deadline a non-event on Maroons Rd.

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This article was published 15/10/2009 (5837 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SOME leagues have all-day network coverage dedicated to their trade-deadline days, but the CFL could pass along their news on this day with a town crier.

The league’s trading period came and went at 3 p.m. on Wednesday with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers making no moves and the only deal of the day saw the Toronto Argos ship offensive lineman Cliff Washburn to Saskatchewan in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in the 2010 CFL draft and a conditional pick in the 2011 CFL draft.

Bombers coach Mike Kelly was shivering and shaking off the cold when he arrived for his daily media scrum after practice, but immediately flashed a little heat in his answer when asked why his club had made no changes prior to the deadline.

"No trades. No. I told you. I like this team," Kelly spit. "We did what we needed to do prior to the deadline and we didn’t see where there was anyone of significance that would make us drastically better. I like what’s happening here and let’s stay the course. We didn’t even call around."

He was asked if the club received any offers for linebacker Barrin Simpson. Simpson asked for a trade and missed three games due to injury and his demands before getting back to work last weekend in a win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"No. There haven’t been any. It’s quiet here," Kelly said when asked if there had been any offers for Simpson.

Simpson, who started at middle linebacker and had two tackles against the Ticats last week, appears to be moving into a backup role for this weekend as Joe Lobendahn took most of the work with the starting defence during Wednesday’s practice, He took a look at his watch and sort of laughed when asked about the trade deadline.

"It came and went," the veteran said. "That closes the book on that. I’m ready to do my job. No trade means I’m here. I have no control over what they did or didn’t do."

The Bombers have adjusted their roster since Kelly took over as coach and continued making trades right into the season. They’ve added key players in punter Mike Renaud, receivers Brock Ralph and Adarius Bowman, defensive end Odell Willis, linebacker Siddeeq Shabbazz as well as defensive back Lenny Walls — all through trades.

"They players we have brought in here fit with what we want to do," Kelly said. "They fit our mindset, they fit the way we want to practise and the way we want to play the game, and they’ve been contributors to this short successful run we’ve had, so I’m pleased with what we’ve done in regards to trades."

Veteran linebacker Neil McKinlay said only a handful of the players in the room were even aware it was deadline day.

"Just a few of the vets know, more than anything. It kind of comes and goes in this league. We’ve been pretty solid lately as a group and when things are good, there’s less chance of something happening," McKinlay reasoned. "If it was going the other way, I’m sure there would have been something going on."

Kelly believes the deadline coming so close to the end of the season restricts movement.

"I think because we’re such a small league, there just aren’t many players that are expendable to a club. Once you settle in and get your groove going, there’s only four more games to go, the NFL’s deadline is coming up pretty quick and they’ll have half a season left to play. At this point, you’re pretty much settled in what you’re doing. Really, our biggest time is right after the NFL cuts and when those guys become available."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca