Receiver Lawler in legal limbo

A poor decision by Kenny Lawler two years ago has cost him, at the very least, the beginning of the 2023 CFL season.

Lawler was arrested in Winnipeg for impaired driving on Oct. 4, 2021. The Bombers sat him for a game, and not much was heard or said about the incident since, that is until the club added their star receiver to the suspended list last Thursday.

Suspended players don’t get paid and the Bombers estimate Lawler’s suspension will last three to four weeks.

The move was made because Lawler pleaded guilty to the charge two months ago, thus making him an American with a conviction. The result of that is the 28-year-old Californian having immigration/work visa issues, and until that gets sorted, he can’t play.

Bombers answer kicking question

Sergio Castillo didn’t spend his Saturday night celebrating the fact that he had won the kicking competition.

Instead, the 32-year-old veteran from Amarillo, Texas, spent it with his now former teammate, Marc Liegghio.

Liegghio was the most notable player let go by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the weekend prior to the CFL’s roster deadline.

The Bombers will head into Friday’s regular season opener at IG Field against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with Castillo kicking and rookie Australian Jamieson Sheahan at punter.

Jones on the hot seat against Roughriders

Josh Jones will need to have one heck of a performance Friday night if he wants to remain with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The 22-year-old quarterback is in a battle with fellow rookie Tyrrell Pigrome for the team’s third-string job but already finds himself as the underdog.

Pigrome won over a lot of people last week in the club’s preseason opener in Edmonton by completing two-of-four passes for 43 yards, while leading the club with 71 rushing yards on five carries, and scoring a pair of touchdowns with his legs.

Jones, who started five seasons at NCAA Division II UNC-Pembroke, took the reins on the final two drives but wasn’t able to make the same splash in the 25-23 victory.

Bombers DB Houston aims for major comeback after minor setback

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers expected American defensive back Tyquwan Glass to be an important piece of their secondary in 2022.

Friday night match against Roughriders final audition for trio of kickers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are still struggling to solve their punting situation after 18 days of training camp and a pre-season game.

If anything, things are more complicated than ever as Global punters Jamieson Sheahan and Karl Schmitz both impressed in last Saturday’s exhibition game at Commonwealth Stadium against the Edmonton Elks.

The pair had four punts each, with Sheahan’s going for an average of 48.3 yards per kick and Schmitz’s travelling 49.5 yards.

Canadian Marc Liegghio, the team’s punter the past two seasons, sat out the Edmonton game but will get a chance to show his stuff on Friday at IG Field against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the preseason finale.

Murphy’s mistake pays off

It turns out you can be in the wrong place at the right time.

The fourth quarter of Saturday’s preseason game in Edmonton against the Elks began with a ball being snapped over the head of rookie Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome.

The blunder put the Blue and Gold in a dreadful second-and-27 situation.

Fortunately for them, no harm was done, as Pigrome fired a 34-yard pass to Canadian rookie receiver Jeremy Murphy for the first down on the very next play.

NFL veteran Cole enjoys the challenge of adapting to CFL

It was the day of an NFL pre-season game with the New York Giants when Matt Cole was hit with an unexpected demand.

Joe Judge, the team’s head coach at the time, told the wide receiver he’d be moving to the other side of the ball and playing cornerback when the Giants met the Cleveland Browns in a few hours.

“That morning, as I got on the first bus to the stadium, they said, ‘Hey, we’re gonna need you to play corner today.’ And I was like, ‘For sure, let’s do it,” Cole told the Free Press this week.

He wasn’t a complete stranger to the position as he attended several defensive-back camps while growing up, but it was still a big ask and one most pros wouldn’t relish.

Focused on making the kick

They’re friends and have been roommates since the start of camp, but this weekend in Edmonton, punters Jamieson Sheahan and Karl Schmitz will be in a battle against each other to keep their professional football dreams alive.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers take on the Elks at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday afternoon in preseason action. Head coach Mike O’Shea confirmed Thursday the team will use the exhibition to evaluate their two Global punters.

To give the new guys a chance to show what they can do, Canadian Marc Liegghio, who has handled punting duties the past two seasons, will not play.

“We’re all grown men. We’re all adults and understand that this is a job interview,” said Sheahan, an Australian out of the University of California.

First-year pros vie for job as Bombers third-string QB

Tyrrell Pigrome missed the birth of his first-born just to have a chance to make the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The rookie quarterback woke up at 5 a.m. on May 11, the second day of rookie camp, to missed calls and texts from his partner Nayda back home in Maryland. She was having intense lower back pain and needed to go to the hospital.

By the time Pigrome got to IG Field and sat down for breakfast, he was officially a dad. Nayda’s mother broke the news by texting him a picture of his baby girl, Lavani.

“I lost my appetite,” Pigrome, a 25-year-old who finished his college career at Towson, told the Free Press after Tuesday’s training camp session.

Bomber takes less money for a better reward

Not many receivers would turn down a bigger role and more money.

That’s exactly what Rasheed Bailey did in the offseason when he decided to re-sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on a one-year deal.

With the club spending big bucks in free agency on Kenny Lawler, and giving Nic Demski a three-year deal and a raise, there just wasn’t enough cash left over to match Bailey’s highest bidders.

But as the saying goes, money isn’t everything. Bailey, a 29-year-old from Philadelphia, declined other offers to remain in Winnipeg.

Linebacker Maruo has had enough of losing

Just over a month after losing the Grey Cup, Bombers linebacker Les Maruo suffered another crushing defeat.

Bombers welcome introduction of new safety gear

A sizable portion of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were wearing a new piece of equipment on Wednesday.

The club received its shipment of Guardian Caps, a piece of foam-padded headgear that goes on top of the helmet.

The CFL’s new health and safety measures require offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers and running backs to wear it in training camp during most drills.

“The Guardian Cap is a padded shell affixed to the outside of the helmet. Research has shown that when worn by one player, the Guardian Cap reduces the severity of impact by at least a 10 per cent, and by at least 20 per cent when worn by both players,” said the CFL in a press release.

Bringing the thunder from down under

It can be comical watching a punter attempt to make a tackle.

Returners usually run by them — or through them — with ease.

If the Winnipeg Blue Bombers decide to roll with Australian Jamieson Sheahan at the position, they can be assured their last line of defence is in good hands.

“Yeah, that’s not going to be an issue. I tackled for the first 20 years of my life,” said Sheahan after Wednesday’s training camp session at IG Field.

Family keeps defensive tackle Walker’s motor running

Family is everything to Ricky Walker.

The defensive tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has a portrait of his late grandmother tattooed on his left bicep. Underneath that, he has the name of his older cousin David, who was murdered years ago in Walker’s hometown of Pittsburgh.

Richmond returns to action

Drew Richmond’s professional football career almost ended after seven plays.

The first-year Winnipeg Blue Bomber was filling in for all-star left tackle Stanley Bryant in a meaningless game in Montreal on Nov. 13, 2021, when he ended up at the bottom of a pile and tore everything in his knee.

Richmond — who hails from Memphis, Tenn., and played college ball at Tennessee and Southern California — was sidelined for not only the team’s 2021 championship run, but the entire 2022 season.

“I didn’t know if he’d even walk again,” said Bombers offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld after Tuesday’s training camp session at IG Field. Richmond declined to comment on the specifics of the injury.

Bombers Rose rejuvenated after spending quality time with family

Last November’s Grey Cup in Regina was a double whammy for defensive back Winston Rose.

Many vexing, un-vaxxed months for O-lineman Eli

Instead of preparing for the 2021 Grey Cup with the rest of his teammates, Asotui Eli was suspended and sent home.

The Canadian offensive lineman couldn’t board the flight to Hamilton with the rest of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the big game as federal regulations prevented unvaccinated players from air travel.

He was the only player on the Bombers who refused to get the vaccine.

Eli, a devout Christian, said he didn’t get the shot for personal, religious, and cultural reasons.

Castillo a sure thing as kicker

Sergio Castillo had no intention of leaving the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a different CFL club.

After drilling five field goals in the 2021 Grey Cup against Hamilton to help the Blue and Gold secure a 33-25 overtime victory, Castillo thought another NFL opportunity could be in the cards for him.

That didn’t end up coming to fruition, prompting Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea to ask the the all-star kicker if he’d be interested returning to Winnipeg for the 2022 campaign.

The answer was a resounding yes from Castillo and the two shook on it. However, the business side of the game ended up getting in the way. The Amarillo, Texas product couldn’t pass up a lucrative deal with the Edmonton Elks.

Bermuda-born 36-year-old punter vies for spot on Bombers roster

You wouldn’t expect to see a 36-year-old at rookie camp.

You also wouldn’t expect to find a player from Bermuda of all places, especially one that hasn’t played a game since 2017.

Thanks, however, to an assist from CFL punting legend Jon Ryan — who started his pro career in Winnipeg — punter Karl Schmitz and his unique story were at IG Field Wednesday for the first day of Blue Bombers rookie camp.

“Just knowing my back story, he was like ‘Hey, did you ever consider entering the global draft?’ I said, I have no idea what the hell that is,’” admitted Schmitz on Wednesday.

Getting drafted by Bombers an ‘amazing feeling’ for Kornelson

Collin Kornelson’s chances of playing for his hometown team didn’t look promising.

In the fourth round of Tuesday night’s CFL Draft, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers used the 35th overall pick on defensive lineman Tanner Schmekel out of the University of Regina.

In the mind of Kornelson, a third-year D-lineman with the University of Manitoba Bisons, that meant the Bombers would look at other positions with their final four picks.

It turns out he was wrong.

Blue Bombers top draft pick brings ‘explosiveness off the edge’

Anthony Bennett didn’t expect to wake up Wednesday morning as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

That’s exactly what happened as the Bombers made the University of Regina defensive end the eighth overall pick in Tuesday night’s 2023 CFL Draft.

“Coach (Mike O’Shea) said himself, ‘I don’t think you’re going to drop this low, but if you do we will most certainly will get you.’ That stuck with me. I (took that to) heart,” Bennett told reporters in a conference call from Miami, Fla., on Wednesday. Bennett’s family threw him a draft party at a local sports bar called Jersey’s and surprised him by inviting old friends, teammates and teachers to celebrate.

“I know the coach is a man of his word with what he’s saying and what he’s preaching, and I can’t wait. I can’t wait. It’s all for the ‘W.’”

Blue Bombers first-round pick’s football roots run deep

One of the newest members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers comes from a long line of football players.

Hardrick’s return to Bombers never in doubt

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers value continuity and their offensive line proves it.

Bombers coaching staff to remain unchanged for 2023 campaign

All signs point to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers heading into 2023 with the exact same coaching staff from last season.

Bombers GM looks to tie up loose ends as free agency looms

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have lost an intriguing young prospect to the NFL.

Bryant still motivated to prove he’s the best

An argument could be made that Stanley Bryant is the greatest offensive lineman in CFL history.

Top 10 Manitoba Sports Moments of 2022

For the third year in a row, the Free Press sports department has whittled down a year’s worth of memorable stories to create the Top 10 Manitoba Sports Moments of the Year list.

Hero of 2021 Grey Cup signs extenstion with Bombers

It looked like 2022 was going to be a special season for Kyrie Wilson.

It’s official: O’Shea back with Bombers on three-year deal

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have locked up their most important free agent.

Walters focused on putting another championship team together

Kyle Walters hasn’t had much time to dwell on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers failing to three-peat.

Man on a mission: Bighill signs two-year extension with Bombers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have locked up another one of their pillars.

Year-round Winnipegger Jefferson re-signs with Bombers

Willie Jefferson wants to cement himself as one of the best players to ever pull on a blue and gold uniform.

‘I didn’t do enough,’ Collaros says of Grey Cup loss

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers did not play like champions on Sunday.

Schoen laments recent past but has eye on future

It’s been two days since the Winnipeg Blue Bombers fell flat in the championship game but many still had watery eyes as they cleaned out their lockers at IG Field on Tuesday.

Grey Cup game ends in nightmare as Liegghio’s field-goal attempt is blocked

REGINA — It’s a label that’s nearly unheard of in modern sports. One that requires a team to climb to the top of the mountain and stay there.

Ah, there’s something romantic about drinking from the same Cup

REGINA — It’s hard not to be romantic about Grey Cup Sunday.

When Bombers couldn’t lure Muamba, they settled for Bighill

REGINA — Who knows where the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would be if the 2018 offseason shaped out differently.

‘Tough as nails’ Collaros looks fine in practice

REGINA— Here’s your daily Zach Collaros update: he practised on Friday and looked like himself.

Hall has learned to be happy today and not worry about tomorrow

REGINA — He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, coached the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and now calls Regina home.

Grey Cup fan-tastic, once again

REGINA — This Sunday marks the 109th edition of the Grey Cup, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers super fan John Couture is one of the few people that can say they’ve been at nearly half of them.

‘Street dog’ Schoen never gives up

REGINA — Long before Dalton Schoen was catching touchdowns for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, his father Kelly offered him some sage, though unorthodox, advice.

‘I’m ready to play,’ says Collaros

REGINA – Concerns over whether Zach Collaros would be healthy enough to play this week have officially been put to rest.

Coaches have history with opposing teams

Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie has been repeatedly asked this week about his first career CFL start — the 2007 Grey Cup as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Full credit to Bombers’ wives

REGINA — Grey Cup week means a little extra to Willie and Holly Jefferson.

Zach Collaros expected to play in Grey Cup

REGINA — Everyone knew what the first question was going to be.

Oliveira runs around, through and over Lions

In a game full of ups and downs, twists and turns, there was one constant: Brady Oliveira.

Lions reckon they’re playing with house money

The B.C. Lions feel like they have nothing to lose.

Western Final promises to be a doozy

The CFL couldn’t have asked for a better Western Final.

Bombers QB Collaros has all his top receivers back

Zach Collaros couldn’t ask for better timing to get all of his weapons back.

Record returner ready for Lions

Janarion Grant ran into the record books and didn’t even know it.

Local Bombers shine in larger roles

Brady Oliveira and Geoff Gray contributed along the way but watched from the sidelines as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won back-to-back CFL titles.

Big Blue need co-ordinated effort Sunday

THE Winnipeg Blue Bombers knew they were scheduled to work Sunday afternoon but weren’t sure whether they’d be lion-taming or horse-training.

Neufeld dismayed with trade to Winnipeg 10 years ago, but much has changed

Patrick Neufeld was devasted when his hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders traded him to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in October of 2013.

Bombers’ Liegghio ready for clutch kicks

If next weekend’s West Division final goes down to the wire, do the Winnipeg Blue Bombers trust that Marc Liegghio can make a clutch kick?

Bombers DE looking for playoff sacks

If you look up the CFL’s sack leaders for this season, you have to scroll down several times to find Jackson Jeffcoat’s name.

Bombers not concerned about having the week off

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers had two weeks off before last year’s West Division final.

Four Bombers up for CFL awards

When you win back-to-back Grey Cups and you’re in the process of trying to win another, it can be hard to take a step back and realize how special it is to have four members of your organization nominated for CFL awards.

Blue laugh off all-star SNAFU

Jermarcus Hardrick, Winston Rose, and Donald Rutledge, Jr. were among the 11 members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers named to the CFL’s West Division all-star team Wednesday morning.

Bombers set record in meaningless game

I’ll try to keep this as short as possible because let’s be honest here, do we really want to spend a ton of time revisiting a game that had no bearing on the standings?

Bombers end regular season on record-setting note with 24-9 win over Lions

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers got everything they could’ve asked for in Friday night’s regular season finale against the visiting B.C. Lions.

Joining Bombers a ‘no-brainer’

When the Hamilton Tiger-Cats cut Desmond Lawrence at the beginning of the month, he knew he’d find work elsewhere.

Quick feet, quick mind have served Bombers’ DB coach Younger well

Jordan Younger wasn’t afforded the opportunity to sit back and learn the three-down game.

O’Shea sorry to see Goldeyes bench boss leave town

Mike O’Shea now holds the title as the longest tenured professional sports head coach in Winnipeg.

Bomber backups make it interesting

It was during the third quarter when I received a text from a friend who was at BC Place on Saturday night.

Rutledge will use move to practice roster as opportunity to learn and improve

After starting 15 games at dimeback, Donald Rutledge, Jr. has been assigned to the practice roster.

Elks kicker Castillo will always cherish Grey Cup with Big Blue

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers likely wouldn’t have won the 2021 Grey Cup without kicker Sergio Castillo.

Adams playing with heavy heart

While settling in with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, recently signed defensive end Keion Adams has been dealing with a family tragedy.

Bombers family to Darby

It may have been Alden Darby, Jr.’s first day back with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but that doesn’t mean they were going to take it easy on him.

Couture ready to return to action

Michael Couture is back to feeling 100 per cent after breaking his left arm in Week 2.

Bombers trade for familiar face

Blue Bombers general manager Kyle Walters isn’t afraid to fill a need at the CFL trade deadline.

Former bounty hunter, bodyguard joins Bombers

KEION Adams had a fascinating career away from the gridiron prior to coming up north to the CFL.

Winnipegger LaFrance next man up at running back for Riders

A familiar face will be starting at running back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders tonight.

Bombers’ Bailey playing with a heavy heart after teen shot to death near receiver’s former Philadelphia high school

Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Rasheed Bailey has walked off the field at Roxborough High School in his hometown of Philadelphia many times.

Bombers can’t afford to take struggling Riders lightly: O’Shea

It’s not something you’d expect to a head coach to admit.

Jefferson arrives just in time to welcome bye-week baby

Willie Jefferson didn’t have much time to dwell on the Blue Bombers’ disappointing 48-31 road loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Big Blue have each other’s backs in face of social-media criticism

If you look up tweets with Winston Rose’s name, you’ll find numerous examples of people bashing his play this season.

Bombers not taking struggling Tiger-Cats for granted

You’d think a rematch of the past two Grey Cups would be a highly anticipated contest.

Opportunity knocks for O’Leary-Orange

Another week, another injury to a Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver.

Safety first, Bombers’ all-star Alexander returns to full practice

The best defence in the CFL is getting set to welcome back one of its biggest stars.

Newest Bomber considers physical challenge a blessing in disguise

J.T. Hassell brings an NFL resumé and an inspiring story to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Struggling Roughriders searching for a way to win

Nothing has gone right for the Saskatchewan Roughriders against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers since Cody Fajardo’s last pass in the 2019 West Division final bounced off the upright.

Bombers’ special teams ace comes up big on defence

For most teams, having their third-string safety start would be bad news.

Blue Bombers’ ‘Feather Gang’ takes flight

Instead of a feather in their caps, Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receivers Dalton Schoen and Drew Wolitarsky have a feather in their helmets.

Bombers won’t have to worry about Marino in Riders rematch

Garrett Marino has likely played his final CFL game.

Liegghio’s heroics no surprise to Blue and Gold teammates

After two backbreaking misses to cost the Blue Bombers their Week 10 matchup against the Montreal Alouettes, Marc Liegghio stood in front of reporters and assured it would be a different story the next time he had a chance to win a game.

McCrae makes most of his opportunity, helps Bombers slip past Stampeders

With Greg Ellingson sidelined with another injury, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers needed a playmaker to step up.

Mitchell sits as Maier gets start at QB for Stamps

Despite being healthy, Bo Levi Mitchell will be standing on the sidelines on Thursday night at IG Field.

Intrigue plentiful in Bombers-Stamps tilt

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are fresh off the bye week and will welcome the Calgary Stampeders for a CFL matchup at IG Field on Thursday night.

Bombers have Liegghio’s back after missing critical kicks in overtime loss

Here we go again.

Bombers focused on task at hand

It’s been 62 years since the Bombers started a season 10-0.

Big Blue pass toughest test

CALGARY — What else can be said about these Winnipeg Blue Bombers?

Bombers rise to the challenge

CALGARY — They wouldn’t admit it, but the deck was stacked against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday night.

Bombers have to be better

CALGARY— It’s going to be a tough act to follow.

Demski back from injury

CALGARY— Raise your hand if you thought Nic Demski was going to play this weekend.

Bombers find success thinking globally

If the CFL ever does a presentation on the league’s Global initiative, this will be the play they show.

McKnight Bombers latest ‘next man up’

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ receiving core can catch everything but a break these days.

Liegghio not worried about recent miscues

Marc Liegghio wasn’t going to remain perfect forever.

The second-year Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker opened the 2022 campaign with 13 straight field goal makes and looked like he may have turned a corner in his young career.

That still might be the case, but things have gone a bit downhill since then.

It started in Week 5 at B.C. Place against the Lions when the Western University product missed a pair of field goals and a convert in the second half.

Bombers’ receiver makes dynamic debut with pair of touchdowns

If you didn’t know who Carlton Agudosi was before Friday night, you certainly do now.

You couldn’t miss him as the 6-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver is taller than every single player on the Calgary Stampeders roster.

But never mind his height. It was his stellar play in his CFL debut that made him stand out in the Bombers’ 26-19 victory over the visiting Stamps.

The 28-year-old Agudosi got the start in place of Brendan O’Leary-Orange who was placed on the six-game injured list earlier in the week. The Rutgers University product made the most of the opportunity as he had six catches for 70 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His first touchdown grab was a 16-yarder in the second quarter with Zach Collaros throwing a fade to the back corner of the end zone. Stampeders defensive back Tre Roberson, who’s six inches shorter, didn’t stand a chance as Agudosi looked like a power forward snatching a rebound. Agudosi would score in a similar fashion in the fourth quarter, this time from 10 yards out, to put the Blue and Gold up 26-19.

Bombers receiver has tall order to fill

When Carlton Agudosi walks into the room, you can’t help but be taken aback by his size.

Standing at 6-6, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver is the tallest person on offence.

After spending all of last season on the practice roster, Agudosi will now have a chance to put his height to use as the second-year Bomber is starting tonight at slotback against the visiting Calgary Stampeders (4-0).

With receiver Brendan O’Leary-Orange on the six-game injured list, the door opened for Agudosi to make his first CFL start.

Bombers rookie earns league honour with big game against Lions

Dalton Schoen doesn’t like to waste time.

It seems whenever the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver gets an opportunity, he immediately takes advantage of it.

That trend began when Schoen, now 25 and in his first CFL season, was a walk-on at Kansas State.

After two years of playing with the scout team, Schoen finally got a chance on Sept. 2, 2017, against Central Arkansas.

Newcomer fills key dime back position

DIME back, cover linebacker, strong-side linebacker, whatever you want to call it, it’s not an easy position to understand.

“Oh man, it’s just so many different things,” Blue Bombers defensive backs coach Jordan Younger told the Free Press after Wednesday’s closed practice at IG Field.

“It’s a complex position. We ask a lot of the dime. He’s one of the players that can blitz, he can be in coverage, man coverage, a low zone player, he can be a high zone player, there’s so many variables into the responsibility for that one player. To break it down for the casual, it’s really not casual in our defence. It’s not that simple to explain.”

Whether that makes sense to you or not, one thing is obvious: it’s clearly a spot where you’d want an experienced player.

Time to believe in the Big Blue

Maybe these Winnipeg Blue Bombers are pretty good after all.

The Bombers (5-0) put the flavour of the month, the B.C. Lions (3-1), in their place with a convincing 43-22 victory Saturday night in front of 17,683 fans at B.C. Place.

All three phases came to play for Winnipeg, leading to the road side jumping out to a 24-0 advantage in the second quarter.

There’s no question about it: the Bombers made a big statement. They don’t have to wait long for a chance to make another one as they host the Calgary Stampeders (4-0) Friday night at IG Field.

Big Blue blast B.C.

VANCOUVER — Can the Winnipeg Blue Bombers score enough points to hang with the B.C. Lions?

That was the big question heading into Saturday night at B.C. Place in a meeting between two undefeated West Division teams.

The Bombers certainly made that question look ridiculous (so much for there being no such thing as a silly question) as they blasted the Lions 43-22 to improve to 5-0. They managed to bring the Lions, who were averaging 45.6 points per game through three weeks, down to earth and drop their record to 3-1.

They also made Lions defensive back Marcus Sayles eat his words. After Friday’s walkthrough, the former Blue Bomber told the Free Press his old team looked vanilla on offence this year and that the Lions should be able to come out on top convincingly.

Star Canadian QB great for league

VANCOUVER — It doesn’t matter which CFL team you support.

A Canadian excelling at being a professional quarterback is a beautiful thing to watch.

The unthinkable, unless you were around to see Hamilton native Russ Jackson dominate the three-down league in the 1960s with the Ottawa Rough Riders, has become a reality as no one is playing better than B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, a 24-year-old who was born in Victoria but grew up in Oakville, Ont.

Rourke and the undefeated Lions are putting up insane numbers. In three games, Rourke has 1,077 passing yards, nine touchdown passes to two interceptions, and is completing 84 per cent of his throws. Rourke’s efforts have led the Leos to a 45.7 points per game average and a second down conversion rate of 63 per cent.

Plenty of intrigue in Bombers-Lions tilt

VANCOUVER — It’s the most intriguing game of this young CFL season.

It’s a battle of two undefeated West Division teams, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-0) in Vancouver to take on the red-hot B.C. Lions (3-0).

The back-to-back Grey Cup champs are perfect in the standings, but the only thing people are talking about is how far from perfect the Bombers look on the field. They’ve caught numerous breaks in games this year, none bigger than on Monday when Toronto Argonauts kicker Boris Bede botched an extra point to give the Blue and Gold a 23-22 road victory.

As for the Lions and their young Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke, you can easily argue they’ve been not only the best story in the league this season, but also the most entertaining. The Leos beat the Ottawa Redblacks 34-31 last week at TD Place Stadium.

Clements ready to take bite out of Lions

Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Malik Clements wants to be a dentist when his playing days are over.

For now, the 25-year-old from Virginia is more focused on knocking out teeth with big hits.

“Exactly. It’s crazy how that works,” Clements, who boasts a million-dollar smile himself, told the Free Press after Thursday’s closed practice at IG Field.

Clements will likely have more of an opportunity to do some damage to the opposition’s Chiclets, starting Saturday night in Vancouver when the Bombers (4-0) take on the B.C. Lions (3-0), as the Blue and Gold’s starting weak-side linebacker, Kyrie Wilson, is done for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Wilson, one of the unsung heroes of the defence, was playing like an all-star this season before leaving Monday’s 23-22 victory in Toronto after getting injured on a non-contact play.

Old pals Walls and Reid enter Bombers HoF together

It’s rather fitting that Gavin Walls and Fred Reid are getting inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame at the same time.

When Reid first arrived in Winnipeg in 2007 as a CFL newcomer, Walls, a third-year defensive end, took the running back under his wing and the pair became roommates.

“We’d ride to practice together, we’d ride home together, we’d play video games together, we did a lot of things together,” Reid, now a running backs coach for the Ottawa Redblacks, told the Free Press in a phone interview.

“… He looked out for me. I was like a little brother to him and I tell him that. He really looked out for me. Not having nobody around, he took me in and taught me a lot… Gavin and I were good friends. Still are good friends.”

Bombers D dominant again, but Demski could be sidelined

There was a time when people around these parts would be completely satisfied with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers starting a season 2-0 – regardless of how they won those games.

When you win back-to-back Grey Cups and rule your home turf (the Bombers are 21-1 at IG Field since 2019), expectations are going to be higher.

After two uninspiring showings against the Ottawa Redblacks to open the 2022 campaign, the Bombers responded with a much better performance Friday night in a 26-12 victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats in front of an announced crowd of 23,600.

It wasn’t perfect by any means, but the Blue and Gold are trending in the right direction and a shiny 3-0 record buys them more time to return to championship form. Hamilton, on the other hand, is 0-3 and has a laundry list of problems to sort through if they’re going to represent the East Division in the big game for a third straight season.

Bombers stay perfect with 26-12 win over Ticats

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers started the season with a pair of victories, but they didn’t look like reigning back-to-back Grey Cup champs in the process.

In short, the offence was mediocre and the defence got scorched through the air.

But the Bombers looked a lot more like themselves on Friday night at IG Field in a 26-12 win over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats in front of an announced attendance of 23,600 fans. The Bombers remain undefeated and improve to 3-0 while the Ticats drop to 0-3.

They tormented Ticats quarterback Dane Evans all night long, the Bombers’ offence made big plays when they had to, and on special teams, kicker Marc Liegghio was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals.

After making Cup-sealing interception, Wilson wants another ring

Kyrie Wilson can’t help but smile when you bring it up.

And with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats coming to town on Friday night for a Week 3 meeting at IG Field, this week is the perfect time to do so.

“OK, so let me go back now,” said Wilson after Wednesday’s closed practice at IG Field when asked about his Grey Cup-sealing interception in overtime of last year’s championship game against Hamilton.

“It was an exciting play. I saw (Jeremiah) Masoli roll out to the weak-side and he just threw the ball and we always talk about running to the ball, so, I ran to the ball. (Deatrick Nicols) tipped it, and (Winston) Rose tipped it again and it just happened to fall in my hands and bam, we were champions again.”

Ritchie excited to earn Hall of Fame honour

IT’S a call that meant the world to Dave Ritchie, and one he’s been waiting a long time for.

Ritchie recently picked up the phone in his Rhode Island home and there was a fellow CFL coaching legend on the other line, Wally Buono.

“So we’re talking and he says, ‘I have good news and bad news. What do you want first?’ And I said, ‘Give me the bad,’” Ritchie told the Free Press on Wednesday.

“He knows that I don’t particularly care for flying, so he says that I have to fly up to Canada. And then he says, ‘But here’s the good thing: it’s because you’re in the (Canadian Football Hall of Fame).’

All-star defensive back even better in second season with Bombers

Deatrick Nichols didn’t become one of the top corners in the CFL by playing for himself.

For the second-year Winnipeg Blue Bomber, one of the things that has always kept pushing him is the memory of his former University of South Florida teammate, Elkino Watson.

It was early in the morning on Sept. 6, 2015, when Watson, a defensive lineman at USF from 2011-14 , was stabbed to death outside of a nightclub in Tampa. Watson was only 23.

Nichols was a freshman in 2014 when Watson was in his final year, but the two defenders both came from Miami and shared a close bond.

Could be go time for Kolankowski

Chris Kolankowski hasn’t started a single game in his four-year CFL career.