Armstrong cooling his heels

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This article was published 06/07/2009 (5937 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Derick Armstrong remains a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he just doesn’t play or practise with the team at the moment.

After refusing to play in last Thursday’s 19-17 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos Armstrong has had two closed-door meetings with coach Mike Kelly, one shouting match with the head coach, had his locker cleaned out and finally was told not to report to practice on Sunday.

There was lots of double-speak in Bomberland on Sunday, but word is that Kelly has had enough of the receiver and that Armstrong would be traded or given his outright release.

"Mike (Kelly) and I had a long conversation (Saturday) and the conclusion we came to was… the best thing was to have a cooling off period. So we gave Derick the day off with permission. That will be where we stand until we come up with a final resolution to this," said Bombers director of player personnel John Murphy, who was presented to the media as the only club representative with clearance to discuss the issue.

"There are several options," Murphy said. "They will be discussed internally with the coaching staff. I’ve had a conversation with the player after all of this and I feel comfortable with where we’re at, but in the long haul we have to do what’s best for the organization."

Kelly then agreed to speak with the media with the proviso that he would not entertain questions about Armstrong. Nonetheless, a few were asked.

"Did you not pay attention to John Murphy? I’m worried about our football team and what we have to do to get ready for Calgary," said Kelly, when the first Armstrong query popped up. "I don’t have any issues. I’m getting a football team ready to play."

Kelly answered questions on different subjects before coming back to Armstrong one final time.

"The team is always bigger than any individuals. We’ll just leave it right at that," he said.

Armstrong last spoke to the media on Friday concerning his decision not to play — a decision he made after being told shortly before the game that he would not be a starter.

"A little misunderstanding between me and the coaches. I didn’t feel any love at the time," said Armstrong, who has not been available to the media since. "It was mostly over them wanting me not to start and to be a backup. I wasn’t comfortable with the role after the years and dedication I’ve put into this game. But hey… I wanted to play. I love to play the game but I felt stronger about some other things in other areas. It was selfish of me but I think I owe it to myself to be selfish.

"Maybe I should have been thinking about the team. Because I am a team player. I guess in this situation I felt like I wasn’t part of the team."

Murphy said on Sunday that he and Kelly made the decision to use Armstrong as a designated import and to rotate him in at receiver instead of starting the fourth-year Bomber. Receivers coach Bobby Dyce was then tasked with informing Armstrong.

Murphy said that once the game was underway a receiver attempted to come out but was told by Armstrong to stay on the field.

Murphy said the coaches did not attempt to speak to Armstrong at that point and moved forward with the game plan minus one of their top receivers — despite the fact he was healthy and in full gear on the sidelines.

"At the end of the day there is a responsibility of the player to fulfil his role that he was given for that game. That did not take place. Subsequently, we were willing to move forward after that was resolved," said Murphy. "Whatever second incident occurred, we now have to deal with that. Communication error, or anybody feeling they weren’t communicated with properly, well, (Armstrong) was ready to go. He was out there dressed and had every opportunity to participate in the game. At this point the best thing for us is to move forward and look forward to the 46 players that will be active on Friday."

Murphy did not say Armstrong would be on the field for practice today, but also wouldn’t say he was trying to trade the player.

"There’s nothing active with that right now," said Murphy, who spent most of Sunday’s practice pacing up and down the sidelines with a cell phone pasted to the side of his face. "I think at this stage, it’s in (management’s) hands to decide what’s best for this organization. It’s not in any single person’s hands anymore."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca