Bombers reshape roster

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This article was published 09/05/2011 (5503 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are continuing to reshape their roster.

One day removed from adding six players in the CFL Canadian Draft the club cut loose four veterans – slotback Brock Ralph and fullback Andre Sadeghian, both Canadians, and linebacker Courtney Smith and receiver Chris Davis.

As well, veteran receiver Markus Howell retired from the team after a solid 11-year career that included six seasons with his hometown Bombers.

The team also added three import defensive linemen in Dashawn Cassell, Bryant Turner and Jason Vega as well as import receiver Perry Floyd.

Cassell (6-3, 280, College of the Canyons) is coming off his senior year where he registered 35 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick. He was named to the First-Team Northern National Football Conference team.

Turner (6-2, 260, Alabama at Birmingham) appeared in every game for the Blazers during his four-year college career and was very productive, accumulating 97 tackles, three forced fumbles and 18 sacks.

Vega (6-3, 255, Northeastern) attended training camp with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last season after an outstanding college career that saw him rack up 137 tackles and 41 quarterback sacks in 41 games over four seasons.

Floyd (5-8, 168, Wingate) was an outstanding all-around athlete in college who was named to the NCAA Division II All-American second team as a return specialist in 2009 and last season he ranked fourth in the NCAA with 187.8 all-purpose yards per game. Floyd was also fourth in the SAC in receiving yards per game (97.8) and had 60 receptions for 978 yards and 12 touchdowns. He set a school single-season record with 1,878 all-purpose yards last season.

Howell, meanwhile, was originally drafted by the Bombers in the fourth round (25th overall) of the 2000 CFL Canadian Draft and spent five years in Winnipeg before joining the Ottawa Renegades and Calgary Stampeders, a team with which he won a Grey Cup in 2008. Howell rejoined the Bombers last July to wrap up his career.

“I’ve had a great career playing the game I love,” said Howell in a statement. “I’m thankful to the Blue Bomber organization for giving me the opportunity, first by drafting me 11 years ago, but also for bringing me in last year and giving me one more opportunity to play in front of my friends and family at home.”

In total, Howell caught 151 passes for 2,062 yards and nine touchdowns, returned 77 kickoffs for 1,679 yards and one score and brought back 246 punts for 2,232 yards – including a 96-yard touchdown return in 2007 with Calgary. He also added 28 tackles, 21 special teams tackles, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries – including one for a touchdown.