Blue still need Butler service

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This article was published 28/06/2011 (5249 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kelly Butler was a rarity at Canad Inns Stadium on Monday — a starter on last year’s team who will not be reprising that role to begin this season.

The Bombers staged their first practice on Monday since a bloody weekend that saw a total of 20 players cut as the club set its 46-man roster in preparation for this Friday’s regular-season opener in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats.

For all that blood-letting, what emerged when all the smoke had settled is a Bombers team that will look remarkably similar to start this season as it did in ending the last one. Indeed, fully 20 starters from last year’s club — and we’re counting Buck Pierce — are expected to start again this Friday.

That is perhaps not what you might expect when you consider last year’s team went 4-14. But the Bombers brain trust remains convinced that last year’s club was much better than their record suggested and another year of experience for all those starters will be enough to tip the balance in their favour.

This is a stay-the-course football team and the exceptions are rare. Pass-rusher Phillip Hunt, of course, has gone to the NFL and will be replaced by newcomer Jason Vega. Defensive back Deon Beasley appears for the moment to have lost his starting job to Brandon Stewart, who Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice singled out for praise Monday.

“He’s athletic, he’s big, he can cover ground, he can run… and he can catch the ball. He can be dangerous out there,” said LaPolice. “And he’s a special teams leader too.”

Then there’s linebacker Clint Kent, who is expected to be a starter this season but won’t be on Friday because an ankle injury is expected to keep him out for at least this week.

And then finally there’s Butler. The 6-foot-8, 330-pound offensive tackle got outplayed during training camp by wily veteran Glenn January, who missed all of last season with a torn pectoral muscle and is attempting to author one of the more remarkable comeback stories in the CFL this season.

In a game that’s all about winning and losing, Butler got beaten this time around and will start the season as a backup. And he was making no excuses for it on Monday.

“January had a tremendous camp,” said Butler. “Coming back from the injury and all that, he put together a great camp. I’m excited for him. I really am. We’re all in this together and all I can do is to continue to come out here and keep playing like I’m a starter.”

Butler — who is still on the 46-man roster — was better off than some others who were on the field at Canad Inns Stadium Monday.

Kenny Mainor, for instance, had by all accounts an exceptional training camp but still found himself relegated to the practice roster on Monday after losing his battle for Hunt’s job to Vega.

Mainor was more upbeat than you might expect.

“Practice roster is always discouraging when you want to play,” said Mainor. “But I can improve and this is a chance to work on my game. I’m just going to play my role and do what’s required of me until it’s my turn to shine.”

That turn has now come for Vega, who positively beamed on Monday as he talked about his new job filling the gigantic shoes left behind by the departure of Hunt — the 2010 CFL sack leader. “We need to replace Phillip. He was such a successful pass rusher and that’s what I was brought in here for.

“But I’m going to be realistic. I’m just going to try to set my own goals and develop my own personality.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

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