Bombers to be fined $5 if they utter ‘first place’ this week

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This article was published 24/10/2011 (5154 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

First place? Never heard of it.

In an effort to get his team focused on Friday’s game with the Toronto Argonauts at Canad Inns Stadium, Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice told reporters Monday that coaches and players will be fined if they utter the term “first place” this week.

It goes even further than that, the club says – or doesn’t say.

The terms ‘Grey Cup’ and ‘East final’ are also off limits, and subject to team collection. The penalty for the irresponsible utterance is $5 fine.

“I won’t say (what the term is) when a team finishes at the top of their division – I will not say that because I will get fined,”

LaPolice told the media after a light workout Monday. “The players will get fined if they say that term.

 “To me, it’s true but useless where we stand in the standings right now. Where we (stood) when we were 7-1 was true but useless. We’re more concerned about just beating Toronto.”

This bizarre edict comes on the heels of the Bombers (10-6) beating the Montreal Alouettes 26-25 Saturday afternoon, a win that gives Winnipeg the inside track on first place in the East and a possible first round bye. Two more wins from the Blue and Gold in the final two weeks means the East final will be played at Canad Inns Stadium, and sets up a situation where they would need just one win to reach the Grey Cup.

This strange ‘rule’ brought this question from the floor: Why was it okay to say things like ‘first place’ and Grey Cup’ last week or two weeks ago?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t want…now that they have the win (versus Montreal) and it’s so in front of them, I don’t want them to look past the goal. The goal is to get two points this week. If you don’t get two points you can’t get those other things.”

It might be tough to enforce this new language with the players, though. Defensive end Odell Willis, the CFL’s sack leader who’s now been limited to coming off the bench in passing situations, accidentally found his wallet dinged twice in one sentence Monday.

When asked about having his playing time cut against the Alouettes (10-6), he had this to say.

“We had six sacks without me,” said Willis, who is dealing with a rib injury and might not be ready to play Friday. “They made the right choice. (I have to) just continue what I do to help the team win.

Hopefully we can get this ‘W’ (against the Argos), have the Eastern final game here, and go to the Grey Cup.”

It could be an expensive week for some players.