Swaggerville reunited at training camp

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This article was published 05/06/2012 (4865 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Swaggerville was finally reunited at Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp on Tuesday as defensive backs Jovon Johnson — the defensive player of the year in the CFL in 2011 — and Jonathan Hefney finally reported to camp.

Wide receiver Kito Poblah — who had a superlative practice, one step ahead of everyone all morning long — said it didn’t take long for the two newly arrived defenders to make their presence known and start advising him on all the shortcomings in his game.

“Oh you know those guys, they like talking that trash on the field,” Poblah laughed. “It took like a minute. And that’s why I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, so you guys want to start talking tough already?’ Alright then. And so that’s why I turned up the heat for a little bit.

“But that’s what’s great about those guys — they keep you on edge. And that’s what you need to not sleep and keep on pushing.”

Johnson, who lost an aunt that he was very close to in the past week, said he was thrilled to be back at Canad Inns Stadium and is looking forward to playing in the new stadium still going up on the grounds of the University of Manitoba — just not necessarily in the same year.

Johnson made clear where he stands on the idea of splitting the Bombers 2012 season between the old stadium and the new stadium. “Once guys get comfortable here and hopefully we’re on a winning edge, I think we should just play it out here. Why move in the middle of the year to a new surface, a new atmosphere and give teams a different advantage in going against us there.

“I’d rather stay and play it out, especially if we’re winning a lot of games. Why take away what’s given us the advantage to move us to a different atmosphere.”

Hefney — who missed the first couple days of camp to be with his ailing father — said he doesn’t care where he plays this season, he’s just glad to be playing again. “As long as I can get on the field and hit somebody and have a good time and we get some W’s, I don’t care we play.

“Once that new stadium opens, I know it’s going to be live and it’s going to be rocking.”

FIELD NOTES...Head coach Paul LaPolice said a switch at offensive tackle in training camp this season — Andre Douglas and Glenn January, have switched sides, with January now taking over the left blind side position — is likely permanent…LaPolice said he was particularly impressed with QB Buck Pierce today…The club announced OL Sam Nemis quit the team on Tuesday to take a new job…Practising under sweltering heat, the club had two large air-conditioners delivered to the sideline, but few players actually used them. They might be more popular on Wednesday, when temperatures are expected to hit 33 C, although the Bombers get a mid-week break with a brief one-hour practice scheduled for Wednesday…LB Marcellus Bowman missed the second half of practice with a lower leg injury… Injured defensive end Jason Vega, who sat out most of practice Monday, sat out again on Tuesday, but DB Brandon Stewart was back practising…RB Carl Volny, still recovering from a knee injury that finished his season early last year, and S Brady Browne (hamstring) didn’t have equipment on but did do some light running.