Burke deflects rumours of new OT for Bombers

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This article was published 26/09/2012 (5062 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tim Burke says it comes as news to him that the club might be about to bring in a new offensive tackle.

“I don’t know anything about it… Really,” the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach said Wednesday afternoon after practice at Canad Inns Stadium.

Burke was responding to reports on Twitter this week that 6-7, 305-pound offensive tackle Lee Barbiasz — a recent cut of the Jacksonville Jaguars — is about to join the Bombers.

The reports appeared to originate with Barbiasz himself. A tweet on Tuesday from an account registered in the player’s name stated: “Well, it’’s official… I’m heading up to Winnipeg to play some Canadian football.”

But Burke said the first time he’d heard Barbiasz’s name was when reporters asked about him Wednesday afternoon.

Barbiasz, 24, played college football at Northern Colorado and was in training camp with the NFL’s Jaguars this year before being released.

The CFL practice rosters expand next week and Burke has said previously that he and GM Joe Mack are actively engaged right now in trying to bring in some new players.

But there doesn’t appear to be any urgent need for tackle help at the moment.

Veteran Glenn January has the left tackle spot locked down. He missed practice on Tuesday but was back on the field Wednesday taking all the first team reps.

And the right tackle position is a battle right now between Shannon Boatman and Jordan Taormina.

Taormina is back practising this week after missing the last two games with a pinched nerve. But Boatman, who filled in for Taormina, is continuing to receive all the first team reps this week and it appears he will get his third straight start when the 3-9 Bombers host the 6-6 Toronto Argonauts Saturday evening.

Also at practice on Wednesday, slotback Terrence Edwards returned to practice after missing Tuesday, but defensive back Johnny Sears sat out his second straight day.

Burke said Sears is expected to practice Thursday. Demond Washington has been filling in at cornerback for Sears.