Bombers extend contract of receiver Terrence Edwards

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This article was published 08/03/2013 (4799 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He’s a familiar face and still a productive and valuable member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

And on Friday the club announced it will keep receiver Terrence Edwards around a little longer after extending his contract.

“I want to retire as a Blue Bomber,” said Edwards Friday in a phone interview from his off-season home in Atlanta. “It’s nice to know I’m wanted by the team by the fact they want to keep me around for another year.”

Edwards provides a couple of things for a Bomber team trying to regroup after last year’s 6-12 squad. He turns 34 in April, but is coming off another productive season in which he recorded his third straight 1,000 yard season – and fifth of his career – hauling in 70 passes for 1,049 yards and four touchdowns.

Just as important is the role he plays as mentor and tutor for the Bomber receiving corps.

Now entering his ninth year in the CFL and seventh with the Bombers, Edwards currently sits in fourth place on the team’s all-time receiving yardage with 6,651 yards — behind only Milt Stegall (15,153), James Murphy (9,036) and Joe Poplawski (8,341).

He was twice named a CFL All-Star (2010, 2007) and added a Divisional All-Star selection to his resume in 2011.

“I’m excited for this year,” Edwards said. “I wouldn’t be working out as hard as I am right now if I didn’t think this team can win. A lot of our young guys got a taste for professional football last year so this year they should could come back better and with an understanding of what it takes to win in this league.

“Pound for pound, talent for talent I still believe we’re up there with Montreal and B.C. The only thing for us is our quarterback Buck (Pierce) hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He’s proven that once he plays a lot of games we’re good. Last year he wasn’t able to finish a lot of the games he started. You’ve got to have a quarterback to win. He gives us the best opportunity to win and hopefully he’s a guy that can come back and play all 18 and win. The proof is there: when he plays, we can get to the Grey Cup.”

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait