Bombers add new QB, offer contract to former Stamps LB Jasper Simmons

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This article was published 19/08/2015 (3919 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A mere 24 hours after being released by the Calgary Stampeders, international linebacker Jasper Simmons has been offered a contract by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as first reported by Winnipeg Free Press sports columnist Gary Lawless.

Simmons was released Tuesday following a Twitter tirade by his agent Sammy Gahagan, who called out the Stampeders for his client’s lack of playing time.

Gahagan called the Stampeders “the worst organization in the CFL” and said the team was holding Simmons “hostage and won’t play him.”

Gahagan went on to tweet that the Stamps have the “best backup linebacker in the league” with Simmons and won’t release him due to “insurance purposes.”

Simmons tweeted out on Saturday prior to the Stampeders win over the RedBlacks: “I am a man and if I never play football again I’m still a man .. God got my back.”

 

Its a shame what the @calstampeders are doing to Jasper Simmons. The worst organization in the @CFL is holding him hostage & won’t play him.

— Sammy G. (@SammyG75) August 15, 2015

The @calstampeders have said they will not release Jasper Simmons because of insurance purposes yet they don’t dress him week to week @CFLPA

— Sammy G. (@SammyG75) August 15, 2015

When John Murphy of the @calstampeders was asked to release Jasper Simmons so he could go somewhere and make a living….

— Sammy G. (@SammyG75) August 15, 2015

John Murphy responded with "this is not high school football, if he wants to go and complain, see how far that gets him with Huff"

— Sammy G. (@SammyG75) August 15, 2015

The @calstampeders have the best backup LB in the league in the form of Jasper Simmons. They won’t release him or dress him any week. @CFLPA

— Sammy G. (@SammyG75) August 15, 2015

Simmons, a native of Pensacola, Fla., has played in four games this season, recording four tackles, all of which came in a game against the Montreal Alouettes in early July.

Simmons had 80 tackles and three interceptions in 2014 with the Ottawa RedBlacks.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

 

Bombers add QB to stable

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Wednesday afternoon the club has signed former Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell to the practice roster.

The move comes just a week after Robert Marve was announced the team’s No.1 pivot following an injury to starter Drew Willy, who is expected to miss the next 6-7 weeks with a tibial plateau fracture, as well as a partial PCL tear in his right knee.

Russell, 24, spent four seasons with Mississippi State, registering 38 games with the Bulldogs. During his time there he threw for a school-record 42 touchdowns and 5,881 yards, the latter being third all-time in school history.

In 2012, the 6-4, 220-pound native of Meridian, Miss. registered the best single season of any QB before him at Mississippi State, throwing for 2,897 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Bulldogs.