Simmons: no regrets

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This article was published 24/08/2015 (3879 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jasper Simmons expects to play in Winnipeg, that much is true.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ latest addition at linebacker categorized his sensational departure from the Calgary Stampeders as a business decision Sunday afternoon.

Simmons was released from the West Division’s top team following a Twitter tirade from his agent, Sammy Gahagan, who called his client’s former team “the worst organization” in the Canadian Football League and said his client was being “held hostage” by the club.

Simmons didn’t back down from questions regarding his exit from Cowtown, saying he’s in the CFL to play football, he expects (queries) and he has no regrets about how the situation unfolded last week.

“Not at all. Not at all,” Simmons said. “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. At the end of the day, everybody has to realize it’s a business and I take it as my decision. I made it, I don’t regret it and I’m glad to be in Winnipeg.”

Simmons said, in his fourth season in the CFL, he’s never been in the situation where he’s had to force his way off a roster. Simmons said only he and John Hufnagel, the Stampeders GM and field general, know the truth about what happened.

“Regardless what he says in front of the press, he knows the truth and I know the truth,” Simmons said. “I asked to be released weeks before this even happened. The real thing that happened was he didn’t want to release me. I gave Calgary weeks and months, at the end of the day, for me to play.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said Simmons comes into Winnipeg with a clean slate and used his knowledge of their time together in Toronto as his guide.

‘At the end of the day, everybody has to realize that it’s a business and I take it as my decision. I made it, I don’t regret it and I’m glad to be in Winnipeg’

— new Bombers linebacker Jasper Simmons, on his acrimonious departure from Calgary

“He showed up today and sat down in my office and I told him my expectations,” O’Shea said. “He said, ‘Sure,’ and we’re on our way.”

O’Shea said he didn’t know the inner workings of what happened in Calgary between Simmons and the organization, but said he has no qualms about Simmons joining the club.

“I don’t think he’s ever been described as a bad teammate,” O’Shea said. “There are plenty of times in all of history where employers and employees don’t necessarily see eye to eye on their roles. As long as he understands his role here, I’m sure he will be fine. This is a new relationship starting from this point forward and we will go from this point forward.”

Asked what Simmons’ role is, O’Shea said it begins on the practice roster.

“He’s going to compete for a spot on special teams,” O’Shea said.

‘There are plenty of times in all of history where employers and employees don’t necessarily see eye to eye on their roles. As long as he understands his role here, I’m sure he will be fine’

— Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea, dismissing any suggestion he was leery of bringing Simmons on board

Simmons recorded 80 tackles and three interceptions while forcing one fumble in 2014 as a member of the Ottawa Redblacks.

Simmons, meanwhile, wouldn’t go as far as reassuring fans they wouldn’t see the same thing happen here as in Calgary if ample playing time isn’t afforded to him.

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Simmons did, however, defend his character.

“I’m the same guy on and off the field… I am a team player,” Simmons said. “I just want a fresh start. I’m glad to be here. I want to contribute now.”

Simmons said he can’t expect to play this week against his former team when they visit Saturday, noting O’Shea said it will be tough for him to crack the lineup. But his agent told the Free Press last week his client would be on the field Saturday.

It should make for an interesting week in the ‘Peg.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.