Bryant on verge of century mark with Bombers

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This article was published 14/10/2021 (1423 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — He was one of the original pieces brought in to complete a championship puzzle, the kind of building block every team needs to find that next level.

He’s also about as understated as it gets. No matter how many awards he’s won — and he’s certainly won some awards — Stanley Bryant is about a humble as they come. So, it’s no surprise when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers star left tackle was notified that he’d be playing his 100th CFL game for the Blue and Gold Friday against the Elks, the future Hall of Famer met the milestone with one of his classic shrugs.

It’s not that he doesn’t care, it’s just he doesn’t see the point in being celebrated. Being in the spotlight has just never been his thing.

“Time has flown by, to be playing my 100th game with the Bombers,” Bryant said. “A lot of games and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

He added, chuckling: “Some days it hurts.”

Officially, Friday will be Bryant’s 165th CFL regular season game, after spending five years and 65 games with the Calgary Stampeders, which included a Grey Cup in 2014. Bryant joined Winnipeg after that championship season, marking the beginning of an overhauled Bombers offensive line that for years has been heralded as the league’s best.

In Winnipeg, Bryant was named the CFL’s most outstanding lineman in 2017 and 2018, while narrowly missing out on the hat trick, with Hamilton’s Chris Van Zeyl edging him out as the other finalist. He’s also a five-time CFL all-star.

“I don’t think guys even expect to play 50-60 games. So, it’s a blessing and I’m just grateful I’ve been able to do it,” Bryant said. “Any player, any practice, anything can go wrong. A guy can roll up on you or just something small can happen.”

Bryant doesn’t have a number when asked how many more games he could add before he decides to call it a career. Judging by his play, though, not to mention his durability, and you get the feeling there’s plenty more in the tank.

Bryant hasn’t just played 100 games for the Bombers, he’s also never missed a game to injury. He’s about as durable as it comes for a position where even a bit of bad luck can mean weeks on the sideline.

“Everything is still fun. The camaraderie is very important, especially with the offensive line but also the team in general,” he said. “We still have things in the locker room, we still enjoy each other. I mean, laughs, hard times, it’s always good.”

Moving parts: Speaking of the Bombers O-line, they’ll have a new look against the Elks this week as right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick has been ruled out with a hip injury suffered in last week’s win over the Elks.

Taking Hardrick’s place will be veteran Patrick Neufeld, who will be replaced at right guard by Asotui Eli. Eli has been dressed as the sixth O-lineman all season and did well at right guard after Hardrick was injured. Taking over Eli’s spot is Geoff Gray.

Neufeld has played tackle in the CFL before, but for years has only been asked to play the role as temporary relief, as usually when an injury happens during a game.

“He’s done it before. He’s versatile, right?” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said of Neufeld. “He understands the angles and the footwork. He’s very competitive, too, he wants to win those individual battles. He comes across as soft spoken and a nice guy, but when he gets out there, he wants to win those battles.”

As for Eli, this will be his first start of 2021. Bryant noted the strong off-season the 25-year-old had and he’s confident the transition to full-time work will be seamless.

“He’s just stepped in and ready to go,” Bryant said. “He had one of the best camps of all offensive linemen this year and he’s shown he’s ready to play. So now he gets his opportunity to go out there and do the things we were seeing in camp.”

Quarterback Zach Collaros, whose safety relies on the strength of the O-line, also gave a ringing endorsement of the new-look group, even if everyone is going to miss Hardrick and the energy he brings.

“You see more after the game when you watch the film and there’s always a couple of funny clips of (Hardrick) out there, after a long run or completion he’s hustling down the field and pointing and those things,” Collaros said. “But yeah, he’s just an awesome teammate, an awesome father and awesome person. Obviously, we’re going to miss his presence out there, but Patty is going to do a great job and so is Asotui and so is Geoff.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton