Scalpel, please…

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/02/2009 (6273 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Call it a revamp or remodel. Or go ahead and use our favourite term — extreme makeover — to describe what has happened to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this winter.

And it’s been especially hammered home in the six days since the Canadian Football League free-agent market opened.

We’ll go so far as to suggest the last few days — during which the team has orchestrated four trades, signed four free agents and lost four and continues to tinker — might just be the most dramatic surgery ever performed on the club in one week of any off-season in its history. Case in point: at least 10 starters from last year have exited or been traded since the end of the season while another 10 are also gonzo.

That isn’t a nip and tuck, people.

And there’s more to come.

"We’re still looking at a couple of things," said head coach Mike Kelly. "The one thing I learned in the other league down south is that once you think your team is formulated you try to improve the bottom third of your roster because it makes your special teams better and depth better if these guys go down. We’re pretty close to addressing what our team is, now how do we make our depth better and how do we make our special teams better? That’s our next approach. This isn’t just a what’s-happening-this-year thing. I’m also looking at Year 2 and Year 3 and making sure we have animals in the stable that have value.

"I understand that fans get excited about players and identify with them and latch on to them," Kelly added. "But as a coach you can’t do that, you have to constantly be looking to improve your lot. As much as emotions get involved and you have feelings for players, you still have to make business decisions. And at the end of the day I’m judged on the quality of the football team we have, not whether I like these guys or not or if the fans like these guys.

"The Chicago Cubs have been lovable losers, but I don’t want us to be in that category."

COMINGS, GOINGS: The Bombers released DB Greg Bearman on Friday while officially announcing the signing of free-agent linebacker Shawn Gallant and defensive tackle Don Oramasionwu. Gallant (6-1, 206, Eastern Kentucky) returns to the club after spending the last two years with the Montreal Alouettes. A special-teams force, Gallant played for the Bombers in 2005-06. Oramasionwu (6-3, 255, Manitoba) was a fifth-round pick of the Bombers who returned to the Bisons after attending Blue training camp last year. And he was outstanding at the U of M, being named to the Canada West all-star team and selected to the CIS second team all-star team after helping the Bisons win the Vanier Cup in 2007.

BLUE NOTES: Kelly said discussions with free-agent punter Burke Dales continue, but the team is respecting his desires to try land an NFL tryout… The Bombers insist they are not interesting in QB Casey Printers, cut by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. Kelly also said he is of the belief QB Kevin Glenn "has value" and the team may not release him before a March 1 roster payment is due. Same goes for OT Dan Goodspeed even though rumours have circulated about a trade involving the likable lineman. Goodspeed reportedly has a huge — $80,000 — payment due on March 1… The CFL changed the scheduled kickoff time for the annual Labour Day Classic to 3 p.m. CT from 6:30 p.m.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

New-look Bombers

CAN’T tell the players without a program… a glance at the reshaping of the Bombers’ roster since the end of the 2008 season — with three months remaining until training camp opens in June:

 

THE DEALS

"ö LB Siddeeq Shabazz from Edmonton for DE Kai Ellis.

"ö CB James Johnson from Saskatchewan for a later-round 2011 draft pick.

"ö SB Brock Ralph from Edmonton for S Jason Nugent.

"ö DE Riall Johnson from Toronto for LB Zeke Moreno.

 

THE FREE-AGENT ADDITIONS

"ö OL Glenn January (Saskatchewan)

"ö OL Steve Morley (Saskatchewan)

"ö OL Luke Fritz (Montreal)

"ö LB Shawn Gallant (Montreal)

"ö P Burke Dales (Calgary; deal still pending)

 

THE FREE-AGENT LOSSES

"ö OL Alexandre Gauthier (Hamilton)

"ö OL Dominic Picard (Toronto)

"ö OL Kyle Koch (Edmonton)

"ö FB Graeme Bell (Edmonton)

"ö LB Cam Hall (not returning)

 

OTHER MOVES

"ö Traded draft picks to Edmonton for QB Stefan Lefors.

"ö Released DT Jerome Haywood (signed with Montreal).

"ö Signed DT Tyrone Williams (B.C.)

"ö Cut DE Tom Canada, OL Matt Sheridan, DB Greg Bearman

"ö Cut DB Stanford Samuels (expected to return)

"ö Cut DB Anthony Malbrough (may be back)

"ö Re-signed potential free agents LB Ike Charlton, RB Fred Reid, DB Kelly Malveaux, DE Gavin Walls, LS Chris Cvetkovic, DE Shawn Mayne, OL Matt O’Meara

"ö Re-signed LB Barrin Simpson, RB Daryl Stephenson, OL Obby Khan, LB Joe Lobendahn, DT Josh Miller, OL Kyle Sleightholm, DT Don Oramasionwu

"ö SB Milt Stegall retired

"ö KR Casey McGahee (released, signed with Saskatchewan)

"ö CB Robert Bean (released)

"ö DT Jon Oosterhuis, FB/DL Brian Guebert (free agents)

"ö LB Marcus Winn, OL Daryl Conrad (free agents, not expected back)

 

IN LIMBO

"ö QB Kevin Glenn