Winnipeg’s success watched from afar

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This article was published 13/10/2016 (3285 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TWO long-standing Winnipeg Blue Bombers players were shown the door in the 2015-16 off-season, released from their contracts after five seasons wearing blue and gold.

One was receiver Clarence Denmark, who has since returned to the Bombers and been one of the team’s most consistent players this season with seven touchdowns in eight games, including the game-winning score against the B.C. Lions last week.

The other, Bryant Turner Jr., will now get his chance to show his former team what they gave up on.

Signed by the Lions to a one-year contract in April, Turner will start at defensive tackle when they face the Bombers tonight at BC Place.

It will be the first time he’ll line up opposite his former team. But if you’re expecting Turner, who was twice named a divisional all-star and once a CFL all-star with the Blue Bombers, is looking to even the score, you may want to think again.

“Honestly, I’m a big Blue Bombers fan believe it or not,” Turner after the Lions’ walk-through practice Thursday in Surrey, B.C. “I spent five years there — some tough years, and some good.”

Turner, who turns 29 on Nov. 25, said he’s followed the Bombers throughout the season and is genuinely happy for the team and the fans for their success.

When Winnipeg clinched a playoff berth last weekend, he saw it as good news for his old teammates and friends — and for the city, too.

“I’m happy for everybody. They deserve it,” said Turner, who has nine tackles and two quarterback sacks in six games this year with the Lions.

“You work so hard for four years with no playoffs. Even though I’m not there to celebrate, I’m still happy for the city and the team.”

That’s not to say he didn’t have a sour taste in his mouth when he got the call from Blue Bombers management in March to tell him he wouldn’t be part of the team’s future moving forward.

Turner admits when he found out Winnipeg inked Euclid Cummings and Keith Shologan — two of the most sought-after defensive linemen on the free-agent market — to deals, the writing was on the wall.

But after a few weeks had passed and he hadn’t heard anything, he thought he was safe. Or at least hoped he was

“Then I got the call,” said Turner. “It was kind of upsetting, but I was more upset with me not being able to help the team turn around. You feel like all the hard work you put in over the years never really paid off.”

Having spent five seasons as Denmark’s teammate, including 2011, when the Bombers made it to the Grey Cup, Turner isn’t the least bit surprised to see the kind of success Denmark is having this year.

“His numbers don’t surprise me at all,” said Turner. “It surprises me that he was at home, waiting on a call.

“Not only is he a great player, he’s a great person so have around the locker room.”

As much as he’s enjoyed the Bombers’ success this year, something he ultimately credited to the play of quarterback Matt Nichols, that admiration by Turner ends at game time.

With a chance for the Lions to distance themselves from the Bombers for second spot in the West Division, there’s only one thing on his mind.

“Just a B.C. win,” said Turner. “It doesn’t really matter how — just a B.C. win would make it a perfect night for me.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jeffkhamilton