ED TAIT THINKS YOU SHOULD KNOW…

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/06/2009 (5941 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Told ya

The Bombers have made official the contract extension for new running back Lavarus Giles. Details were not released, but Giles — who was spectacular in the pre-season — will get a bump in pay and performance incentives.

Sick bay update

DT Doug Brown (ill) did not practice Sunday but should get the green light for Edmonton. Meanwhile, LB Siddeeq Shabazz took some turns with the No. 1 defence and may dress as one of the three designated imports.

Quotable

“I told you to turn the wind off. That’s your job.”

— Bombers head coach Mike Kelly to one of his equipment men prior to Sunday’s workout in gale-force winds.

MYSTERY MEN?

THE Bombers have a pretty good feel for that the Esks will do defensively — Richie Hall has been a ‘D’ boss for years and his defensive and offensive co-ordinators are both ex-Bomber guys in Jim Daley and Rick Worman — but what Kelly & Co. are up to here will remain a bit of a mystery until teams see them in real action.

“I don’t mind being an underdog,” said Kelly. ” I don’t mind people not knowing what we’re going to be. Obviously I feel like we have an idea of what we’re going to be, but that’s all yet to be seen. People can look at tape and see what’s going on — there are good coaches in this league.”

NO GOOSEBUMPS

KELLY was asked Sunday if he’ll be nervous in the days leading up to his debut as the Bomber head coach.

“I’m just coaching another football game… I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years,” he said. “I grew up around football. My dad was a coach. Rick Campbell’s dad was a coach. Mark Nelson’s dad played… We’re all kids that are products of this environment and we’re just doing what we love to do. You get into this because it’s fun, not to make yourself a nervous wreck.

“I knew I was in the saddle at the Blue-Gold game when we had 2,500 people show up and I got to address everybody. That’s when I felt a little nostalgic. I want the team to play well. I know Cal Murphy’s watching and I don’t want to disappoint Cal. When he sees the football team I want him to say, ‘OK, that’s the way it’s supposed to look.’ That’s on my mind, but anything other than that, I’m just doing my job.”

EYE ON THE ESKIMOS

THE Esks will be without starting centre John Comiskey — his brother Dan retired just before training camp — when the regular season opens this week against Winnipeg. Former Bomber Aaron Fiacconi steps in to replace Comiskey while the line will also feature Kyle Koch, who signed with the Esks as a free agent this winter. Another ex-Bomber, tackle Garrick Jones, starts the season on the injured list. CB Willie Amos, acquired in a trade with Winnipeg during camp, is out with a shoulder injury and listed as day to day.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca