Fred Ex joins fast company in 1,000-yard club

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/10/2009 (5844 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FRED EX has delivered over and over again this year.

And now the diminutive tailback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has joined some mighty impressive company in the storied history of the franchise.

Reid, in his first full season as the Bombers starting tailback, eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in Friday’s 27-17 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos for the first time as a pro by carrying 16 times for 83 yards.

The Mississippi State product now has 1,067 on the season and joins a select club of 14 others (see chart) who have broken the 1K mark as Bombers.

“A thousand yards in 13 games? That’s pretty good,” said Bomber head coach Mike Kelly. “You’re not going to find much better than that. He’s a quality back. He’s a tough football player. He comes to work every day and he finishes plays in practice as well as any player we have. It’s no mistake that he’s one of the leading rushers in the league. He works at it, he’s patient about it. I know he’d like to have a gazillion yards, but 1,000 ain’t too bad, either.

“The thing is, when Fred runs well we win. As long as we keep Fred running well, we’ll win.

OUCH UPDATE: LB Joe Lobendahn (hamstring) and DE Gavin Walls (knee) were both hobbling post-game, but the Bombers aren’t back on the field until Wednesday to begin preparations for their game in Hamilton on Thanksgiving Monday. SB Terrence Edwards, who has missed the last two games with a concussion, should be good to go this week. The Bombers have placed CB James Johnson on the nine-game injured list.

QUOTABLE: “What’s happening right now says a lot about our character and our belief about what we have in this locker room. We’re on the same page right now and the ball is bouncing our way. It’s great to come into a locker room after a game and have something to celebrate.” — Bomber QB Michael Bishop.

SCOREBOARD WATCHING? The Bombers final five games feature home-and-home series with Hamilton and Montreal and a date at Canad Inns with the B.C. Lions. In other words, if they take care of their business they won’t have to worry about what happens elsewhere — at least, not yet.

“We’re totally in control of our own destiny,” said Kelly. “I hope all the other teams have nice games and everything, but when it comes to playing us, that’s all we have to worry about. If somebody else wants to help us out, that’s gravy.”

LEFTOVERS: The Eskimos have now lost four of their last five games… Adarius Bowman leads the Bombers with 566 yards receiving. He needs to average 87 yards over the final five games to break the 1,000 mark (Terrence Edwards is at 518). If a Bomber receiver doesn’t get to the 1K-mark, it would mark the first time since Mitch Running led the team with 729 yards in 1998.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Runners of renown

Player 1K Seasons High/Year

Charles Roberts 6 1,624/2005

Willard Reaves 3 1,733/1984

Jim Washington 3 1,277/1976

Robert Mimbs 2 1,769*/1991

Dave Raimey 2 1,223/1966

Gerry James 2 1,205/1955

Leo Lewis 2 1,164/1958

William Miller 2 1,076/1982

Mack Herron 1 1,527/1972

Blaise Bryant 1 1,289/1994

Michael Richardson 1 1,153/1992

Ronald Williams 1 1,120/1997

Fred Reid 1 1,069/2009

Bob McNamara 1 1,101/1956

Charlie Shepard 1 1,076/1959

*denotes club record