Veteran Oosterhuis released

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This article was published 05/06/2011 (5334 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HE’D worked his tail off all winter in the gym and felt he’d showed up to training camp this weekend in the best possible shape.

And so Winnipeg Blue Bombers fullback Jon Oosterhuis was stunned Saturday when he got the word that he failed his physical and had been released after a nine-year career with the Bombers.

“I feel fine. I had no idea there was a problem,” Oosterhuis said Saturday night, noting he’d actually taken the physical a month ago but wasn’t advised until Saturday that he had failed.

Oosterhuis said his left knee — which had caused him problems in the past — was singled out by the Bombers medical team as the problem.

Oosterhuis was long a fan favourite and said that he wanted to get a message out to those fans. “I just want everyone to know that it’s not like I didn’t train all off-season and just showed up and failed my physical. I’ve worked my tail off.

“But I also have the utmost respect for the organization and I know they have to be smart about who they bring into camp will be reliable for them. I don’t want to make (the Bombers) sound bad at all.”

The respect was reciprocated. “It’s always a difficult decision when you have to release a player, but it’s even tougher when it’s a veteran and a true professional like Jon,” GM Joe Mack said in a statement.

Oosterhuis said he wasn’t ready to retire just yet. “I didn’t train this hard this offseason to walk away from the game. I’d like the opportunity to play still…I’ve got a family. I need to find a way to bring a paycheque home.”

Oosterhuis spent his first seven seasons with the Bombers as a defensive lineman, but was converted to a fullback in 2009.

“He was one of those team guys — anything you asked him to do, he did it,” said longtime teammate Terrence Edwards. “And he was a good locker-room guy. It’s a sad day. A (nine-year) veteran — he’s going to be missed.”

— Wiecek