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By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Friday, Jul. 8, 2011

JYLES ALL SMILES

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/07/2011 (5241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JYLES ALL SMILES

Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Steven Jyles says there’s no hard feelings.

Traded to the Toronto Argonauts during the off-season for a first-round draft pick that the Bombers ultimately used to select wide receiver Jade Etienne, Jyles made the trip to Winnipeg with the Argos this week despite being on the nine-game injured reserve list as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

Jyles said Thursday that he was surprised when the Bombers traded him, but his memories of his brief time as the Bombers starter in 2010 are mostly positive. “It was a great year for me. I got a lot of experience here,” Jyles said. “There were lots of great guys in the locker-room and I’m still friends with a lot of them. But it was just the situation here — we weren’t winning and no matter what program

you’re in, if the team’s not winning the quarterback gets the blame first.”

Jyles, who threw on the side Thursday during an Argos walk-through at Canad Inns Stadium, said his recovery is nearing an end and he hopes to get back on the active roster in the coming weeks.

Argos GM/head coach Jim Barker said Thursday that Bombers fans on the East Side reminded him of the Jyles trade when the Argos visited here during the pre-season.

“I got thanked many times for the draft pick,” said Barker, smiling.

Etienne was a healthy scratch during Week 1 in Hamilton, but will be in the Blue Bombers lineup tonight.

HEAD-TO HEAD

Toronto outscored Winnipeg 80-55 in three games last season. The Boatmen lead the all-time series 49-48, with two ties.

BARKER’S A BEAUTY

Argos field boss Jim Barker has the robust personality to be on television, and he’s certainly comfortable in his opinions, but he said it was an unusual experience watching himself on TSN’s reality experiment The Extra Yard last weekend.

“It was very difficult — especially the cutting (players) part, ’cause it’s the one part I really don’t like,” the coach said. “Watching he looks on their faces was not a fun thing to relive.”

Barker says the finished product, a 45-minute show which came from about 50 hours of tape, stood pretty true to form after the editing process. The TSN cameras will follow the CFL club around all season, producing 4-5 shows.

GAME NOTES

Argos LB Jason Pottinger (knee) did not make the trip to Winnipeg. His spot will be filled by a rotation of Ejiro Kuale and Tristan Black…

RB Cory Boyd has cracked the rushing century mark seven times in just 16 career games… Bombers K Justin Palardy has made 12 straight field goals dating back to last year…

Finally, Winnipeg’s win on Canada Day marked the first time the Bombers won a game after trailing at halftime since the 2008 season.