Bombers wield axe on defensive side of ball

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This article was published 02/08/2012 (4813 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Blue Bombers brass brought down the axe Wednesday, cutting import defensive lineman Rodney Fritz before practice.

In parts of two seasons with Winnipeg, the 25-year-old Fritz tallied seven tackles and one sack. Head coach Paul La Police blamed the release on a “numbers game” and added this comment:

“Sooner or later when all these injured guys get back you have to start making decisions. Rodney’s a great kid, I’m very high on him but… you can’t keep everybody around so if something happens we can possibly bring him back but with the injuries we’ve had, as guys come back we have to start deleting guys.”

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Another move was made following practice Wednesday as the Bombers announced the release of 25-year-old Darrell Pasco, an import defensive back. Playing on special teams, Pasco recorded two tackles in three games over the past two seasons.

The moves come with the expected return of defensive linemen Brandon Collier (shoulder) and Kenny Mainor (ankle) to the lineup as early as this week. Both players have practised all week and La Police said there’s a “good chance” they’ll be in the lineup Friday against the Montreal Alouettes.

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Bad news? You can add another injury to the battered Blue as backup running back and non-import Nathan Riva exited Tuesday’s practice with what is being said to be a pulled hamstring muscle. He has has been ruled out for Friday’s contest. Import Will Ford has been activated off the practice roster and is expected to make his Bombers debut behind Chad Simpson. Ford started four seasons with the South Carolina State Bulldogs, racking up over 4,600 yards on the ground and 367 in the air, along with 38 touchdowns.

Fullback Jordan Matechuk injured his hand in Tuesday’s practice but has escaped without any broken bones. He’ll be out of action indefinitely.

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A little bragging, shall we? Despite little to boast about when describing the 2012 edition of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the stellar play of non-import placekicker Justin Palarady so far this season provides the 1-4 club a glimmer of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy start. The 24-year-old Saint Mary’s product shares top spot in the league for field-goal percentage (92.3) along with Edmonton’s Grant Shaw, hitting 12-for-13 on the season. His leg also accounts for 44 of the Bombers’ 100 points on the season.

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

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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