Extra Points

Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013

The Bombers seemed pumped up for practice Tuesday, as players loudly cheered each other from the sidelines during a boisterous couple of hours. Maybe the urgency of the squad's situation is ratcheting up the energy level, or maybe it's just that hope springs eternal. "They know what the situation is," head coach Tim Burke said. "The other thing too is not just the urgency, but realizing that either Winnipeg or Hamilton or Montreal is going to host the eastern semifinal. We're all one game away. We have just as good a chance at hosting the eastern semifinal as those guys."

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/08/2013 (4486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Bombers seemed pumped up for practice Tuesday, as players loudly cheered each other from the sidelines during a boisterous couple of hours. Maybe the urgency of the squad’s situation is ratcheting up the energy level, or maybe it’s just that hope springs eternal. “They know what the situation is,” head coach Tim Burke said. “The other thing too is not just the urgency, but realizing that either Winnipeg or Hamilton or Montreal is going to host the eastern semifinal. We’re all one game away. We have just as good a chance at hosting the eastern semifinal as those guys.”

Expect to see Paul Swiston get the start at right guard for the Bombers Friday night vs Hamilton.

The Bombers have been unhappy this season with the play of veteran guard Steve Morley and have given Swiston first-team reps at practice this week and told him he would start this week in place of Morley.

Swiston — a fourth-round draft pick by the Bombers in 2011 — will be making just his second career start.

“I’ve got to prove myself still, but I’m just happy to get the opportunity,” said Swiston. “It’s a great opportunity. I’m really excited about it.”

Morley has never missed a game or start since joining the Bombers in 2009, but Bombers head coach Tim Burke said Swiston has earned the long-awaited opportunity.

“I just think he’s come along,” said Burke. “We would have liked Paul to have come along a little faster, but it’s taken a little longer than we wanted and we’re hoping to get more production out of him.”

Special teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson knows Sandro DeAngelis awfully well: the kicker was a superstar under Dickenson’s watch in Calgary. While Dickenson voiced confidence in DeAngelis’ experience, he demurred at anointing DeAngelis the starter for Friday’s game against the Tiger-Cats. “We’ll decide, but basically we want to roll ’em both out there, and whoever looks like they have the hot hand, that’s who we’ll probably go with,” he said.

Vega Released

Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive end Jason Vega was released by the New England Patriots on Tuesday. Vega, 26, registered 66 tackles and 12 sacks in two seasons with the Bombers in 2011 and 2012 before signing with the Patriots last winter.

Vega is a CFL free agent.

Moll Retained

Newly appointed Bombers acting-GM Kyle Walters said Tuesday that Ken Moll — the team’s director of player personnel and a close friend of former GM Joe Mack’s — remains on the Winnipeg payroll even with Mack’s firing last week.

Walters said Moll, who’s been with the Bombers since 2010, is actively scouting NFL camps for the Bombers right now.