Bombers 411

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This article was published 25/10/2014 (4056 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NOTABLE

The Bombers have made six changes to the 46-man roster, adding QB Drew Willy, O-linemen Glenn January and Dan Knapp, DB and kick returner Troy Stoudermire and receivers Justin Wilson and Julian Feoli-Gudino. Coming off are QB Brian Brohm, receivers Nick Moore and Brett Carter, DB Demond Washington, OL Devin Tyler and LB/DL Kyle Norris.

A BIG MAN EXITS

As bad as the Bombers O-line has been in 2014, you’d figure they’d have been able to find room somewhere on the roster for a 6-9, 342-pound Canadian.

But a litany of injuries and an inability to crack the game-day roster combined to result in the Bombers finally releasing Paul SwistonFriday.

Swiston was Winnipeg’s fourth-round pick in 2011, but he started just four games in three seasons — and none in 2014. So when the Bombers were looking this week to trim some payroll, Swiston’s number finally came up.

“It was a business decision. It’s that time of the year where you’re trying to save money on the (salary) cap and he wasn’t a player we felt we were going to bring back next year,” head coach Mike O’Shea said Friday.

O’Shea said he wouldn’t be surprised if Swiston lands somewhere else in the CFL, but the Bombers just couldn’t afford to be patient any longer with a player who had a long line of injuries, including double shoulder surgery last off-season.

“He’s had injury setbacks the last number of years. That’s limiting him. He’s generally always behind,” said O’Shea.

MILITARY SALUTE

The Bombers players — and O’Shea — will be honouring the Canadian military tonight at Investors Group Field.

Bombers players will wear a decal on their helmets depicting the logo of the Canadian Armed Forces as part of a league-wide initiative. And O’Shea had Bombers staff looking around town for him on Friday for a Canadian Forces hat that he will wear on the sidelines.

The Bombers and other CFL teams will also observe a moment of silence this weekend in honour of Cpl. Nathan Frank Cirillo, who was murdered Wednesday while standing guard at the National War Memorial.

TACKLING MACHINE

Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian has 121 tackles this season and needs just 10 more in the final three games to surpass the all-time CFL record of 130 set by Ednmonton’s J.C. Sherritt in 2012. Asked if setting the record would be a big deal to him, Elimimian said:

“I cannot lie, it is, just because I know about all the hard work I’ve put into it. I think our defence is playing really amazing right now. It’s just a result of what we’re doing defensively. I’m excited about it and hopefully I can get it tomorrow.

“I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder because they’ve told me I was undersized or too small or too slow… all these things I heard coming into this league and my whole career, whether it was high school or college. When I get on the field, I get to let my frustration out.”

RETURN BOOST

The Bombers are hoping their return game will get a lift this weekend with the return of Troy Stoudermire to the lineup. Stoudermire returned kicks and punts for the Bombers in six games this season, including on Labour Day Weekend in Regina when he returned a punt for a touchdown against the Roughriders, but a turf-toe injury landed him on the six-game injured list. He’s healthy now and the Bombers have activated him early.

Stoudermire played both offence and defence, in addition to special teams as a standout at the University of Minnesota and the Bombers have also had him work out with their offence and defence during practice this year.

“I’m just getting used to practicing with both sides, so that next year hopefully when I come back, I will be settled in at one spot,” Stoudermire said Friday.