Last of Mack’s picks gone

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This article was published 13/06/2015 (4095 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of the last vestiges of the disastrous Joe Mack regime was eliminated by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Friday morning with the announcement non-import fullback Carl Fitzgerald had been cut.

Fitzgerald was a third-round pick in 2013 by the former general manager and his release means the Bombers have no remaining players from the 2013 draft, the last draft Mack directed before he was fired later that year.

Fitzgerald joins (in the order the Bombers drafted them) defensive lineman Andy Mulumba, defensive back Kris Robertson, wide receivers Mike DiCroce and Stephen Alli and punter Billy Pavolopoulos as 2013 draftees who are no longer with the team or never reported in the first place.

Fitzgerald’s release came on the same day the Edmonton Eskimos cut offensive linemen Tyson Pencer, who Mack picked third overall in 2012.

It is widely regarded as one of the worst CFL draft picks in recent history.

Fitzgerald was one of five players released Friday as the club whittles its roster to get to a league-mandated 65 players by Sunday night.

The other four cuts were imports: linebackers Denicos Allen, Rodney Lamar and Curtis Taylor and running back Bradley Randle.

The release of Allen, who was highly touted coming into training camp, is yet another indicator the Bombers are committing to starting non-import Sam Hurl at middle linebacker when their regular season opens June 27 in Regina.

Hurl, who the Bombers acquired as a free agent in the off-season, played seven games at middle linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season before he lost the job.

Hurl told reporters Friday morning he is wiser from his experience in Regina.

“I think I learned a lot last year. I got a lot of game experience and I think that’s really helped me… and I felt like each game I was getting exponentially better,” he said.

“So I’m very excited to be going into this year and be starting on a good foot.”

Release

While the release of Allen — and Lamar — clears yet another hurdle for Hurl to take over the job, Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea noted Hurl still has other challengers and is not being handed anything just yet.

“Sam Hurl is a professional. He doesn’t want to be handed anything, he wants to earn everything and he goes out every day to earn his spot. It’s important for the middle linebacker — and he knows this — to earn the trust of your teammates and that’s why he’s going out there and working every day.”

The Bombers had some key injured players return to practice on Friday.

Left tackle Stanley Bryant — Winnipeg’s big free-agent signing in the off-season — returned to full practice after missing more than a week with a leg injury.

Several other injured players — rookie receiver Addison Richards and veteran safety Maurice Leggett, slotbacks Rory Kohlert and Nick Moore and linebacker Graig Newman — all practised lightly clearing the way for all to return to full practice possibly as early today.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @PaulWiecek