Bomber report 411

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/07/2015 (3752 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NAUGHTY NAUGHTY

The CFL issued its weekly disciplinary report and — surprise, surprise — Edmonton Eskimos defensive lineman Eddie Steele was fined for his low hit on Winnipeg Blue Bombers pivot Drew Willy.

Interestingly, the two hits that have now knocked Willy out of games this year — the Steele shot July 25 and the hellacious head shot July 2 by Hamilton defensive end Adrian Tracy — have both led to undisclosed fines from CFL headquarters.

And neither resulted in a 15-yard, on-field penalty.

“I can’t explain why things happen and what the CFL sees on certain plays,” Willy said. “It’s obviously not the NFL rules, but they’re trying their best to protect us and if they don’t think it’s a flag, it’s not a flag and I can’t say anything other than that. I just need to keep playing through every single play and whatever they call is what they call. I have great respect for the referees and all the refs in our league. They do a good job… they’re human like everyone else and, unfortunately, I got hit in the knee.”

STEP RIGHT UP

Justin Veltung is getting another chance. The Blue Bombers’ kick returner for the first three games of the season before he was punted by the return of Troy Stoudermire from injury, Veltung (below) draws back into the lineup this week in place of injured slotback Nick Moore.

That’s some big shoes to fill — Moore has been Winnipeg’s leading receiver this season. But while there’s nothing Veltung could do in tonight’s game against the B.C. Lions (2-2) to take away Moore’s starting job, the 23-year-old out of Idaho sees it as a chance to once again force the coaching staff to take notice of him.

“If I go out there and play well, it will make them make the hard decision,” said Veltung.

Despite sitting out the past two weeks, Veltung still leads the CFL in kickoff-return average (28.7 yards).

CHANGES IN TRENCHES

They say one of the toughest things to do in pro football is to unseat a healthy starter on your own team, but that’s exactly what Patrick Neufeld will do tonight when he lines up at left guard in place of Chris Greaves.

It will be Neufeld’s first appearance this season — he got hurt in training camp and had been unable to get back into the lineup even while healthy. But after a week in which the Bombers gave up a season-high four sacks to Edmonton and their running game continued to struggle for traction, Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea is sitting Greaves and giving Neufeld a chance to show he can play — and stay healthy, something he hasn’t been able to do until now in an injury-riddled five-year CFL career.

“I’m feeling awesome. The body is feeling really well,” said Neufeld. “It’s never easy being on the sidelines watching because of an injury. And when you do get back out there, you want to show you can be a veteran presence on the team and do the things out there that will help this team win.”

BROTHER ACT

Bombers defensive end Jamaal Westerman will be sharing the field tonight with his younger brother, Lions defensive end Jabar.

Westerman was holding court with veteran B.C. scribes Lowell Ullrich of the Province and Mike Beamish of the Vancouver Sun for quite a while Wednesday and both were wondering if he had considered signing with the Lions to team up with his brother

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“It wasn’t not not signing with anybody, it was I really enjoyed the staff here in Winnipeg,” said Westerman, who spent six seasons in the NFL before joining the Bombers in May. “I enjoyed what they offer here in the city and the opportunity for myself and my family. I really wanted to sign here in Winnipeg.”

Westerman played down the brother angle on the eve of the game, but did tip his hat to those who helped get the pair to the CFL.

“It’s a testament to our family, how they prepared us and the mentality that we have,” he said. “It’s not just your physical talent, but the mental part of it as well. We went our different ways in college, but we always carried it throughout our lives.

“It’s special that two brothers are going to be on the same field. There’s a lot of examples where one guy made it and another did not. It’s special, but it’s not the be all and end all, either. A lot of things in life are luck.”

— Tait/Wiecek