Bomber Taylor Loffler proves he can rock a mullet

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This article was published 29/05/2017 (3083 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Taylor Loffler is taking the business-in-the-front-party-in-back-approach in his second year with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Loffler, the Bombers all-star safety, has been sporting a mullet haircut through training camp.

“I think the mullet is perfect,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea opined following Day 2 of camp at Investors Group Field. “I think it goes right along with what he’s building. You add the headband in he’s gone from sort of Joe Dirt to John Rambo.”

Loffler had a breakout season in 2016, recording 58 defensive tackles, eight special teams tackles, four interceptions, four forced fumbles and one sack en route to being named a CFL all-star. His impressive numbers are made even more remarkable by the fact Loffler wasn’t named a starter until Week 6 after Macho Harris went down to injury.

The 25-year-old has made a name for himself in the CFL last season with his punishing hits and quick rise as a Canadian. Loffler was a highly touted draft pick heading into the 2016 CFL Draft, but with a long history of injuries – including two separate ACL injuries to his right knee and labral repairs to both hips – fell to the Bombers in the third round.

Needless to say, O’Shea has been impressed with Loffler, mullet or otherwise.

“He’s a confident man, he’s his own man. He does not worry about what you and I say about that mullet let me tell you.”

‘Bearly thought about it’

The Montreal Alouettes made headlines early Monday when they announced the release of linebacker Bear Woods. Woods, 30, was coming off a standout season in 2016 where he was named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, eventually losing out to West nominee Solomon Elimimian.

The Bombers currently have an open tryout at middle linebacker after allowing Khalil Bass to test free agency (he has since signed with Ottawa) and Woods would appear to be a prime candidate to fill the role.

“Any time a guy that gets released, a veteran guy that plays to at the calibre of Bear Woods, certainly we talk about it,” O’Shea said. “It’s obviously up on the radar very quickly but it doesn’t mean it’s the right decision for us either.”

O’Shea said he is pleased with the current crop of players competing for a spot in the middle, with imports Kyle Knox and Nick Temple the leading candidates for the job. But both are still green to the CFL game and Woods, a seven-year veteran of the league who is also an import, would no doubt provide an upgrade to a Bombers starting linebackers group that also includes Maurice Leggett at the dime position and Ian Wild at weak side.

In seven seasons with the Als, Woods has 232 tackles, 15 quarterback sacks and three interceptions.

Battered Blue

Defensive end Kevin Fogg (lower-body) and rookie defensive tackle Ian Marouf (lower-body) missed a second day of camp, while DT Padric Scott (lower-body) was also sidelined. Fogg and Scott are expected to be back soon but O’Shea said Marouf could be up to three weeks before a return.

Had do to a little change up! #isitjuneyet #changeup #mullet

A post shared by Taylor Loffler (@taylorloffler) on May 19, 2017 at 11:03pm PDT