One was cast adrift in March, only to resurface in August. The other was one of those transactions just prior to training camp that draws an indifferent shrug of the shoulders to anyone who noticed.

But it says something of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their ‘next-man-up’ mantra that just two days before their next biggest game of the year – this Friday’s West Division showdown in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions – Clarence Denmark and Timothy Flanders would be among the names requested for interviews by the media.

Let’s face it, in many ways the two best represent what the 2016 Bombers have become: a selfless, cohesive team that has morphed into a Canadian Football League contender in large part because of its depth.

“It’s been a crazy ride, man,” began Denmark after Wednesday’s practice. “I’m just happy we’re winning some games.”

Denmark is the lone player on the current Bomber roster who was around when this franchise last made the playoffs, back in 2011. But the fact he is still here does come with a bit of an asterisk – Denmark was released in March after the team splurged in free agency, including adding receivers Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith, and then returned only after a rash of injuries crippled the pass-catching corps.

And eight games into his rebirth, he has 43 receptions for 572 yards and a team-leading and career-best seven touchdowns. Asked if those numbers represent a bit of redemption, considering his TD total is higher and his yardage total at a more-productive clip than those that replaced him, Denmark was quick to stiff-arm the question.

“That’s not what I’m thinking about; that’s not my focus at all,” said Denmark, who had been signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders after his release by the Bombers but was cut at the conclusion of their training camp. “It’s like I said from Day 1, I just wanted to come in here and be a part of it. I saw when I first got here that it was great and I just wanted to be a part of it.

“It’s all about the team. This is my team and it’s all love. Whatever I can do to help my team out and I’m not going to think about myself.”

Clarence Denmark

Denmark’s seven TDs is a massive leap in his red zone production. He had 16 career touchdowns heading into this season and just six over the last two years. He said he is a ‘little bit more focused’ now, not suggesting he wasn’t before, but rather a hint at how appreciative he is to be back in the league – and especially with the Bombers – after spending most of July watching games on TV from his offseason home in Florida.

“I just want to do well and I’m putting pressure on that from my end,” said Denmark. “There’s a lot of great guys around me and you have to give those guys credit.

“I appreciate everything and I’m just not taking anything for granted.”

There’s also this, of course: the Bombers started five different quarterbacks last year – Drew Willy, Brian Brohm, Robert Marve, Dominique Davis and Matt Nichols – and having continuity at the position has been massive.

Nichols has started the last 10 games for the Bombers and it’s no coincidence Denmark’s numbers have been boosted by having stability under centre.

“Just having that consistent play at quarterback is something we’ve struggled with in the past,” said Denmark, “and I think Matt has done a good job of coming in and just being consistent with every game. You know what to expect from him and it’s just being in the right place for him.”

Flanders, it turns out, is just as compelling a story for the Bombers so far this season. He was signed in May and while his credentials during his days at Sam Houston State were gaudy, he looked to be just training camp fodder or practice roster material knowing full well the club was committed to Andrew Harris and going Canadian at the tailback position. They even added Pascal Lochard in free agency, another Canadian, to make sure they were covered in-game due a possible injury to Harris.

Funny thing about that… when Harris was injured and Flanders was promoted to the active roster, he did more than just fill in during his three starts, he excelled. Flanders is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, has three touchdowns and shared backfield duties with Harris last week.

“He’s certainly put everybody on notice that he is a starting-calibre tailback in the CFL,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea of Flanders. “Besides that, he’s excellent with our team. He’s done a good enough job and he we really want to keep him on, but to make a blanket statement saying that you can’t take people off… it’s just not the way it works in any pro sport business.

“You’ve got to take a look and assess on a weekly basis how you’re going to win games. He’s been a part of us winning football games, that’s for sure.”

BLUE ON THE FYI…

The Bombers (9-6) are on the road to face the Lions (9-5) Friday night (9 p.m. CT) in the second of a back-to-back series against their West Division rivals.

Three things you should know as the club wrapped up its final full practice before heading to Vancouver Thursday afternoon:

HEALTH REPORT

Bomber linebackers Ian Wild and Moe Leggett have been spectators all week and their status for Friday night hasn’t yet been made official by the club.

“We’ll see (Thursday),” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea of the status of his two linebackers. “Once again, the same deal: veteran players, you’ve got to give them the benefit of the doubt.”

The Bombers have started Tony Burnett in Wild’s place while Julian Posey took reps at Leggett’s SAM linebacker spot after he exited last week’s game for a bit… before Leggett returned to make one of the afternoon’s critical plays in stuffing Chris Rainey on a third-down gamble.

Newcomer Tori Gurley, meanwhile, has worked a ton with the No. 1 offence this week as part of a receiving corps that featured Weston Dressler, Ryan Smith, Clarence Denmark and Rory Kohlert.

ALL QUIET

The CFL trade deadline came and went at 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon with the Bombers not being involved in any deals. The Saskatchewan Roughriders, who have been busy this week, acquired Canadian defensive back Andrew Lue from the Montreal Alouettes for a fourth-round pick in 2018 in the day’s only move.

Earlier this week the Riders also sent defensive end Justin Capicotti and offensive lineman Xaiver Fulton to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for defensive tackle Linden Gaydosh, receiver Tommy Streeter and fourth and seventh-round draft choices next year.

The Bombers were busier last month, shipping Drew Willy to Toronto for T.J. Heath, a first-round draft pick in 2017 and a third-rounder in 2018 and then dealing a fourth-rounder next year for Kevin Glenn. As well, Johnny Adams was traded to Hamilton for the rights to receiver Mekale McKay.

BIG PICTURE VS LITTLE PICTURE

A win in Vancouver would not only propel the Bombers past the Lions into second place in the division, it would give them the tiebreaker at the end of the season if they finish with the same record.

That said, the Bombers have this one, a bye week, and then a home-and-home series with the Ottawa REDBLACKS to get through first. And, given their season-long mantra, will only focus on what’s directly ahead of them.

“The players understand the consequences of every outcome,” said O’Shea. “But we don’t spend a lot of time talking about it. The bottom line has to be very sharp on your game plan this week and not be worried about what happens in the following three.”