He was one of the most respected voices in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers clubhouse and a key component in the franchise turnaround over the past couple of seasons.
And as much as Jamaal Westerman might try to convince himself Friday night’s return to Investors Group Field with his Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be just another game and blah, blah, blah… this is more than just the standard Canadian Football League reunion.
Westerman played 47 games in Bomber colours and picked up 32 quarterback sacks – tied for 10th on the club’s all-time list – and made lasting friends in the locker room and the community. And while this league is transient by nature, what the 33-year-old veteran has lived through over the last few months is – even by CFL standards – unusual.
Just to recap: Westerman opted to exit the Bombers in free agency this past February, leaving a lucrative offer on the table here to sign with the Montreal Alouettes for a juicier contract and the chance to play with his younger brother, Jabar.
But just as he was settling in with the Als, he was on the move again as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Johnny Manziel from Hamilton to Montreal. All that represents a ton of packing and unpacking.
“The football side is what it is and I’m happiest when I’m on the field,” said Westerman Wednesday afternoon in a league-sponsored conference call with the media. “It was cool to sign with Montreal in free agency. I got the opportunity to play with my brother for a little bit. I kind of knew the organization and that team was going to struggle a little bit, but we had big plans on defence.
“But with football, once you sign a contract you can’t control if you’re being traded, cut or released or whatever, so wherever you end up, you focus on just trying to play hard, prepare and learn your new teammates.
“The hardest part for me was just the logistical things for my family and my wife,” Westerman added. “She did a tremendous job of just getting everybody set. I was able to just come to Hamilton with my bags packed, but she got the family together, got me moved out of my apartment in Montreal and got me moved in here with Hamilton. She did a great job when it comes to the lifestyle thing and I was able to focus on the football part.”
Westerman was adored by his defensive line teammates during his days here and was the perfect mentor for some of the young guns who arrived last year like Jackson Jeffcoat, Cory Johnson, along with sophomore Trent Corney and third-year CFLer/first-year Bomber Tristan Okpalaugo.
That was never more evident than last September when Westerman suffered a season-ending injury and his compadres vowed to keep winning for him. And it was hammered home when he was named as the Bombers nominee for the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award to the player who ‘best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans: strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.’
So… just another game? Hardly, even if Westerman tried to stiff-arm that storyline on Wednesday’s conference call.
“I’m coming back for the food at Colosseo’s,” Westerman said with a chuckle. “I’m excited to come back to Winnipeg where I spent my first three years of my CFL career. I know the team, I know what they stand for, I have a lot of respect for what they do there in the organization and the team.”
Westerman followed a predictable routine of not providing any bulletin-board material – Kyries Hebert, he is not – by praising the Bombers offence, and admitting he has had to force himself not to watch tape of the defence to study how his old charges are doing. He joked with Andrew Harris – who was also on the call – teasing that he doesn’t like hot-weather games and confirmed he has had his brain picked by some of the Ticats looking for any insight on Bombers tendencies, particularly on offence or special teams, albeit with this caveat:
“As much as I can give I try to give, but you don’t want to give everything because if they switch it we’re all looking for one thing and then they hit us on something,” he said. “You give what you know, but you do it with a grain of salt.”
Interestingly, this will be Westerman’s eighth game this season – and his third against his former clubs. He suited up for the Als in a game against the Bombers on June 22nd, then faced the Als as a member of the Ticats last week.
But this will be his first contest back in Winnipeg where, as much as it’s possible in this league, he did plant some roots.
“During the game it’s not really weird because it’s just another opponent and you try and focus,” he said. “You forget the friends and relationships and just focus on playing the game and your technique, your preparation on how to come out there with a ‘W.’ If you focus too much on ‘Oh, I used to be there’ or ‘I was there’ you end up getting yourself out of your gameplan.”
That’s the business-first answer you would expect from Westerman. What won’t show up on Friday’s stat sheet is the number of handshakes, backslaps and bro-hugs he’ll get from former teammates on his first visit back to Winnipeg.
BOMBER REPORT | August 8, 2018
The Bombers completed their final full practice today in advance of Friday’s home game against the Tiger-Cats. Here are some notes and quotes from today…
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS:
The Bombers held a closed practice on Wednesday, so any updates regarding the status of linebacker/defensive back Maurice Leggett won’t be confirmed until the release of the depth chart Thursday and then kick-off.
Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said he did expect Leggett to play on Friday, although Chandler Fenner took all of the reps at the linebacker spot on Monday and Tuesday before Wednesday’s closed session.
“Everybody’s body is different,” said O’Shea. “Once again, there are certain guys on this team that probably don’t need to practice ever. We’re not at that point yet, but there are certain guys I would feel comfortable with if they didn’t have to practice the rest of the season we would probably be good.
“(Leggett) is a playmaker. We all know that. This year he’s certainly exhibited some very good versatility. A lot of guys back there have exhibited that, too. Kevin Fogg has been all over the map.”
QUICK STARTS AND…:
Winnipeg has out-scored its opponents by a combined 38 points in first quarters and is +47 in second quarters and +17 in the fourth. But in the third, they are a minus 10 and that’s a number that was brought up to head coach Mike O’Shea after practice.
“We come in at halftime and it’s not like everyone is sitting on their hands going, ‘OK, everything’s working great. We’re just going to keep on doing what we’re doing,’” said O’Shea. “There are always adjustments to be made and things to talk about.
“(The opponents) go in and make adjustments, too. You don’t want to chase ghosts. You don’t want to go in and start planning for what you think they’re adjustments are going to be, but you have to put some sort of thought into that, too.”
HERE COMES THE HEAT:
Friday’s forecasted high is 34C and both Harris and linebacker Adam Bighill spoke of preparing for that in the conference call.
“The biggest thing is just staying on top of things and taking care of your body off the field,” said Harris. “A lot of guys like the hotter games, some guys like the cooler games. It’s more a preference thing for you and what type of guy you are. It’s being smart about what you’re doing, what you’re putting in and making sure you’re not exerting yourself too much on those days leading up to the game.”
Added Bighill: “It’s about making sure you’re prepared and you’ve got the right nutrition in you and then during the game you’re being mindful of hydration. Preferably I like hotter games… the muscles stay looser and you feel better.”
