Notes and quotes from the fourth day of Blue Bombers training camp:
DEEP CUTS THE KNIFE: The Blue Bombers had to shave their roster down to 75 — plus non-counters like draft picks and junior players — by 11 p.m. Tuesday night.
To make that work, the club released 11 players, including defensive linemen Julius Turner and Jadrian Taylor, defensive backs Gee Stanley and Deuce Wallace, linebacker Christian Dixon, offensive lineman Payton Muljo, punter Devin Antcil and quarterback Billy Hall — all of them Americans — along with Global receiver Timonthy Knuettel, Canadian O-lineman Brandon Sanford and Canadian defensive back Charles-Antoine Beaulieu.
Added to the roster were receiver Sean Coyne and defensive tackle Keenan Agnew, both Americans, while receiver/returner Janarion Grant was added to the suspended list.
Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea on Grant, the CFL’s all-star kick returner: “Just needed some time. Personal reasons.”
The release of Anctil impacts the fight for the punting chores leaving incumbent Marc Liegghio to battle with Globals Karl Schmitz and Jamieson Sheahan. Liegghio is also battling Sergio Castillo and Chandler Staton for the placekicking gig.
“The punter we released (Anctil) had a huge leg and punted a beautiful ball. It’s just the decision we made,” said O’Shea. “He was very good, too. I think that tells you where we’re at with the competition with the good guys we still have in camp.”
The final cuts will come after the two preseason games.
‘NEW’ LIDS: Blue Bombers offensive and defensive linemen and running backs were all wearing the new ‘Guardian Caps’ at practice on Wednesday as part of the new health and safety measures implemented by the CFL’s Medical Committee. The Guardian Caps are a padded shell which is affixed to the outside of a helmet, with the research showing that it can help reduce the severity of impact by at least 10 percent, or at least 20 percent when worn by both players in contact.
“It’s better for the health of the players, better for the health of the league,” said Blue Bombers right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick. “If it’s something they want to do and it’s something Coach O’Shea said to do and the CFL said to do, I’m all in.
“My son plays 7-on-7 in the offseason and they wear these. I support it. I had to buy my son one, so this is nothing new to me.”
One more from Hardrick, who remains as gregarious as ever at practice everyday, on the joy of being back in Bomberland:
“I’m getting a little wiser in age, so I’m enjoying everything, enjoying all the moments. It’s just good to be back, man. There’s nothing like growing and I credit Marty (Costello, offensive line coach) and Coach O’Shea for continuing to help me grow as a person first and as a player. The conversations I have with Marty and Osh in the offseason over the last eight years have just been so helpful to my life and in the way I’m raising my kids, in the way I grow, the way to think and help people and taking on that type of mindset.
“It’s great to be back to football. Football is football when I’m in my 12th year as a pro, but it’s about being a better person, being a better teammate, being a better husband, being an easier guy to coach and an easier guy for the training staff. It’s about trying to do that every day.
“Most of my conversations in the offseason with O’Shea are not football related. I’m always calling him and asking him about life — how did he do this, how did he do that, and he’s an open book. That’s the biggest thing I can tell you about Osh — you can call him up and he’ll answer the phone and he’s an open book. He can be vulnerable with me, so it’s easy for me to be vulnerable with him.”
FYI: O’Shea on receiver Rasheed Bailey, who took less in free agency to remain with the Blue Bombers and the value he brings to the team:
“We all know what Rasheed can do. He was very productive for us last year and you look at what he does without the ball — and not a lot of people focus on that — but you could do a whole highlight reel on what he does without the ball.”… And one more from O’Shea on QB Dru Brown, a player we wrote about earlier in the week in this piece:
“He absolutely loves studying the game of football. He’s a good athlete. He’s a fierce competitor. He’s a good teammate. All these things are excellent for us and he just keeps learning and getting better. I’m sure he understands his role here — for now.”… The Blue Bombers continue to give some veterans a breather during camp, including LB Adam Bighill, along with FB Mike Miller and RB Brady Oliveira, who did not practise on Wednesday, as well as CB Winston Rose and WR Brendan O’Leary-Orange, among others.
WELCOME: To Michael Fletcher, who has joined the club for training camp as a guest coach. A CFL All-Star at the middle linebacker position with Toronto in 2005, he was also part of the Argos 2004 Grey Cup squad alongside Mike O’Shea.
Excited to head up North to 🇨🇦 & hang with the @Wpg_BlueBombers of the @CFL as a guest coach. Will be neat to be refreshed on what I’ve already obtained during my 9 year playing career, but even more thrilled to add to my toolbox from the wonderful staff & players pic.twitter.com/XkgAsg2bNR
— Michael Fletcher (@1FletchMoBB) May 17, 2023
