It’s official, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are in disarray. The only thing this team has going for it is the fact the 3-8 Toronto Argos — another team that is, officially, in disarray — are coming to town this Saturday night.
In the meantime, it was a wild and crazy day in Montreal yesterday, a day that ended with head coach Mike Kelly losing his temper and trading frustrated wide receiver Romby Bryant to the Calgary Stampeders.
First, the Bombers fell to 3-8 on the season, drilled 33-14 by the Alouettes at Molson Stadium yesterday. Avon Cobourne scored two touchdowns and Damon Duval kicked five field goals as the Alouettes took advantage of four Bomber turnovers — three interceptions and a fumble. The Bombers scored fewer than 15 points in a game for the seventh time this season and have now tossed up 10 interceptions in three weeks.
Then, after dropping an important pass and picking up a dumb penalty, the Bombers traded WR Romby Bryant along with popular by oft-injured SB Arjei Franklin to the Calgary Stampeders for receivers Jabari Arthur and Titus Ryan, defensive lineman Odell Willis and a couple of 2010 draft picks. On the upside, program sales should rise at Canad Inns Stadium.
The Bombers’ problem, of course, isn’t Romby Bryant. It’s a failure to find a quarterback to replace Kevin Glenn.
On Sunday afternoon, we had a chance to see Winnipeg’s new “Casey the Quarterback.” Sadly, it was Casey Bramlet not Casey Printers. Casey the Quarterback went one-for-eight with two interceptions. Hmmmm, wrong Casey, I’d say.
But, hey, go ahead and trade away Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin. Two new receivers won’t make much difference if there is no one who can get them the football.