Winnipeg Blue Bombers
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers aren’t just looking to plug holes; they’re looking to upgrade.
Bombers GM Kyle Walters met with the media on Friday four days ahead of Feb. 9, the official start of free agency, to talk about his team’s plans. The biggest takeaway? Don’t expect him to get caught sitting on his hands.
“When you look at free agency, you’re looking to plug holes on your roster or you’re looking to upgrade,” began Walters, who this off-season looks to improve a team that won five games last season and ranked fourth in the West.
“For a team that hasn’t won a lot of football games the last couple of years, it’s not just a matter of plugging holes – it’s, is this player better than the one that we have and can we just bring him in and move a guy out?”
WATCH: Kyle Walters discusses free agency
After already adding star receiver Weston Dressler ahead of the start of free agency, it seems like Walters is far from finished. The team has already been linked closely with free agent running back Andrew Harris, a Winnipeg native who the BC Lions announced will not be getting a contract offer from them before free agency.
Walters confirmed on Friday that some of their own players will not be extended contract offers. While the team is still holding talks with free agent defensive back Graig Newman, Walters said, those not returning: Lirim Hajrullahu, Demond Washington, Thaddeus Gibson, Cameron Marshall, Selvish Capers, Michel-Pierre Pontbriand, Lin-J Shell and, most notably, star receiver Nick Moore.
For a full list of pending free agents, visit the 2016 CFL.ca Free Agent Tracker.
