A deal that sent Canadian defensive linemen Shawn Mayne and Riall Johnson – two roster players – from Winnipeg to Montreal on Monday for rookie quarterback Ricky Santos – who has not played in a regular-season game for the Als – was actually a variation of a deal that was to include veteran import middle linebacker Barrin Simpson, sources tell Sportsnet.
Trading two roster players – in particular Canadians – for an import, especially one who is untested – is highly unusual in the Canadian Football League, but it may have occurred because the Bombers don’t want to trade Simpson until the Canadian Football League rules on his status.
The Bombers, tied with Toronto for last place in the Canadian Football League with a 3-8 record, placed Simpson on the nine-game injured list after the ninth game of the season deeming he couldn’t play because of a wonky toe.
Simpson had been battling the injury for much of the first part of the season, but felt he could still play. He was put on the injured list a few days after the team dropped him from his starting role and relegated him to backup status, after which he demanded to be traded.
The Bombers can activate Simpson from the nine-game injured list, but it would count against the team’s salary cap.
The nine-game injured list allows a team to pay a player without it counting against the cap.
But Simpson isn’t content to just collect money. He wants to play for it and is challenging the Bombers’ decision, saying he didn’t agree to the move because he had not signed any papers.
The Bombers claim they merely had to tell him of their move without requiring written consent, but it appears there is some grey matter in this issue, which is why the Canadian Football League board of governors will debate it on Tuesday as part of their monthly meetings.
Normally, the agenda receives little publicity, but in this case it will be monitored closely because the ruling will have significant impact not only on Simpson, but any player in a similar situation going forward.
Sources tell Sportsnet that had the Bombers traded Simpson before the CFL ruled on his status it would have become the team’s latest public relations nightmare this year.
The Bombers have come under heavy criticism because of a variety of moves, on and off the playing field. Rookie head coach Mike Kelly has engaged in confrontations with the Winnipeg media and has publicly criticized the fans, many of whom have demanded his firing on various Facebook groups.
But Kelly still has the support of Bombers’ president Lyle Bauer, the man who hired him.
By acquiring Mayne and Johnson, Montreal adds some Canadian depth to its defensive line, although Johnson can also play middle linebacker. The team is employing Shea Emry, a second-year Canadian, at middle linebacker. If they had acquired Simpson and started him or included him on their game roster, the Als would have had to tinker with their import/non-import ratio.
This is not to suggest the Als – or any other team – would not have an interest in Simpson if the league deems he cannot be placed on the nine-game injured list. In that event, given the enmity that has developed between Simpson and the Bombers’ organization, Winnipeg would almost certainly have to deal him – and likely wouldn’t receive much more than a conditional draft pick in return.
The deal is the second in two days for the Bombers, who are loading up on young talent.
Their quarterbacking situation, which has been controversial under Kelly, continues to be unsettled. Michael Bishop, who was unemployed when the team signed him heading into its fifth game of the season, has been spotty and Kelly benched him for part of the team’s last game, replacing him with rookie Casey Bramlet, the fifth pivot the team has used this year.
Bishop is slated to start this Saturday at home against the Argos.
Santos is described by one source as being a real leader who is extremely intelligent, but whose arm strength is average.
