WINNIPEG — Jonathan Hefney was mum Tuesday but Winnipeg general manager Joe Mack says the Blue Bombers plan no immediate action against the defensive back over a possession of marijuana charge.
Hefney is proclaiming his innocence. Regardless, the Bombers didn’t sound all that concerned about what Mack described as more of a "potentially societal issue right now."
"It, in and of itself, won’t have any bearing on his status," said Mack, adding that Hefney would suit up as expected for the Bombers first exhibition game of the season Wednesday.
The Toronto Argonauts are visiting Winnipeg for the first CFL game at Investors Group field, the Bombers’ new $200-million home on the campus of the University of Manitoba.
"Jonathan says that he’s completely innocent in this and we’re just going to take him at his word, because he is one of our teammates."
Mack also suggested that the charge might be dealt with quickly.
"It’s my understanding that it actually could just go away because there are certain details of that that Jonathan has talked about that I don’t want to talk about now."
The Bombers have discussed the case with the authorities in South Carolina and even if Hefney was convicted, Mack suggested it might not impair his ability to play in Canada. But he says that isn’t an issue right now.
"He is definitely proclaiming his innocence. We’re going to take his word on that."
Of more significance to Hefney’s career with the Bombers is how he plays, said Mack.
Coach Tim Burke has said lately he is a lot happier with how his veteran starter at halfback has been playing in camp.
The coach hasn’t named names but he has singled out the secondary as one spot where some veterans could get tickets home if they didn’t shape up.
The Bombers were unhappy that Hefney didn’t inform them of the bust, which they learned of Monday through the media, said both Mack and Burke.
"It’s disappointing," said Mack. "I’d like to think we as an organization, I in particular as general manager, have been able to establish a relationship with all of our players …
"Jonathan acknowledges that he could have handled that better. It’s disappointing and hopefully something like that won’t occur again."
The bust occurred just before the main Bomber training camp started, while Hefney was driving May 31 in his home town of Rock Hill, S.C.
