There ain't no party like a Winnipeg Blue Bombers party, because the Blue Bombers keep signing players who paved their way out of the NFL because they found more thrills off the field than on it. One day after news of their plans to sign Pacman Jones became public knowledge, the Toronto Globe and Mail is reporting that Lions washout and noted marijuana enthusiast Charles Rogers will be heading to Manitoba to continue his football dream. Both players are represented by Jason Fletcher, who is fast becoming the biggest conduit for Americans traveling to Canada since Robert McNamara. (UPDATE, Sept. 2: The Blue Bombers released a statement saying that they would not sign Jones. "We have completed our assessment and due diligence and at this time we will not be pursuing the services of Adam Jones," coach Mike Kelly said.)
According to the Globe and Mail, attorneys are furiously working to find ways to get immigration documents squared away for the two legally challenged players.
Rogers has additional hurdles to clear, as his current indefinite suspension from the NFL would make him ineligible to play in the CFL. The Canadian league changed its rule book to honor NFL suspensions after Ricky Williams' brief stay in the league.
While both Rogers and Jones were top-10 draft picks who could help the Blue Bombers in their quest for their first Grey Cup since 1990, the team's director of player personnel was honest enough to admit that there's another reason for the signings.
"And at the same time it's a business decision as well as football decision," said Jon Murphy. "From a marketing standpoint, a business standpoint and a football standpoint, I could go to 100 NFL training camps and every preseason game and more people will hear and know about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the next two weeks -- from the coverage we'll receive -- than in the last 10 years."His math is off when it comes to the number of NFL teams, but he's right on point when it comes to the brand value of these signings. The last time most sports fans thought of Winnipeg was when the Jets took off for Phoenix after the 1996 NHL playoffs. Now, though, the Blue Bombers are getting a ton of free publicity while, potentially, helping themselves on the field at the same time.
Now they just have to hope Canada's looser laws about marijuana possession don't serve to make the whole thing go up in an embarrassing puff of smoke.
