BOMBERS FACING DISTRACTIONS, HECHT SPEAKS

WINNIPEG – Willie Jefferson wore more than just his heart on his sleeve Wednesday.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman had receiver Chris Matthews’ No. 13 white jersey over top of his own blue jersey at practice to honour his friend’s release from the team earlier in the morning.

“Ever since the beginning of (training) camp, Chris has been one of the guys that I’ve always been cool with, one of the guys I’ve always hung out with outside of football and stuff like that,” Jefferson said after practice.

“Like I said, it was just big news and I just wanted to represent him the day of practice.”

Matthews’ release comes two days after the Bombers learned star running back Andrew Harris was being suspended two games for testing positive for a banned substance.

The club is already without starting quarterback Matt Nichols, who’s on the six-game injured list (shoulder).

Winnipeg signed Matthews to a three-year contract in May, but he only had 12 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown in an up-and-down season.

He played six games, but missed two because of injury and was a healthy scratch for two others.

The veteran pass catcher was allegedly involved in a July 21 altercation at a Winnipeg nightclub, with a report that he had been stabbed. He was back at practice the following day.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said he didn’t mind that Jefferson had Matthews’ jersey on while the CFL’s West Division-leading club (8-2) prepared to take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-3) Sunday in Regina.

“I think he’s a good teammate, honouring a teammate,” O’Shea said of Jefferson, who was named one of the league’s top performers for the month of August. “I’ve got no problem with that.”

O’Shea said Matthews was “good in the room” and a number of factors played into the six-foot-five, 230-pound veteran’s release.

“It’s never, ever one reason, but Darvin Adams is coming back (off the six-game injured list) and we certainly like the play of Kenny Lawler,” O’Shea said.

“So it was gonna be a situation where (Matthews) was gonna be off the roster and I don’t know if it’s really fair to put a guy in that position.”

The team would have had to pay the remainder of Matthews’ salary if he wasn’t cut before Sept. 1.

Matthews began his career with Winnipeg in 2012 and was the CFL’s top rookie. He then left to play in the NFL for four seasons, and had four catches for 109 yards and a touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks in a 28-24 loss to New England at Super Bowl XLIX.

He returned to the CFL last year, helping the Calgary Stampeders win the Grey Cup.

O’Shea acknowledged there had been expectations Matthews would play a big role in helping the team win games.

“Yeah, it just didn’t work out that way,” he said. “That’s what I believed at the time and then things change.”

Winnipeg’s offence remains in the hands of quarterback Chris Streveler, who won his first start of the season last week after he and Harris produced a one-two punch in the run game and Jefferson dominated on defence.

“We’ve kind of talked about it through the whole season, gotta kind of have the next-man’s up mentality,” Streveler said. “That’s no different this week.”

Running backs Johnny Augustine and John Santiago were sharing first-team reps to try to fill Harris’s shoes.

Harris was on the field doing drills with the team, which is allowed. He can’t be visible with the team on game days.

His suspension was a topic with Bombers safety Jeff Hecht, who’s made harsh comments in the past about players who fail drug tests.

When Ottawa Redblacks long-snapper Louis-Philippe Bourassa was suspended under similar circumstances in on July 23, Hecht made some public criticisms.

“Let me know if you need a workout program after you’re done your 2 week vacation,” Hecht tweeted afterwards. “Sometimes you just have to work hard instead of being lazy and try to buy an edge.”

Hecht also tweeted, “The player was very much aware of the banned nature of this product. If he was not, then there is a larger problem of negligence and ignorance that needs to be addressed.”

Hecht told reporters his stance is well known. He’s talked to Harris and will keep the conversation private.

“To think that I would treat my teammate the same as I would somebody else, I think, is kind of naive from some people because I’m a team-first guy,” Hecht said.

He doesn’t believe there will be any problems in their relationship.

“I’ve been playing football with and against Andrew for almost 15 years now so we have a good relationship,” Hecht said. “This doesn’t strain it in any way, I don’t think.

“It’s tough for him and I’m gonna let him deal with it the way he deals with it.”

(Canadian Press/Photo: Winnipeg News)