WINNIPEG 鈥� Willie Jefferson expects to sign a contract extension with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers soon, and that should start the healing process for the CFL team's disappointed fans.
Players cleaned out their lockers Tuesday after the Bombers' quest for a third straight Grey Cup championship was surprisingly halted by a 24-23 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in Sunday鈥檚 109th Grey Cup in Regina.
鈥淣ot in front of me as of right now, but we鈥檙e working on it,鈥� Jefferson told The Canadian Press in a phone interview when asked if the pending free agent has been offered a contract by the Bombers.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 plan on going anywhere so we鈥檒l talk about it and get something worked out soon.鈥�
The popular 31-year-old defensive lineman from Texas had moved his family permanently to Winnipeg last April for his third season with the Bombers and eighth in the CFL.
It ended up being a season to remember for its highs and then the ultimate low of the Grey Cup loss.
The Bombers were the league鈥檚 best team and recorded a franchise-record 15 wins (15-3), with those efforts recognized by Winnipeg dominating the CFL's top awards.
Quarterback Zach Collaros won his second straight most outstanding player award, receiver Dalton Schoen was the outstanding rookie, Stanley Bryant picked up his fourth top offensive lineman honour and Mike O鈥橲hea was named coach of the year for a second consecutive season.
The Bombers looked poised to add to their Grey Cup titles from 2019 and 2021, but the underdog Argonauts (11-7) had other plans.
Winnipeg held a 23-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Toronto responded with a Boris Bede field goal and then A.J. Ouellette鈥檚 five-yard touchdown at 11:36. The convert put the Argos ahead 24-23.
Toronto defensive lineman Robbie Smith then blocked Bomber kicker Marc Liegghio鈥檚 47-year field-goal attempt in the final minute and the Argos ran out the clock. Liegghio had missed a convert earlier in the game.
鈥淐lose but no cigar,鈥� Jefferson said to sum up the season. 鈥淲e had a chance to win, but we just missed so many opportunities.鈥�
Collaros went into the Grey Cup with an ankle injury he sustained late in Winnipeg鈥檚 West Division final victory over the B.C. Lions.
He didn鈥檛 get specific Tuesday about the nature of the injury.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it was a huge factor,鈥� said Collaros, who was 14-of-23 passing for 183 yards with no TDs and one interception in the title match. He was also sacked four times.
He admitted players were still struggling with the loss.
鈥淪hock and sadness,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e still feel like we should be getting ready to play again.鈥�
Collaros, who signed a three-year contract extension last month that keeps him with the Bombers through the 2025 season, threw for a career-high 4,183 yards and career-best 37 TDs this year.
鈥淭his group of men in that locker room and just the people in this organization made the entire year really special,鈥� Collaros said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the hardest part about the result.鈥�
He wouldn鈥檛 predict what the team鈥檚 pending free agents will do and how much change there might be in next year鈥檚 roster.
鈥淚鈥檇 imagine knowing the character of that locker room and the guys in that locker room, it鈥檚 going to be a lot of guys that want to come back and give this thing another go,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut at the same time, it鈥檚 not my place to make sales pitches and things of that nature. That entire room is just a really special group of people so, hopefully, we have a majority of people back and give this thing another go.鈥�
Fans have criticized Liegghio for his missed convert and blocked field-goal attempt, but Collaros said it鈥檚 a team game and 鈥渋t doesn鈥檛 come down to one particular play.鈥�
When asked about Schoen鈥檚 future, Collaros said he wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if the Kansas State product gets some opportunities in the NFL next year.
Schoen, 26, led the league in receiving yards (1,441), receiving TDs (16) and tied for most TDs with Ottawa quarterback Caleb Evans.
He spent time with three NFL clubs before joining the Bombers and said he鈥檚 not sure how workouts in that league will play out.
鈥淢y main focus right now is getting a little bit of recovery in, just played a 20-game season,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat all kind of remains to be seen in the future.鈥�
He is thankful for being part of the Bombers and their special culture.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why Sunday hurt so bad, right?鈥� Schoen said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the quality of people in this locker room and in this facility.鈥�
Jefferson will likely bump into a lot of sad fans in Manitoba during the off-season, but he won鈥檛 mind the interactions.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to hear it, just 鈥楢hh, you were so close. We鈥檒l get 鈥榚m next year.鈥� You know, all those little clich茅s, greetings and things like that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tough, but I鈥檓 ready for it.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2022.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
