Blog

February 21, 2009

The ICEMAN#0 is back!!!

That's right the IceMan is back and glad to be back in BLUE & GOLD...! It has been a long off season for me and it has just really started... This past year could have been my last year in Winnipeg playing for the Bombers... and to be honest that would have sucked!!! I did not extend my contract during the season so I played the whole season knowing that this could be it. The season was long and frustrating for me because i wasn't able to play to my abilities because of nagging injuries and for the first time I pulled my groin and had to miss six games... That didn't go to well with me cause this year was so important it was my contract year and i wanted to show just like i did in 06 and 07 that I can dominate and be the best at my position. Missing those six game was really hard and frustrating cause i wanted to be out there helping the guys fight to get to our goal of the Grey Cup!!! So the season went on and we really didn't play to our abilities and it showed we ended up being 8-10 and out in the first round of the playoffs....

Time has really went by fast and I became a FREE AGENT on February 16th... Leading up to that day it has been really crazy and wild wondering what is going to happen? Now i talk with the guys all the time on the phone and we are always speculating where people are going to go and who is not going to be back. I knew in my heart that I wanted to be back in Winnipeg but i was also prepared to leave and start over in another city. To be honest i really didn't know if I was wonted back by the organization because how my season went with the injuries and didn't get to really show again what i can do. You read all the time well he's 30 bout to be 31 and he might be getting to old, time to get younger etc... But I know my body and I got plenty years left to play at a high level hm all-star level to be exact! So as the days went by and my phone didn't ring and i kept seeing my teammates get signed some released and i was like wow i guess it might be time to move on. It's hard to be patient during this time especially for me because I have a family who needs me.... I know I was getting on my agents nerves telling him to make sure something gets done and that Winnipeg is first then we move to the next team. So many thoughts was running through my mind, like do I go where Marshall is or do I go somewhere else? Marshall is coach Marshall who has coached me the last three years and i liked playing for him but he has moved on to Hamilton and even though that's closer to home I really wanted to stay... So I was getting frustrated with Winnipeg cause we couldn't come to agree with anything so then I was ready to go telling #51 looks like I might be playing against you boss. He was like nope your not going anywhere trust me but i was like B Simp' looks like it man really... Now its own, the phone is ringing like crazy teams calling left and right hey whats it going to cost to get him! To be honest that's a great feeling to be wanted but the Bombers was my choice... My agent called me to say hey what you want to do offers are out there lets come to some type of agreement on the teams at the top of my list.... So I was ready to move on and try to go play with coach Marshall but Winnipeg stepped up and made an offer that was what i was looking for. Couple of minutes went by and i told my agent done deal back where i want to be call'em back and tell them I'M COMING BACK!!!!

I want to say thanks to the teams out there who showed interest in me and most important to the Bombers fans out there who supported the IceMan though this free agency period... I am really truly glad to be going back to the Peg and playing with the guys in that locker room because the way we played last year is not the way we should have played and we owe you guys better....and we will be better!!! Can't wait to see what my new boss has up his sleeve to get us over the hump and back to Grey Cup see in June for TC09'......

ICEMAN#0