Courtesy Winnipeg Sun:

The airport security gates opened up, and there was Milt Stegall, turning the tables on the assembled media.

Holding a video camera and pointing it at those who were there to record his every word, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers slotback said, “I’m back to tear it up in Toronto once again!”

And with that, the Blue and Gold’s week at the 95th Grey Cup had officially begun.

Despite rolling into town without their top weapon, quarterback Kevin Glenn, who’s out with a broken arm, Stegall and his teammates were fired up to be back in the city where they clinched their spot in the CFL championship just two days earlier.

“I appreciate it,” Stegall said after putting down the camera. “And I’m one who definitely can’t take it for granted. Thirteen years with the same team, and I’ve only been here once, and I don’t have a ring yet.”

The Bombers will spend the next 24 hours or so soaking up the sights and sounds of Canada’s most popular sporting week before getting down to the business of trying to figure out a way to beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday at Rogers Centre.

“I told them if they were going to enjoy the city, Wednesday and Thursday nights would be the nights to do it,” Bombers head coach Doug Berry said. “Friday and Saturday night, I’m not going to do bed checks, but I would hope that they would understand the importance of why we’re here.”

Stegall said it’s important for his teammates to relish the atmosphere, but he also added that they must remember why they’re here.

“I don’t want them just to be sitting in their hotel room,” Stegall said. “I’ll tell them to enjoy it, but enjoy it maybe today and tomorrow. After that it’s time to focus.

“Because you don’t want to say, ‘Man I wish I’d have watched a bit more film,’ or ‘I wish I would have gotten together with the coach a few more times, ’cause then I would have played better in the game.’ This is a business trip.”

Bombers quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie, who will be making his first pro start on Sunday, played the part of the grizzled vet — only with a smile on his face.

He came through the security doors and walked right up to the waiting media members, several of whom had been wondering only moments earlier: “What does Ryan Dinwiddie look like?”

“I’m excited to be here,” Dinwiddie said. “It’s been a long couple days, just being anxious to get back here since the (East Division) final. We’re excited for the opportunity, and I’m ready for the challenge.”

One player who could’ve gotten away with yawning at the airport yesterday was slotback Terrence Edwards, who arrived at Grey Cup week for the third consecutive year.

His previous appearances, both with the Montreal Alouettes, didn’t exactly end well, so he is ready to pull out all the stops.

“I hope the third time’s a charm, so I’m more prepared now than I was last year going to the Grey Cup,” said Edwards, who led the Bombers this season with 1,280 receiving yards. “Hopefully I can play better than I did last year and come out with a victory.”