Courtesy Winnipeg Free Press:

You might think that having locked up three 1,000-yard receivers for the next two seasons would have the Winnipeg Blue Bombers gushing with excitement.

After all, the 17,000-plus season ticket holders for the 2008 Canadian Football League campaign certainly won’t hold back their enthusiasm.

But just the straight goods were delivered with no fanfare Tuesday during the second of the CFL’s State of the Franchise media conference calls when it was announced that Terrence Edwards and Derick Armstrong were inked to contract extensions, joining Milt Stegall in making significant commitments to the Big Blue.

“I’m very satisfied with our receivers,” Bombers head coach Doug Berry said.

Edwards, an East Division and CFL all-star who was second in the league with 1,280 receiving yards, and Armstrong, fourth in CFL receiving yardage with 1,142, are secured through the 2009 season, as is Stegall, should he decide to play that long.

Berry pointed out that one of the main things that led to Bombers quarterback Kevin Glenn settling comfortably into a stronger leadership role was the continuity in schemes and receiving corps.

“It’s his familiarity with Armstrong and Edwards that makes Kevin Glenn look good,” Berry said. “So anything we can do to keep the status quo for him is something that we’re trying to do, in addition to as coaches, we recognize the talents of Edwards and Armstrong.”

Bombers general manager Brendan Taman said negotiating contracts during the season is an unwelcome distraction that he was happy to avoid.

“Terrence had a career year last year and Derick was a pretty solid player for us over the course of his tenure here,” Taman said.

“To have them not worry about contracts hanging over their heads when they get to camp is a good thing and they can just worry about what they need to worry about, and that’s football.”

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