Keeping Khari

The uncertainty over the QB position in Winnipeg came to an end Tuesday as the Blue Bombers signed their starting Quarterback to a multi year extension keeping Khari Jones in Blue and Gold for a few more years. And he won’t have to look over his shoulder to see who coming up behind him, the Bombers also is secured back ups Kevin Glenn and Stanley Jackson to deals as well.

Glenn signed a multi year deal while Jackson inked a one year contract with an option year to go with it. With the signings the Bombers offence can put away the swirling rumours of the last few weeks about trades, demotions and evictions. With the Bombers on a more stable footing with a couple of wins under their belts they can now concentrate on the rest of the season knowing just who is in the line up, the move should go a long way to giving the team a sense of certainty as they head towards the Labour Day weekend and then the stretch run for the playoffs.

Bombers head coach Dave Ritchie had been doing his best to put aside any Quarterbacking controversy, insisting time and time again that Jones was his starter and would be back at his familiar spot in time for the Bombers home date Thursday against the BC Lions.

The contract controversy out of the way now, Jones may finally be able to showcase his skills over the rest of the season. His start this year has been a rough one, while his individual stats haven’t been that bad, the Bombers like most of their Western Division compatriots got off to a horrible start. They have since corrected that stumble out of the gate and find themselves the front runners in the West, ready to put some distance between themselves and the four other Western teams.

Keeping Glenn and Jackson under contract is a smart insurance policy for the Bombers as well, not only will the competition spur Jones on to greater success, but should injury come a knocking at the bomber door, they will have not one but two solid players ready to step up and keep the Bombers on the move. Not a tem to panic, the Bombers have methodically gone ahead and taken care of their needs one after the other, when the defense stumbled they brought back Elfrid Payton. With the offence struggling at times they didn’t call in an airlift, rather they showed faith in their current crop of QB’s. By making a few simple decisions in July, the Bombers may have set the table for a successful playoff run in November.