Goodbye Milt!!! Hello Kelly???? Hello Zeke???

STEGALL OFFICIALLY CALLING IT QUITS
The Globe and Mail Wed 18 Feb 2009
Sports Byline: David Naylor
After 17 years of professional football, the player considered by many to be the greatest receiver in CFL history is calling it quits.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers called a news conference for today at which Milt Stegall will announce his retirement after 14 years. The news comes three weeks after his 39th birthday.
The Miami (Ohio) University product did not get drafted into the NFL but spent three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before coming to Winnipeg midway through the 1995 season. He went on to become the CFL's career leader in receiving yards and touchdown receptions.
Stegall retires without a Grey Cup ring, having played on the losing side in 2001 and 2007.


Bates on the shopping block;
B.C. said to be dangling veteran hoggie as trade bait
The Vancouver Province Wed 18 Feb 2009
Sports Byline: Lowell Ullrich

The man responsible for splitting the Grey Cup apart could be on the verge of a break-up with the Lions.
Three league sources said Tuesday the CFL team is actively shopping veteran Lions offensive lineman Kelly Bates, possibly in the hopes of snaring another defensive upgrade. So far, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders have reportedly shown the most interest, and of those two clubs, the Bombers have by far the most to give.
New Winnipeg coach Mike Kelly inherited a roster which includes middle linebacker Zeke Moreno, and with Barrin Simpson and recently re-signed defender Joe Lobendahn capable of filling the position, the Bombers wouldn't suffer drastically on their depth chart.
Moreno led the CFL last season with 97 tackles while splitting his time between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg, which acquired him when Simpson was lost to injury for the season. A source said Moreno is also drawing interest from Saskatchewan and the Toronto Argonauts.
Bates --a product of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, has heard the suggestions he may be on the move.
"It's a surprise to me that a guy who has been good in the community and been a long member of the Lions is being shopped around???" said Bates, an eight-year Lions veteran who was a 2007 league all-star.
"I want to reserve judgment on the situation. But I understand the business."