Richie To Winnipeg?

It’s Richie Hall’s job if he wants it.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hall are in contract negotiations and if things continue to positively move forward, Hall could be named defensive coordinator as early as next week.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea is taking the rest of this week off from daily office duties so no announcement is imminent but talks are expected to continue.

O’Shea has not ruled out Mike Benevides and that door remains slightly ajar.

Hall, however, is the leading candidate and if he and O’Shea can reach a deal and he agrees to come to Winnipeg the job is his.

Hall was recently stripped of his defensive co-ordinator title with the Saskatchewan Roughriders but hasn’t been removed from the Riders staff.

The Bombers asked and received permission to speak to Hall.

Riders coach Corey Chamblin has elected to bring in a new defensive co-ordinator or perhaps take over the duties himself.

Numerous reports say Chamblin and Benevides are close to reaching a deal although no official announcement has been made.

Hall won three Grey Cups with the Roughriders, one as a player and two as a defensive co-ordinator.

Benevides was fired this offseason from his post as head coach of the B.C. Lions after leading the team to the playoffs in three straight seasons, never enduring a losing campaign and compiling a 31-22 record.

Benevides has won three Grey Cups, one with Calgary as special teams co-ordinator and two with BC first as linebackers coach and then as defensive co-ordinator.

The Bombers fired Gary Etcheverry in mid-December and O’Shea has put most of his focus into discussions with the Hall and Benevides.

(Winnipeg Free Press)