“And I’m still trying to pick people’s brains. That’s kind of how I was when I was a young guy. “He’s been coming up to us, trying to pick our brains whenever he can. “He’s like a little sponge,” Jeffcoat said. They’ve been talking a lot to defensive end Anthony Bennett, Winnipeg’s top pick in this year’s CFL draft (eighth overall). “We want the young guys to be like us in a sense.” “They’ve been watching us since they’ve been in college, for most of them, so that’s something that we, as older guys, take personally,” Jefferson said. Jefferson and Jeffcoat also look forward to their roles as mentors, particularly with the drafted players. “If you keep your body healthy, if you make sure about your nutrition, making sure you’re doing what you have to do for your body, you can play a long time.” “They say he’s old, but I think it’s really just a number,” Jeffcoat said. He had a career-high 29 tackles in 17 games, matched his career-best 14 sacks (second in the league), forced five fumbles and was the West Division’s nominee for most outstanding defensive player. “To be able to be around and still be as into the game, as dynamic as we are, that has to say something about our nutrition and the way we take care of ourselves, during the season and in the off-season,” Jefferson said.īoth guys pointed out what a great season defensive end Shawn Lemon had last year with the Calgary Stampeders. He played 18 games last year and racked up 33 tackles, seven sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and one interception for a touchdown. Jefferson returns for his fourth season with the Bombers and eighth overall. In his dozen games, Jeffcoat had 20 defensive tackles, four quarterback sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. “I love playing out here and feeling healthy and playing football.” “I feel really good,” said Jeffcoat, who’s entering his sixth CFL season, all with Winnipeg. Jeffcoat missed six games last season because of a hip injury but said he’s feeling good after an off-season program back home in Texas that keyed on different elements, such as mobility. I’ve had a bad taste in my mouth about the last game so I wanted to do something special with these guys.” Winnipeg failed to capture a third straight Grey Cup after losing 24-23 to the underdog Toronto Argonauts in last year’s CFL championship game. They wanted to stick with a team that returned a lot of players after setting a franchise record for wins last season (15-3) but fell short at the end. Just like that.”īoth defensive linemen inked one-year extensions with the Bombers rather than test free agency. “We’re going to go out there and show them. “I would love for one of these offensive linemen or one of these offensive co-ordinators to think of me as old or think that I can’t move and try not to give me the respect that I deserve, or that Jackson deserves, or that the defence deserves,” Jefferson said. It may even a bit of an advantage if opposing players or coaches think they’ve lost a step or two. You’ve seen a lot,” Jeffcoat said following Tuesday’s practice at Winnipeg’s training camp. “The older you get, the more you can absorb, the more you can learn, the more you can get better because of that. The Blue Bombers’ 32-year-old pass rushers plan to excel this season by using their football smarts and experience. WINNIPEG - Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat don’t care if fans or opponents think they’re getting old.
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