WINNIPEG – You can stroke one more player off the list of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers‘ pending free agents.
The Bombers have re-signed running back Timothy Flanders to a one-year contract. Flanders decided to take a pass on free agency because he felt the Bombers give him the best opportunity to see the field.
“There’s not like a lot of opportunities for like an American running back.” Flanders said from Oklahoma. “It’s kinda hard to be on the roster, but for me personally, it’s just being with the guys for two years going on three years now. You get close with a certain group and I feel like it provides me the best way of getting on the field and playing.”
Flanders, 26, has become a dual-threat player in his two years with the Bombers. The American racked up 254 rushing yards and a touchdown off 48 carries in ten games last season. He also often lined up as a receiver and made 26 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
“Those (types of) players aren’t easy to come by,” Bombers General Manager Kyle Walters said in a statement.
“His quiet, workmanlike approach to the game and his talents on the football field made this decision from our standpoint an easy one.”
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The Bombers missed Flanders’ presence down the stretch after he sat out three of their final four games with an injury. But with Flanders and Andrew Harris both set to return to the Bombers backfield, it will once again give the club a two-headed running attack.
“I feel like we’re the best running back duo in the league,” Flanders said.
“And I think we’re probably the only team that uses both at the same time, like on the field constant as much as we do.”
Flanders is still recovering from the injury he suffered late in the season and says he’s now about 90 percent healthy.
“I’m not a hundred all the way,” said Flanders. “But I will be probably by the end of December, somewhere around there.”
Flanders first signed with the Bombers during the 2016 off-season after suiting up in one game with the BC Lions. Flanders feels like they’re building something special in Winnipeg.
“We had a tight knit group but everybody knows the locker room won’t be the same.” Flanders said. “There will be some changes obviously, but I feel like we’re headed on the right track right now.”
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