Published Oct 29, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a cause for celebration and, depending on how you look at it, a cause for alarm, all at the same time.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The CFL unveiled its West Division all-stars on Wednesday and four members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers made the grade.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Raise a glass to reliable receiver Nic Demski, electrifying rookie kick returner Trey Vaval, relentless linebacker Tony Jones, and shut-down defensive back Evan Holm.<\/p>\n Trouble is that glass is half-empty compared to previous years.<\/p>\n The Bombers are usually closer to double digits on this day.<\/p>\n At their peak, in 2021, they placed a whopping 15 players on the West team, followed by nine the next year, 11 in 2023, and seven last year.<\/p>\n A sign of how far this team has fallen as it prepares to hit the road for Saturday\u2019s East semifinal?<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t really matter,\u201d head coach Mike O\u2019Shea said. \u201cI don\u2019t pay attention to that stuff. We love our players. Every team likes their own guys, and however the votes work it doesn\u2019t really matter.\u201d<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n All-star voting is usually a product of a team\u2019s record, and this year is no different, with first-place Saskatchewan leading the way with 10.<\/p>\n Calgary placed seven, B.C. six and last-place Edmonton came up empty.<\/p>\n None of this will mean a thing when the coins are tossed and the teams kick off the playoffs \u2013 just ask Jones, the middle linebacker who amassed 102 tackles this season.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m super blessed and thankful for the accolade,\u201d the 30-year-old said. \u201cBut at the end of the day I want to come home with the Cup. I\u2019ve worked my tail off to get to where I am today. Yeah, it\u2019s a goal to become a CFL all-star. But the main goal is the main goal. The job\u2019s not done.\u201d<\/p>\n While the nod for Vaval was a no-brainer and those for Demski (his fifth in a row) and Holm (his second straight) no surprise, either, Jones getting his first all-star recognition signals a validation of sorts.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The big question for Jones coming into the season was if he could at least partly fill the shoes of the departed Adam Bighill, the future Hall of Famer who left such an imprint in his six seasons in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n Safe to say that fit is fairly snug.<\/p>\n \u201cYou hear about those names when you first come into the league,\u201d Jones said. \u201cHe was a guy that was doing everything right and just playing relentless. I mirrored what he had going and just put it into my game, to where I can make myself the best fit. I just show up every day ready to work \u2026 and let the chips unfold.\u201d<\/p>\n How about these chips: Three quarterback sacks, a pair of interceptions, two knockdowns, a fumble recovery and four tackles for losses to go with his 102 tackles.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is a relentless chaser of the football,\u201d head coach Mike O\u2019Shea said of Jones. \u201cHe is after it all the time. Not everybody has that.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n When defensive coordinator Jordan Younger was asked about Jones earlier this week, his face broke into a smile you don\u2019t always see on a coach when they\u2019re at work.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing I think about when it comes to Tony Jones is in a game where everybody plays hard, his effort stands out, above and beyond everybody else,\u201d is how Younger put it.<\/p>\n Jones took that in on Wednesday and paid the compliment right back.<\/p>\n \u201cHe gave me the shot to come here and, I wouldn\u2019t say replace, but be the next guy up, to be the guy in the middle,\u201d he said. \u201cAll thanks goes to him \u2026 with him by my side, no matter what, I can go talk to him about anything.\u201d<\/p>\n As for where his relentless approach comes from, Jones points back to the low points of his career.<\/p>\n The game he so dearly loves hasn\u2019t always loved him back. But each setback only hardened his resolve to prove himself as a pro.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThrough all the cuts, through all the trials and tribulations along the process \u2026 you can\u2019t take these days for granted,\u201d the Florida native said. \u201cYou can\u2019t play football forever. This being my (first) full go as a linebacker in this league, it took me three and half years to get to where I am. All the cuts just put a fire under me. It\u2019s always in the back of your head.\u201d<\/p>\n The sympathy Jones felt from family and friends through each setback will turn to pride and joy at his first all-star selection.<\/p>\n He got the news from teammate Redha Kramdi right after practice on Wednesday, so the news hadn\u2019t trickled down to Florida, yet.<\/p>\n No doubt he\u2019d hear from his mentor, Bighill, too, now with Calgary and preparing for his own playoff game.<\/p>\n On Thursday and Friday, it\u2019ll be back to the relentless pursuit excellence. And on Saturday in Montreal, the ball, or whoever is carrying it.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to showcase the love I have for this game,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBasically, I\u2019ll do anything to be on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n For all the drop-offs the Bombers have experienced this season, play at middle linebacker isn\u2019t one of them.<\/p>\n Their attempt to stay where they were as a team begins on Saturday.<\/p>\n paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca<\/p>\n X: @friesensunmedia<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links SportsFootballCFLWinnipeg Blue Bombers Get the latest from Paul Friesen straight to your inbox Sign Up…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":249012,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-249011","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cfl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-canadian-football-league","11":"tag-canadianfootballleague","12":"tag-cfl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249011\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SptsWB3_TonyJones-scaled-e1761784294768.jpg\")
Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Tony Jones. Photo by Kevin King \/Winnipeg SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.8.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-wsun-new.svg\"){kind=logo}
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