Published Aug 05, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 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 hard to imagine a coach more staunchly loyal to his players than Mike O\u2019Shea.<\/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 latest example came on Tuesday, when the Blue Bombers boss was asked if quarterback Zach Collaros\u2019 confident, gunslinger mentality and the interceptions that have come with it this season are something his team just has to live with.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not just living, we\u2019ve been thriving with Zach Collaros for a long time,\u201d O\u2019Shea said. \u201cYou make it sound like we\u2019re putting up with something here. We\u2019re putting up with greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n Collaros returned to practice this week after missing the last six quarters with what\u2019s listed as a neck injury and is expected to start in Calgary on Saturday.<\/p>\n The 36-year-old has thrown two interceptions in four of the five games he\u2019s started this season, including two lopsided losses to the Stampeders.<\/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 O\u2019Shea says there\u2019s no need to talk to his quarterback about being more careful with the ball and balancing his decisions to throw it downfield.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s as smart as they come. There\u2019s not a lot of conversation like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Seeing Biggie in red<\/p>\n Former Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill is in full practice mode with the Stampeders this week, raising the possibility his first game with Calgary will be against his old team on Saturday.<\/p>\n Collaros knows what that would mean from his days with Toronto, Hamilton and Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not fun,\u201d the quarterback said of facing Bighill. \u201cHe\u2019s so smart. Calgary in general does a really good job of spacing the football field, too. They\u2019re really smart about the way they do it. So he\u2019d be able to slide right in there and probably take it to another level, because he\u2019s so damn smart. So it\u2019d be tough.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cAnd when he hits you, it\u2019s not fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Bighill signed with the Stamps a month ago, sharing his knowledge of his old team from the sideline in two previous meetings, both decisive Calgary wins.<\/p>\n This time, he could put that knowledge into practice.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019d be interesting,\u201d receiver Nic Demski said. \u201cA lot of football played against him, just on practice days, of course. Obviously on game day it\u2019s a different type of vibe. We\u2019ll see what happens. He probably knows a bit about us. But we do a lot of film study and we\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n A knee injury ended Bighill\u2019s 2024 season early, the Bombers discarding him in the off-season despite a resume that cements his status as one of the all-time great CFL linebackers.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He helped Winnipeg win back-to-back Grey Cups and reach the last five.<\/p>\n \u201cI know he wants to end things his way, and not let an injury be the end to his career,\u201d Demski said. \u201cFor a guy with that skill level and what he\u2019s done in this league and what he means to this league, it\u2019d be great to see him get back out there and finish on his terms.\u201d<\/p>\n Debuts on deck<\/p>\n With defensive back Jamal Parker hobbled, the recently-signed Dexter Lawson could see game action in a hurry.<\/p>\n Lawson, cut after training camp but brought back last week, looks like a good bet to step in at corner in Calgary on Saturday. The 25-year-old played 13 games with Hamilton over the last two years.<\/p>\n On the other side of the ball, receiver Dillon Mitchell could make his Bombers debut this weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he gets his opportunity, I think he\u2019s going to do a great job,\u201d Collaros said. \u201cI was happy when we signed him in the off-season. He\u2019s played at a high level for a long time in our league. Experience definitely matters, and not having that deer-in-the-headlights look is an important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell, 28, caught 130 passes for 1,896 and 12 touchdowns in three seasons with Edmonton. Winnipeg signed him as a free agent.<\/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":49464,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":["post-49463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49463","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=49463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0206oshea-e1738811307989.jpg\")
Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O\u2019Shea. Photo by Kevin King \/Winnipeg SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.2.5\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-wsun-new.svg\"){kind=logo}
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