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O’Shea quiet on future with Bombers, defends controversial call in West semifinal

Nov 16, 2016 | 11:30 AM

WINNIPEG — Mike O’Shea didn’t want to talk about his future with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The head coach’s three-year contract with the CFL team is set to expire, and though his overall record in Winnipeg is 23-31 the Bombers are coming off their best season in years.

“I like what we started, but I’m not prepared to discuss my contract and future with anybody but (general manager) Kyle (Walters),” O’Shea said Wednesday at a press conference.

He didn’t know how soon those talks would start as he was still doing evaluations and meeting with every player before they left for their homes.

The Bombers posted an 11-7 record this season, the first time they’ve had that many wins since 2003.

It was a mark that also sent them to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, although it ended with a 32-31 loss to the B.C. Lions in last Sunday’s West Division semifinal.

While he didn’t want to talk about his future, O’Shea, 46, did answer more questions about the recent past, particularly his final call of the season.

After leading throughout the entire game, the Bombers found themselves behind with 36 seconds left. In a third-down situation with four yards to go, O’Shea sent kicker Justin Medlock out to attempt a 61-yard field goal.

With no wind at his back in the BC Place dome, Medlock, who had booted a career-long, team-tying record 58-yarder at home this season, saw his kick fall seven yards short of the end zone.

O’Shea said he didn’t consult with anyone such as offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice about the call.

“It’s got to be my thing,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair to put that on anyone else.”

He’s thought about it “multiple times,” but has checked the process he followed and believes he did the right things to arrive at the decision.

“Justin Medlock is the best kicker all-time in the CFL,” O’Shea said.

“We all watch him every single day,” he added. “That decision is not based on hope. It’s based on the history we have with Justin, which says he makes those kicks in practice every single week.”

Medlock, who set a CFL record with 60 successful field goals out of 68 attempts, had told O’Shea he was ready to go for it. After the game, Medlock admitted it was the first time he’d used a tee and he should have practised with it more and booted more long shots.

Only one kicker in CFL history has connected from more than 60 yards, a 62-yard field goal by the Lions’ Paul McCallum in 2001 at then-Taylor Field in Regina.

In reviewing more of the season, O’Shea did crack a joke when asked about where pending free-agent quarterback Matt Nichols is on the priority list for getting back.

“Higher than me,” O’Shea said, laughing.

He also said there’s “no doubt” in his mind Nichols is a quarterback who can help the Bombers win a Grey Cup championship, a drought for the franchise that’s now reached 26 seasons.

Nichols, acquired in a September 2015 trade with Edmonton, took over Drew Willy’s starting job in late July when the team was 1-4. He threw a career-high 3,666 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Winnipeg’s offence finished fifth in the league for points scored with 497. Its defence tied with Hamilton for third fewest points allowed (454), but was last in allowing a net 7,343 yards.

The defence did achieve 59 turnovers, 14 more than second-place Calgary.

“They took the ball away at a ferocious pace, they put the ball back in the offence’s hands quite a bit. They limited the amount of points that were scored upon us,” O’Shea said.

“Those are huge relative to some of the other stats that people may wish to discuss. The things that matter are points and takeaways and, most importantly, wins.”

Walters is meeting with the media on Friday.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press