THE CANADIAN PRESS

WINNIPEG -- The Barrin Simpson saga has taken yet another bizarre twist.

The veteran linebacker was back practising with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Wednesday after having been told by the CFL club last month not to set foot in its facility as part of an ugly dispute centred around being placed on the team's nine-game injured list.

Simpson and the Bombers had been at odds since just after Labour Day when he refused to accept a reduced role with the team, then asked to be traded. Instead, Winnipeg placed Simpson - who had been playing all season with a turf toe - on the nine-game injured list, thus ending his season.

The move meant Simpson would continue being paid by the Bombers, but they wouldn't have to count the remainder of Simpson's stipend against their salary cap.

The trouble was, Winnipeg didn't secure Simpson's consent to make the move, prompting the CFL to step in. The league's board of governors ruled that Simpson instead be removed from the nine-game list and be placed on the one-game injured list, meaning Simpson's full salary would count against the team's salary cap so long as he remained with the Bombers.

The Bombers told Simpson not to report to their offices when Winnipeg players were present because he was deemed a negative influence.

But the Bombers could be in need of a middle linebacker after starter Joe Lobendahn was injured in Friday night's 27-17 win over Edmonton. Winnipeg (5-8) takes on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-7) in Steeltown on Monday.

On Wednesday, Simpson was working out with the Bombers' starting defence.

So, too, was receiver Terrence Edwards, who has missed the last two games due to a concussion.