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This article was published 26/2/2016 (1666 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The last time Chris Randle dominated headlines in this city was following an announcement the Blue Bombers star linebacker had suffered a season-ending knee injury 10 games into the 2015 CFL season.

So when Friday’s news broke the 27-year-old had reached a one-year extension with Winnipeg, a deal that would see him wearing blue and gold through the 2017 season, the stark contrasts between then and now had Randle quick to reflect on his appreciation for the club, whose decision to stick with him comes during a time of uncertainty, with new pieces being added and some old staples being shipped out.

TREVOR HAGAN/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Chris Randle during practice in September.

"The faith the organization has had in me through these tough times and their faith in me to know that I’ll come back 100 per cent and produce as I did in the past (hits home)," said Randle when reached by phone Friday from his home in Salt Lake City, Utah. "It just gives me all the confidence in the world right now."

Randle said he’s feeling better every day and has yet to suffer any setback in his road to recovery. He has a full range of motion in his knee and more than 94 per cent of his strength back. He’s running five days a week and in a month he hopes to be cleared for contact.

"I’m on schedule and on pace to be back well before training camp," he said.

While optimistic about the future, there were a fair number of bumps along the way, beginning the moment he went down in a 37-19 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in last year’s Labour Day Classic. Before getting hurt, Randle was off to one of his best starts in four years in the CFL, collecting 37 defensive tackles, seven special-teams tackles, one interception and one sack in nine starts. In those four seasons in the CFL — two with Calgary — he’s played 59 games and accumulated 148 defensive tackles, 44 special-teams tackles, two sacks, eight interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and two fumble recoveries.

"I’m not going to lie, it was hard for me the first couple of weeks," he said.

Playing football his whole life, Randle is used to the daily grind of the game. Over his career he’s suffered countless aches, bruises and sprains. But never before had he suffered an injury of this magnitude. He played all 18 games for the Bombers in 2014 and missed just two the season before with Calgary.

This time around, however, he needed help just to walk. The experience, he said, gave him a new appreciation for the game and his team.

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"I grew a lot last year," he said. "To have the organization and teammates be with you that whole entire time through your tough times shows a lot. I’m working just as much, even harder, to be able to share moments with those exact same people."

Randle is excited to see what the Bombers can do in 2016. With the new pieces acquired from free agency and a good chunk of the leadership core from last year intact, he feels the future is bright. That said, he doesn’t sugarcoat the failings of a 5-13 season.

"We haven’t lived up to what we want to do. We’re disappointed in ourselves," he said. "We know we can do better and that some changes needed to be made. So with these pieces and the core, we know we can get to where we’re supposed to.

"2016 year is going to be a huge year. I’m about to be married to the love of my life and I’m starting a new chapter and extending my career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. I couldn’t even ask for anything more. Now we’ve just got to go get the job done on the field. That will complete my 2016."

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton