Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/12/2011 (3207 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It's difficult to picture Ian Logan as an undrafted Canadian suiting up with the Blue Bombers in 2006.

"It does seem like a long time ago," the personable safety said after officially inking a two-year contract extension with the Bombers Tuesday. "It's strange, really. They (the club) gave me a chance to keep playing football after I was done school and it's almost hard to believe how it's turned out.

Ian Logan

"I'm at the point now where I'm one of the older players on the team."

In terms of contract negotiations, last season couldn't have come at a better time for Logan. The 29-year-old had four interceptions, a fumble recovery and 34 tackles in 17 of the Bombers 18 games (he missed the last game due to appendicitis but returned for the playoffs). He thrived under defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke's ball-hawking system and earned the title as the league's all-star safety -- the first time a Bomber won the honour since Bennie Thompson did it in the 1988 season.

Having that all-star mark on the resumé was difficult to get used to, he admitted Tuesday.

"After being the named the CFL all-star, I wouldn't say that it gave me more confidence," said Logan, who would have drawn significant interest around the CFL had he chosen to test the free-agent market in February. "If anything, I felt more pressure to perform from people who may not have known much about me before. All of a sudden, you're playing in the Grey Cup and you're supposed to be the best at your position.

"Looking back, it was a weird experience."

As for the influence Burke had on his game, Logan didn't hesitate to hand out the credit. If Burke leaves for another team (he's still in the running for the head coach job in Hamilton), Logan says it will be a huge loss for himself and for the Bombers.

"My fingers are crossed. I wish him the best if he got that job but to be selfish, I want him back in Winnipeg," he said.

Locking up Logan prevents a potential ratio headache down the road for the Bombers. The retirement of Doug Brown and the contract status of fellow defensive lineman Don Oramasionwu (who can try free agency Feb. 15) puts Winnipeg a little short in the non-import numbers on defence, so by keeping Logan the club shores up a minor concern with regards to Canadian content.

"He was one of the field generals of our defence," Winnipeg assistant GM Ross Hodgkinson said, noting a chunk of Logan's contract will be put towards the 2011 salary cap. "He was one of our more consistent guys back there and he provides a calming influence at times during games."

The Bombers also locked up non-import offensive lineman Brendan Dunn Tuesday.

The 6-foot-7, 280-pound Ontario product was taken in the third round (17th overall) in the 2011 CFL draft, and while the club liked what they saw during training camp they chose to send him back to school for a little more seasoning.

The move appears to have paid off: Dunn was named a first-team CIS all-star this past year.

Financial terms for both deals were not released.

Hodgkinson said the club is making progress with some of the other Bomber free agents, as well. Winnipeg has 11 free agents left to sign, including all three quarterbacks (Buck Pierce, Alex Brink, Joey Elliott) and four of the five starting offensive linemen.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca