If Maurice Lloyd looked like someone who just lost his best friend yesterday, it's because he did.
The Edmonton Eskimos officially announced the release of defensive end Kitwana Jones yesterday -- the same day Lloyd resumed his usual duties at middle linebacker in practice after missing the last five weeks with an injured hamstring.
"That's business, man. You can't take this personal. A good player got released," said Lloyd. "You've just got to move forward with the guys you've got and just look forward to what we've got to do and take care of Calgary."
The two former Roughriders had been inseparable, both joining the Eskimos in the off-season. They would have worn the same jersey number if the league allowed it, but instead had to settle on 46 and 47. Whenever one would get interviewed by media, the other would mime patting down reporters, bodyguard-style.
In July, Jones earned the nickname Batman in the locker-room after chasing down a purse snatcher and sitting on him until police arrived.
"What I don't know is why he got released. The only thing I do know is I've got a game to prepare for and that's for Friday's Calgary game," said Lloyd. "If I'm worrying about what happened in the front office, then my mind's not right. It's a tough loss. I've been with him since I got into this league. But at the same time it's a business, nothing personal."
In nine games with the Eskimos, Jones had seven tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and 10 special-teams tackles.
"Kitwana played very well for us. He did a good job," said head coach Richie Hall. "Kit's a tweener player up front and at linebacker, as well as a good special-teams player.
"Without displaying our hand early, we want a true linebacker at that position. So if you go with a true linebacker, there's going to be an odd man out and right now it's Kitwana. When you look at it from a roster perspective it's a personnel thing."
Jones was last seen leaving the Eskimos head office after picking up his paycheque on Tuesday afternoon during a press conference with Hall.
"I've got bills to pay," Jones told a teammate.
Hours later, he was notified he was no longer with the Eskimos.
"I visited with Kit (Tuesday) evening, because you know Kit and I go way back and that's a very tough decision," said Hall, who was the defensive co-ordinator with the Saskatchewan Roughriders when Jones began his career there five years ago. "The decision that we made regarding Kit, it was hard for me because of the personal attachment, but what's best for our football team and the direction that we're headed?"
But that didn't make cutting Jones any easier.
"It was a pleasant conversation -- as pleasant as can be -- with Kit, very emotional. And I will be speaking with Mo because they're like brothers," said Hall. "When I look at those two guys, I'm -- I wouldn't say their father -- but I've been with them since they came into the league, so they're very special to me. That's what makes what we do hard because there's an emotional attachment. But there's also the separation that you know what your role is and you know what your job is.
"My decision doing what we did has nothing to do with how I feel about them. I still care about them, no different than 48 hours ago."
GERRY.MODDEJONGE@SUNMEDIA.CA
