Recall the Buck Pierce press conference.

The right elbow in a serious black and extremely cumbersome brace, suggesting his return this season is pure fiction. The Blue Bombers cap on his head – perhaps indicating that he really likes it in Winnipeg and he hopes to return for the 2011 season. The forced smile at times, hinting that he can’t seem to buy a health break.

Oh, sorry. Bad choice of words.

The thing I noticed as he walked into the Bombers boardroom and took his spot in front of the microphones, cameras, and tape recorders: The black Under Armour zip-up he was wearing, concealing his dislocated right elbow. Black for the mood of the room. As for the Under Armour, well … too little too late. The guy needed some real armour this summer. Nothing’s gone right for Pierce – not his knee, not his elbow. Tough 2010, a season that makes one wonders if he will be back next year.

Here’s Pierce on his oft-injured career as a CFL quarterback.

 "My career has been what it is, I can’t change that. I can’t change the way I play the game, I can’t change what happens to me. I can change how I react to it. And how I move on, and how I continue to live my life. It does me no good to sit here and worry about the what-ifs. My career has been great, and I wouldn’t trade any of it in. I’ve had a lot of success. I’ve been unfortunate, but (playing football) is something a lot of people don’t get the opportunity to do in their lives. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m going to continue to strive towards that goal, and stay on the path and get back."

Very reflective, I thought. Other notes from the day:

- What’s this about RB Jesse Lumsden? Didn’t he sit out the whole 2009 season (minus part of the first game) due to injury? Funny his name comes up again on a day when Pierce -- a guy with his own serious injury history -- has a press conference. Makes you wonder if injury history is as important to the team builders as we make it out to be.

 - Head coach Paul LaPolice on why the team would consider Lumsden: "Why? Because he is a first round draft pick who could be a starter in this league. I’m sure that’s why a number of teams will look at him and figure out where he’s at, and look at where his injures are. He’s a tremendous Canadian; you don’t get many Canadians who play as well as he does."

 - OL Luke Fritz (hamstring) and Andre Douglas (knee) were both taking turns at left tackle today. One of them will start Sunday. Brendon LaBatte moves back to left guard. Rookie Chris Greaves is out of the rotation.

 - Remember RB Yvenson Bernard? He’s still on the Bombers roster, though you have to wonder if Edmonton wouldn’t like to grab him right now. With Arkee Whitlock down, they need a tail back. LaPolice doesn’t envision Bernard cracking the Bombers lineup anytime soon, either: "You can put a (offensive) package in with two backs, but I think our starting tailback (Fred Reid) needs to touch the ball more." Reid had 13 carries Sunday.

 - The Banjo Bowl sold out today. It’s about time.

 - Finally, here’s a video of RB/KR Chris Garrett, the latest addition to the Bombers practice roster.