THE Winnipeg Blue Bombers have parachuted in a fresh face in an effort to resolve their most pressing need: finding a long-term answer to their quarterback question.

Former Cincinnati Bengals draft pick Casey Bramlet, 28, is expected in Winnipeg on Wednesday and will likely be on the field in time for Thursday's practice. He joins starter Michael Bishop as well as Stefan LeFors and Bryan Randall on the depth chart, although LeFors' future status may be determined by what is discovered in a further examination of his non-throwing shoulder sometime this week or next.

Bramlet (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) starred at the University of Wyoming before being selected by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He has bounced all over the NFL since -- from the Bengals to Washington to Atlanta then Miami, San Diego and Baltimore -- and enjoyed his most success as a pro starter with the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europa, including earning MVP honours in the 2007 World Bowl after going 20-of-27 for 347 yards with four TDs.

At Wyoming, Bramlet set school records in career passing yards (9,684), TD passes (56) and completions (767) and is the only player in their history to throw for 3,000 yards in three different seasons. He started 35 games in his final three years at Wyoming before being selected by the Bengals.

The Bombers, 3-6 after the Labour Day loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, are committing to Bishop, 33, as their best option for a postseason playoff push. But Bishop, who threw for over 300 yards in Regina, has just three touchdowns against seven interceptions since his arrival in July and has a league-worst QB-efficiency rating of just 61.1 (Montreal's Anthony Calvillo tops the list at 107.0)

Winnipeg is dead-last in most passing categories, including TD passes (5), passing yards per game (173.1) and passing completion percentage (48.2).

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

ed tait's in the huddle C3

A look at Bramlet

HERE'S the scouting profile of new Bomber pivot Casey Bramlet, courtesy SI.com, before the 2004 draft:

Positives: Productive signal-caller with nice pocket presence. Sets up with solid footwork, patient and buys time for receivers. Sells the ball fakes, looks off the safety and passes to the underneath outlet if nothing's available down the field. Looks away from covered receivers and makes good choices, pulling the ball down and running with it if nothing is available. Relatively accurate, times the outs well and displays good anticipation throwing the ball.

Negatives: Lacks the quick release or ability cannot drive the pass downfield and only marginal arm strength. Not elusive signal caller and can't escape the rush.

Analysis: A productive passer three years running, Bramlet was one of the few bright spots in what had been a very dreary Wyoming program. Solid in the short range passing game, he offers a feel for the position and a shot at making a practice squad.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 9, 2009 C1