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WAYNE GLOWACKI /WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Injured QB Buck Pierce (4) is in good humour as he watches fourth-stringer Justin Goltz work out at practice Tuesday at Canada Inns Stadium.

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He's heard the criticisms that he gets injured far too often. How could he miss it, especially as it's grown to a cacophony this month?

He's also heard -- and says he understands -- the calls from some fans in the past couple weeks for Winnipeg Blue Bombers management to finally give up on him and move on.

But Buck Pierce says he feels he's earned another chance to prove to everyone he's worth the faith Bombers management have put in him as the club's maddening on-again, off-again starting quarterback the last two-plus turbulent seasons.

"For sure," Pierce replied when asked Tuesday after practice if he felt he deserves another chance to show he can stay healthy. "I understand the frustrations. Believe me, it frustrates no one more than myself. I want nothing more than to win for Winnipeg and help this organization to be successful. That's why they brought me here...

"I'm not the only guy that gets hurt. It happens with quarterbacks, that's the thing. For me, I stay positive. I know the situation that I'm in -- a healthy myself in there is good. I have to be healthy to perform...

"Ultimately, it's out of your hands, and I can't control a freak injury... I worry about what I can control, and that's how I perform on the football field and how I get myself ready to get back on the football field."

Pierce feels he's already made quick progress towards recovering from the torn ligaments in his left foot he suffered in a loss to Edmonton on July 13.

"I feel pretty good. Obviously, it's only been almost a week and a half, but I'm very optimistic about it. They said four weeks once they got the diagnosis. I think I will come under that, hopefully. But we've still got to see how it feels and all that. What I'm told is it's still in the healing process.

"But I am out of the (walking) boot now. I put cleats on (on Monday). I'm trying to do as much as I can without doing too much on it too early."

Pierce has been at practice this week as a spectator, standing with the quarterbacks and contributing whatever he can whenever he can as the Bombers prepare for Thursday's long-awaited home-opener Thursday against the same Eskimos that crushed them and their starting quarterback 42-10 earlier this month.

Pierce said he's as frustrated as everyone else to be on a team that's still looking for its first win five weeks into the 2012 CFL season. "Everyone's frustrated. It's no fun," he said. "This is a business of winning, and it's no fun when you don't win... I've thought we've showed some moments of greatness, but not as a whole team."

As an example, he noted the offence performed well in Week 2, putting up 30 points in Montreal, but still losing because the defence gave up 41. Last week in Toronto, it was the defence performing reasonably well but the offence sputtering in a 25-22 loss to the Argos.

He said his advice to Alex Brink, his replacement at starting quarterback who struggled in Toronto, has been quite simple.

"Control what he can control. Don't worry about anything else. Trust in your preparation, understand what you have to do."

Pierce offered a message to Bomber fans.

"Be patient," he said. "I'll be back."

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

bomber report D3

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 25, 2012 D1