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KEN GIGLIOTTI / winnipeg free press Paul Hubbard: just a hiccup

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KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Quarterback Joey Elliott is raring to play in Montreal after coming back from a knee injury last July. He�s in the running for the Bombers� second-string pivot.

Forgive Joey Elliott if he's put the backup quarterback battle on the back burner this week. He's been distracted with something else.

While Thursday's visit to Montreal stands as just a pre-season game for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the contest will be a benchmark moment for the 25-year-old from Franklin, Ind. His first playing time in nearly a full calendar year -- 335 days, to be precise -- is a moment he's been looking forward to since the start of training camp.

Though it seems like different players in different sports do it all the time in this age of medicine, getting all the way back to the field after suffering a torn ACL still counts as a reason to celebrate.

"It's a big deal," Elliott said after a light team workout at Canad Inns Stadium Tuesday. The Purdue product suffered a season-ending left-knee injury in a July 14 game against Calgary last year after trying to make a tackle following a Winnipeg interception.

"Coming off a huge injury is not easy," he said. "Give credit to the training staff here and the people I worked with at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. They did a lot of rehab with me; they beat me down. They all wanted me to come back and be healthy.

"Five days a week I was in there... I probably got on their nerves because I kept asking questions, why this and why that, but I'm here today and I'm feeling pretty good."

Elliott, knee brace and all, joins Alex Brink and Justin Goltz in the quarterback stable for the Bombers Thursday against Montreal (starter Buck Pierce was given the trip off). The QB depth chart is murky at this point, with all three reserve pivots having a chance to move up and head coach Paul LaPolice insisting there is no clear No. 2 at this point in camp.

All of which adds some intrigue in the backup-quarterback department.

Third-year arms Elliott and Brink are fighting for the second-string spot, while Goltz, should he put in a quality showing, could possibly give the coaches a decision to make at the No. 3 hole. His chances for promotion remain long, of course, but he's looking to force the Bombers into a nice problem to have.

Not surprisingly, neither Elliott nor Brink is putting a lot of stock in the job battle, both choosing to downshift into football lingo when asked to handicap their own chances in the backup derby. If there was a heated competition between the two, you'd never know it.

"We all just want to go out and run the offence," Elliott said. "Everybody is going to get different play-calls and at different times and in different situations of the game. You're really just competing against yourself on film; you want to execute when you can."

Brink, who gained the upper hand in playing time over Elliott last season, countered by saying he's looking forward to improving on his 2011 season. The fact there's a new system under offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton and a boatload of new receivers to throw to won't hinder the personal growth he wants to accomplish.

With a flight to Quebec this morning, the Bombers essentially went through their walkthrough Tuesday, giving Elliott, Brink and Goltz the majority of the work. On the heels of what appeared to be a less than razor-sharp workout, LaPolice was blunt when asked what he wants to see from his quarterbacks Thursday.

"Move the ball, lead us and put points on the board," the coach said. "Manage our offence."

Brink will start the first quarter against the Alouettes before giving way to either Elliott or Goltz. All three will get a quarter, LaPolice said Tuesday, with the fourth and final quarter going to the player who didn't see as much playing time as the others.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

BOMBERS rookie receiver Paul Hubbard can't wait for Thursday -- if for no other reason than to erase the bad taste in his mouth left after fighting the ball a bit during Tuesday's inconsistent workout.

Said Hubbard:

"I wasn't too overly impressed. I've been having a good camp so far... I don't know what happened out there. I'm definitely going to be ready for the game, mentally and physically. A lot of us are looking forward to going there and facing someone else. We've been here for so long going against each other, we're ready to go play somebody else."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2012 D3