Blue fly in Bishop as pivot insurance

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/09/2011 (5447 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have turned to journeyman CFL quarterback Michael Bishop for insurance after injuries last Saturday against the Toronto Argonauts knocked both starter Buck Pierce (ribs) and backup Alex Brink (shoulder) out of the game.

Though both Brink and Pierce have since returned to the practice field and will both dress against Montreal on Friday, the club was still pressing ahead Wednesday with plans to fly Bishop into Winnipeg Wednesday evening from his home in Texas and add him to the club’s practice roster.

Bishop, 35, played for the Bombers in 2009 and was most recently on the Calgary Stampeders roster in July as a backup to Henry Burris. He did not appear in any games for Calgary and was released in August.

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice confirmed Wednesday afternoon the team was in discussions with Bishop but declined to discuss specifics, saying he’d wait until the quarterback was in Winnipeg and signed to the practice roster.

Asked why the Bombers were interested in Bishop, LaPolice was matter-of-fact. “Because our second-string quarterback (Joey Elliott) is out for the year (with a torn ACL)… Early in the week, we weren’t sure where Alex (Brink) was. And Buck’s banged up. So we wanted to have someone with veteran experience.”

Pierce welcomed the addition of Bishop, who will be the seventh quarterback on the Bombers’ payroll when he joins the team. “He’s a good quarterback in this league. He’s proven himself. He’s been with this staff before, so he’s got a good idea of what we like to do. “

Brown will sit out Als game

Blue Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown will not play against Montreal at Canad Inns Stadium on Friday but expects to be back in the lineup Oct. 7 when the Bombers take on the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton.

That in itself is a relief for Brown, who revealed Wednesday he feared a shoulder injury sustained against the Toronto Argonauts last weekend might have ended his career a bit earlier than he was planning.

“I was looking at my phone when I got the call on Monday thinking, ‘This is the call that will determine whether I have played my last down of professional football,’ ” said Brown, who has previously announced he is retiring at the end of this season after an 11-year CFL career.

“We didn’t know the situation with my shoulder and with only six weeks left (in the regular season), if I’d needed surgery, then I had just taken my last snap.”

Brown said the doctor informed him he had dodged a bullet. “He said I was one degree away from having a fracture or a tear in there.”

Injury update

Offensive lineman Brendan LaBatte (neck) practised with the first-team offence Wednesday, as did receiver Cory Watson (ankle). Both men sat out Tuesday’s practice. Watson was expected to return to practice Wednesday, but LaBatte’s return was a bit of a surprise and raised the question whether his status has now gone from doubtful to probable to start Friday against the Alouettes.

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice hedged Wednesday afternoon, saying no decision on LaBatte’s status had been made yet.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

Calvillo poised to play

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo, knocked unconscious during the Als’ win over the Edmonton Eskimos last weekend, told reporters in Montreal this week he’s not had any post-concussion symptoms and is expecting to start this Friday against the Bombers.

“The only thing that would probably prevent me (is) if something comes up now until game day,” Calvillo said Tuesday. “But since nothing’s occurred since the hit occurred, I really don’t see it happening.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca