Two marquee QBs sit and watch

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/06/2011 (5538 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL — Both starting quarterbacks — the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Buck Pierce and the Montreal Alouettes’ Anthony Calvillo — are sitting out tonight’s pre-season game here at Percival Molson Stadium.

Pierce, in fact, did not even make the flight here. But the Als did make Calvillo available by telephone on Wednesday as the 38-year-old embarks on his 18th CFL season with a chance to make league history as he closes in on a CFL record once thought unassailable — Damon Allen’s career passing yards mark of 72,381.

Calvillo is within 4,221 yards of breaking that mark and he’s thrown for more yards than that in each of the last three seasons. Calvillo says breaking Allen’s record would be a bonus, but also a bit beside the point as his two-time defending Grey Cup champions chase a three-peat in 2011.

“If there was a top ten list of reasons why I came back for another season, that would probably be number 10,” Calvillo said of the prospect of breaking Allen’s mark. “A record like that will just come naturally if I can continue to play at a high level.”

No French for locals

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice disappointed the local media here Wednesday with the very first sentence he spoke.

“(The name) is LaPolice,” the Bombers’ head coach responded when he was asked hopefully by a reporter if he spoke French, “but I never learned (the language).”

LaPolice held a 15-minute session with reporters at Percival Molson Stadium Wednesday afternoon prior to his club’s on-field walk-through under a blistering sun.

Montreal has been gripped by unseasonably warm temperatures this week and the trend is expected to continue on game day, with a high of 30 C and an extreme UV forecast.

The Bombers, by the way, had an uneventful flight between Winnipeg and Montreal on Wednesday. They flew WestJet.

What LaPolice expects

LaPolice was asked for some keys he will be watching tonight.

“I think the offence will see a defence very similar to the one they’ve been seeing… in practice,” said LaPolice. “So I’m hoping to see the wide receivers put themselves in a good position to execute.

“Defensively, Montreal’s a good offence, they’ve got a lot of movement in the backfield. I’d like to see if we can handle all the movements on the back end and not blow assignments.”

And finally, the most important thing is what LaPolice says he doesn’t want to see tonight. “No injuries.”

Elliott has backup edge

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While both men did spot duty at quarterback for the Bombers last season, the consensus coming into training camp was that Joey Elliott had the inside track on Alex Brink for the backup job to Buck Pierce in 2011.

And with Elliott getting most of the reps during camp with the second team and now getting the start here tonight, there is little reason to think Brink has yet been able to tilt the equation back to him.

Brink is calm about it.

“Somebody’s got to take the start,” Brink said Wednesday, “and it’s not something I didn’t expect. I know Joey’s been going with the second group for most of camp. So it’s just another opportunity for me to show what I’ve got.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca