Who will it be, Buck or Brink?

Still up in the air, like a fluttering pass, the name of the starter against Argos

By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 19, 2011

And so it begins: One quarterback out to prove he's healthy enough to play; another out to prove he can play at this level.

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And so it begins: One quarterback out to prove he's healthy enough to play; another out to prove he can play at this level.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/07/2011 (5229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

And so it begins: One quarterback out to prove he’s healthy enough to play; another out to prove he can play at this level.

First off, dismiss the Blue Bombers light workout at Canad Inns Stadium Monday as merely a warm-up act. With an extra day above the usual four-day preparation cycle the team subscribes to, the practice was simply a chance to get the blood flowing for some players. Veterans worked on a few things they felt needed adjusting, while those still wearing the sting of last week’s 21-20 loss to Calgary had a chance to enjoy an hour and a half in the sunshine.

Some just needed to stretch their legs.

Or at least test out what the club is calling a ‘left quadriceps bruise.’

“We had three good days of treatment,” said QB Buck Pierce, the man still attached to the limb in question. Pierce was forced out of Thursday’s game at halftime with the leg injury, after taking a beating against a physical Stamps defence.

To no one’s surprise, Pierce didn’t do much Monday. True wagering on his status for Saturday’s contest in Toronto starts this morning, when he hopes to take the field and participate in full CFL starting quarterback mode.

“I’m looking at (today),” the 29-year-old added. “I know the trainers always have a different idea than the players.”

The feeling around the stadium is if Pierce takes the field today he’ll automatically be given the green light against the Argos. The head coach wasn’t as quick to bankroll that gamble, however, smartly acknowledging some long-term thinking that sees Pierce resting for a week so his well being doesn’t become a daily topic of conversation.

Like it is now.

“If (athletic therapist Alain Couture) tells us it’s not great, we’ll certainly entertain that thought,” head coach Paul LaPolice said.

Another thing LaPolice says the Bombers won’t do: Rush Pierce back under centre now that Joey Elliott is no longer available as the next option. Second-year QB Alex Brink makes the leap from third stringer to being one hit away from starting, a situation that could tempt a coaching staff into using Pierce — even though he’s not 100 per cent.

“Not if it jeopardizes Buck playing for the long haul,” the coach answered.

The club placed Elliott, out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, on the nine-game injured reserve list Monday.

If Pierce can’t go — or can’t convince the training staff to let him go — it means Bomber fans will see Brink leading the huddle once again. The 26-year-old has seen time as the short-yardage pivot this year, but his notoriety comes from an Oct. 11 start against B.C. at home last season.

That was his first pro start, a shaky 4-of-18 for 61 yards in 30 minutes of work that brought the Polo Park boo-birds out in full volume. As one might expect, Brink’s been stewing about that performance for some time.

“I’m a competitor, through and through, and so I know that start versus B.C. last year wasn’t a good indication of me as a player,” he said. “More than anything, I would love to show that I’m better than that.

“My time will come, and whenever that is I’ll be ready.”

The Bombers officially added another body to the quarterback stable Monday, bringing rookie Justin Goltz back into the fold. He originally signed with the team last October before failing to make the squad in training camp.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

Back to the Brink

With Joey Elliott (knee) out for the season and the club having no plans to bring in an experienced backup for Buck Pierce, Alex Brink is now the No. 2 man on the depth chart. A look at the 26-year-old Washington State product:

Resumé: Left the Cougars program as the all-time leading passer with 10,913 yards, 76 touchdowns and 848 completions on 1,451 attempts; Drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round (223rd overall) in the 2008 NFL draft; Signed with Winnipeg in May 2010.

2010 highlights: Dressed for 16 games, appearing in six of those; Made his only career start vs. B.C. (Oct. 11), where he went 4-of-18 for 61 yards; Career numbers: 15-of-40 for 130 yards and one interception, while rushing 23 times for 73 yards and one touchdown.

2010 lowlights: In that B.C. contest, Brink was pulled at halftime, replaced by Steven Jyles; Brink’s season came to an end Oct. 23, when he broke his collarbone against Toronto.