Buck on the Brink of clipboard duty

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/09/2011 (5448 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

How the Winnipeg Blue Bombers approach the quarterback position this week could provide an answer as to why it took so long to pull Buck Pierce from the game last Sunday.

You remember the Banjo Bowl, right? The 45-23 disaster at Canad Inns Stadium, where Pierce not only threw five interceptions but also took a noticeable beating in the process, had an interesting sideline drama to it.

Early in the game, eyeballs in the west stands found their way to Pierce, who, when he wasn’t in regular conversation with the medical staff was continually self-examining his ribs under his uniform.

Looking for a sign that he wasn’t exactly 100 per cent during the contest? It was under the No. 4 retro jersey.

Instead of sitting Pierce down, though, Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice kept going to him — even though it clearly wasn’t his day and backup quarterback Alex Brink was ready, set, and most important, healthy to go.

Here’s the backstory: Wednesday, Pierce sat out practice with bruised ribs. After the workout, he was asked to put on the hindsight goggles and speak to the belief that those ribs in question played a role in his five-pick day against the Riders:

“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell,” he responded. “I’m not going to put my performance on anything but bad decisions on my part. There are no excuses for that. Was I beat up? Yeah. I’ve been beat up before and got through it.”

Pierce looked a little stiff when speaking with reporters but he expects to be in a helmet this morning, he says, prepping for the game against the Montreal Alouettes Sunday afternoon.

Pierce has to be healthy enough to do those things: That’s what the head coach says he’s looking for this week. If he can’t, Brink gets the ball.

What’s missing from this plan is some supporting evidence to back up this intention. The Banjo Bowl doesn’t support this thinking, not when everyone watched as Pierce struggled to throw the football and wince in pain with each trip back to the sidelines.

So who starts in Montreal: An injured Pierce or a healthy Brink? LaPolice called Pierce the “best chance to win a football game” Wednesday, and not many would disagree. That’s when he’s healthy, though. How the club stuck with him so long in the Banjo Bowl raises doubt about the conviction of the coaches in the players behind him.

Brink, who warms up more during a game than any other backup in the CFL these days, said he wasn’t surprised he didn’t get in the game sooner. In the next breath, he says he feels a lot more comfortable than he did a year ago.

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.

“My play has demonstrated that, just (from) the way I feel on the practice field (and) during the games,” said Brink. “I see things more clearly. Obviously I still have a lot to learn, but I feel comfortable where I’m at.”

In three games of mop-up duty, the second-year Bomber is 15-of-26 for 136 yards and two touchdown passes.

LaPolice says he’s confident in Brink’s abilities and praised the quarterback for his sharpness Wednesday. “It’s great that these young guys are getting reps and we want to continue to do that, but you still want your players to have an opportunity to play,” the coach said.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca