FYI

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/06/2010 (5644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ANOTHER DECISION: Naming a starting quarterback wasn’t the only pivotal decision the club made Wednesday. With the release of Adam DiMichele, former Washington State star Alex Brink gets the nod for the No. 3 spot on the QB depth chart. Brink was going through a range of emotions following practice at Rods Field.

"It’s bitter-sweet for me," he said. "Adam and I roomed together and I got to know him over the last few weeks. I consider him a good friend. That part of the business, for me, is real hard. I’m excited to be here, this is the place I want to be."

After being a victim of two dropped balls in his limited time during the first pre-season game against Montreal, Brink took advantage of his opportunity last Sunday in Hamilton, going 5-of-8 for 86 yards and a touchdown. The Bombers coaching staff has been impressed with his arm strength and accuracy during camp, and feel the CFL ceiling for Brink is a high one.

"Absolutely," head coach Paul LaPolice said. "We try to bring in guys we can develop. Our mantra here, from (general manager) Joe Mack, is to develop young quarterbacks. So that’s what we’ll do. If there is ever an opportunity for us to bring in a fourth guy, if we can open up the practice (roster) spot, then that’s what we’ll do."

Brink isn’t just happy to still be in Winnipeg, either. "I’m not content just making the roster," he said. "I want to show I can play at this level. There’s a lot of work to be done."

OTHER CUTS: DiMichele was part of a 14-player purge Wednesday, although only six were announced by the club with the rest showing up on the CFL transaction wire. Also no longer with a spot in the Blue Bombers locker-room are RB Emmanuel Marc, D-linemen LaDarien Scott and Remond Willis, receivers Willie Foster, Chris Davis, Scott McHenry and Jamayel Smith, O-lineman Chris Kowalczuk, defensive backs Donald Brown Jr., Bernard Hicks, Nick Kordic and Jerry-Ralph Jules and linebackers Merrill Johnson and Thaine Carter. The club has 51 players heading into today’s 46-man active roster deadline (not including OL Glenn January and Chris Cvetkovic) but are only looking at a handful of cuts remaining as CFL teams are allowed to carry a practice roster of six (plus one Canadian developmental player).

ON THE SIDELINES: LT Glenn January (torn pectoral muscle) is out of action for a while. Same story for LS Chris Cvetkovic (knee, out for the year). Not facing an extended layoff are WR David Ball, WR Jabari Arthur, DB Brandon Stewart, DB Donald Brown Jr., RG Carlton Medder, RG Ryan Donnelly, FB Daryl Stephenson, and DB Clint Kent. All sat out Wednesday’s workout with various bumps and bruises.

EARLY TAKE: As mentioned, the deepest (and toughest cuts) come today for LaPolice, but the coach gave his initial take on a Bombers team that has to be completely set in a few areas — namely receiver and in the secondary. All told, though, the new Bombers regime of Mack and LaPolice feel like they have addressed the areas they deemed weak heading into the season. Here’s the coach: "We have a good core of young players, we’ve upgraded our Canadian talent, we feel, and we’ve upgraded our quarterback talent — which we said was priority No. 1 for us."

— Adam Wazny