Pierce sat out to cut risk

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This article was published 16/07/2011 (5167 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers coaching staff, training staff and starting quarterback Buck Pierce huddled together in the team’s locker-room at halftime at Canad Inns Stadium Thursday night and reached a critical decision to mitigate their losses.

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said Friday the decision was made to remove Pierce from the game following the first half of what turned out to be a 21-20 Bombers loss in a bid to avoid turning what the team is describing as a short-term bruised quadricep into something much more long-term for Pierce.

“You don’t want to make an injury any worse, because then it’s a longer (recovery) period,” LaPolice said. “If we let him go the rest of the game and he pulls it, he’s out — he’s out for five weeks or whatever.”

Pierce said he didn’t disagree with the decision not to let him go back out for the second half.

“It would’ve been tough, mobility-wise,” he said.

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Backup Bombers QB Joey Elliott was also injured during the loss to Calgary, hurting his left knee attempting a tackle on a late fumble return by Keon Raymond that set up the winning touchdown for Calgary.

“We’re icing him down and will check him out the next couple days,” LaPolice said of Elliott.

Asked if the Bombers were considering bringing in a new quarterback, LaPolice was noncommittal. “We have to see. Hopefully, the next three days will clear up some things and we’ll keep any eye on it.”

— — —

Pierce was asked why he wasn’t available to answer questions from the media following Thursday night’s game. He said that decision was made by others.

“That was the organization’s stance. They wanted to evaluate things and just make sure we did it the right way. That was their call.”

— — —

Some mystery continues to surround what happened to Bombers defensive back Alex Suber on the opening kickoff.

Suber was shaken up and remained on the field for an extended period after striking his head hard while attempting to tackle kick returner Johnny Forzani.

There were media reports Thursday night and again Friday that alternately reported Suber had swallowed his mouth guard or was choking on his mouth guard. Bombers media relations director Darren Cameron said Friday he asked Suber directly and was told both reports were completely false.

So what did happen to Suber, who never returned to the game? LaPolice was being vague on Friday. “He got banged in the head and they were trying to massage his neck and make sure his neck was good. We’ll research it today and tomorrow and I will have better information…

“I will wait another day until I have a better understanding of what’s going on.”

— — —

Expect the Bombers to announce soon that they have signed defensive end Shawn Lemon out of the University of Akron.

Lemon — 6-foot-1, 240 pounds — led Akron last season in sacks and led the Mid-American Conference in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.

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LaPolice said he was disappointed his defence managed to hold the high-octane Calgary offence, led by starting quarterback Henry Burris, to just 21 points Thursday night, yet still lost the game.

“We gave them 10 points off the two turnovers, and we preach how important turnovers are,” LaPolice said. “On top of that, there was some execution things. If we don’t make a mental error on one of our runs — a second and 1 — Fred Reid goes for a 40-yard touchdown.

“When you play and hold that team to not a lot of points and not a lot of yards, you expect to win that football game. That’s what’s disappointing.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca