Backup Brink’s been here before

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/07/2011 (5279 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quarterback Alex Brink stood tall in front of reporters Wednesday, ready for whatever challenge came his way.

His first order of business: Understanding that any extended turns in practice with the first-team offence — which happened at Canad Inns Stadium, with starter Buck Pierce watching — are more for his long-term comfort than a window into which way the club is leaning heading into the next game.

Brink saw lots of work Wednesday, but didn’t read anything into it.

He’s been in this role before.

“This is a position I was in last year as a backup,” the 26-year-old sophomore said. “It’s nothing new. I’ve taken reps in practice and prepared like I was going to have an opportunity to play, whether it’s to start or be a backup. It’s not a surprise.”

Most Bomber fans know this already, given the work Brink was forced to put in as the second option when Pierce was out for extended stretches and Steven Jyles was the starter in 2010, but Brink is somewhat of a cool customer.

He’s tough to rattle and while he may not have the outward confidence of injured QB Joey Elliott (knee), he does hold himself with a certain conviction.

Interestingly, the tornado of “will he or won’t he start” around Pierce this week hasn’t had much of an effect on Brink, who was already involved in the Winnipeg offence as the short-yardage quarterback sneak option.

He’s remained composed, not tipping his hand either way on any emotions he’s going through with his new spot on the depth chart.

That’s a good quality for the position.

“As the No. 2 guy, you have to prepare like you’re going to see time,” he said. “Whether that’s to take the first snap or a snap somewhere in the game, or whatever it is — you have to prepare the same. I had that experience last year … it doesn’t matter.”

Brink has looked strong in practice this week, throwing the ball with a lot more zip and looking a lot more comfortable in his decision-making when going up against the defence.

Barring a last-minute hiccup, Pierce will get the start when the Bombers take on the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday at Rogers Centre (3 p.m., TSN, CJOB).

INJURY REPORT: WR Greg Carr (leg), KR Tim Brown (foot), DB Johnny Sears (ankle), WR Kito Poblah (knee), LB Henoc Muamba (knee) and DE Jason Vega (knee) are all on the shelf.

Carr’s continued injury is especially frustrating for the Bomb Squad.

His absence all but assures the team will be going with the same starting receiving corps — SB Terrence Edwards, SB Terence Jeffers-Harris, SB Clarence Denmark, WR Cory Watson and WR Aaron Hargreaves — for Saturday’s game.

NO INTEREST: Already deep at the position and holding one of the better secondary groups in the CFL, the Bombers say they have no interest in free agent DB Tad Kornegay.

The former Saskatchewan defender was put on waivers Monday and the club officially announced his release Tuesday. Kornegay had been with Saskatchewan since the 2007 season.

Word around the league has the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Eskimos among a handful of team showing interest in the veteran defensive back.

JADE IN THE SHADE: Though he dressed as the backup non-import receiver in the past two games, rookie WR Jade Etienne has yet to make his CFL debut.

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said he almost used the fourth overall pick in the 2011 CFL draft in the game against Calgary last week, but circumstances changed his rotation plan and Etienne remained on the sidelines.

For those still wondering, Etienne cannot be sent back to the University of Saskatchewan now. He’s receiving a paycheque from the Bombers these days, thus cancelling any CIS eligibility he had remaining.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca