Brink’s big break

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This article was published 02/11/2011 (5145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce says he has a sprained right knee and is hopeful he can be back on the field in time for the playoffs.

The question now is whether backup QB Alex Brink can increase the likelihood of that occurring by delaying the start of the playoffs for the Bombers with a victory this weekend in Calgary over the Stampeders.

“I’m sore, getting lots of treatment and trying to get better… Right now it just looks like a sprained knee. So we’re treating it as that and taking the proper steps to get me as healthy as fast as possible,” Pierce said Tuesday afternoon after his team returned to the practice field at Canad Inns Stadium for the first time since a 27-22 loss to the Toronto Argonauts last Friday.

Pierce was knocked out of the Toronto game in the second quarter and head coach Paul LaPolice said over the weekend that his starting quarterback is unlikely to play this Saturday in Calgary against the Stampeders in the final regular season game of the season and with first place in the CFL’s East Division on the line.

“I’m doubtful for this week. I don’t think that’s a secret,” Pierce said in his first comments since the injury occurred. “As of right now, they’ve got to let it get feeling better to where I can run around and start to move. In my mind I’m thinking playoffs, whenever that is. If it’s a week later (in the East final) great. If it’s next week (in the East semifinal Nov. 13), it’s next week…”

When the playoffs begin for the Bombers will be entirely dependent on what happens this weekend. If Winnipeg defeats Calgary, they clinch first and will host the East final on Nov. 20. If Winnipeg loses but the Montreal Alouettes also lose to the Lions in B.C., Winnipeg would also clinch first and not play until the 20th.

Window

But if Winnipeg loses and Montreal wins, then the Bombers finish second and would have to host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Nov. 13, narrowing significantly the window for Pierce to rehab his knee and get practising again.

The good news, says Pierce, is this knee injury does not seem as severe as one that knocked him out of action last season.

“I had a slight MCL tear last year early in the year. And it’s not quite as bad as that, which held me out for anywhere from three to four weeks. I’m not going to put a timeline on this one. It feels better than the one I had last year. But they still want to be cautious and make sure I can move around.”

Pierce sustained that earlier knee injury in a 28-7 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 16, 2010, and did not play again until almost a full month later on Aug. 13, a span of three games.

With Pierce sitting, Brink is expected to get the start in Calgary. It will be just the third start of Brink’s career and will come in a place that has been a graveyard for Bombers teams in the past decade — the Bombers last won a game in McMahon Stadium in October 2002.

But Brink — who got his only start this season in a narrow loss to the Montreal Alouettes at home on Sept. 30 — is undeterred by the challenge in front of him this week.

“I’m very excited. It’s an incredible opportunity,” Brink told a mob of reporters following practice. “Obviously, it’s under unfortunate circumstances with Buck’s injury, but I’m ready to go. I prepared all season for it and it’s my job as backup to be prepared to go into these situations.”

While the Bombers are giving up a wealth of experience this week, LaPolice points out that having Brink at the controls also brings some new wrinkles to his offensive scheme.

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“He’s very mobile and he has the ability to throw on the run,” LaPolice said. “I think he throws well on the run. And certainly…he’s a faster, bigger quarterback than guys have an understanding of.”

While Brink has started just one game for Winnipeg this season, he has appeared off the bench in all but one of Winnipeg’s 17 games. Most of those appearances were in short-yardage situations, but he’s also made five extended relief appearances, memorably leading a fourth-quarter comeback victory over the Lions in Week 5 and almost doing the same in the second half against Toronto last week.

Brink’s season numbers look like this: 67-of-107, 821 yards, four touchdown passes and four interceptions. He’s rushed 40 times for 124 yards and five TDs, but has also fumbled twice.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

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