Music: {allcanada} Pierce to miss Bombers' game vs. Als

Thursday, September 29, 2011

{allcanada} Pierce to miss Bombers' game vs. Als

WINNIPEG -- If Buck Pierce had his way, he'd be leading the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night.

Instead, he'll be resting sore ribs on the sidelines.

Winnipeg head coach Paul LaPolice decided Thursday to sit the seven-year veteran for the crucial East Division contest. The Bombers enter the game atop the standings with a league-best 8-4 record, but Montreal is close behind with a 7-5 mark.

Pierce said he was disappointed with the move but added he'll listen to his boss.

"It was coach LaPolice's decision and it's probably best to get me healthy down the stretch," Pierce said following his team's walkthrough. "So, obviously, I'm good with that and we'll go from there."

Pierce re-aggravated a rib injury in last week's 25-24 road loss to Toronto, which was his career-high 12th straight start.

Sophomore Alex Brink will make his second start with the Bombers, backed up by rookies Justin Goltz and Brandon Summers.

Brink dislocated the shoulder of his non-throwing arm in the fourth quarter of last week's loss and was replaced by Goltz. The shoulder was immediately reset and he said he feels fine.

Pierce initially bruised his ribs in a Sept. 11 loss to Saskatchewan. But he played the next week and led the Bombers to a 25-23 road win in Montreal.

It was Winnipeg's only win in its last four games.

"It's sore and it's going to continue to get sore as many hits as I keep taking on it," said Pierce, who practised Wednesday but was told that night he'd miss the game.

LaPolice said the decision to sit Pierce wasn't a difficult one.

"Buck just still had soreness," he said. "I think it was more sore than it was the previous time we played Montreal.

"When I heard that after talking with him, that made the decision easy."

Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo sustained a concussion in last week's win over Edmonton. But he has passed all the necessary tests and is expected to start against Winnipeg.