VANCOUVER -- Buck Pierce prepared for his retirement from the CFL by getting into the restaurant business while he was still playing. But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. "(Football) is my passion. Ive always been a student of the game and looked up to coaches. "Obviously, (the passion doesnt end) just because you stop playing. That competitive fire will never burn out." Pierce split last season between the Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, throwing for 1,176 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Over nine seasons with Winnipeg and B.C., he completed 1,200 passes for 15,289 yards, 76 TDs and 63 interceptions. "I feel pretty good about (retiring) actually," he said. "I feel that, over the last nine years, its been a great career for me. I enjoyed every minute of it. The teammates, the organizations were the part that were great experiences for me. Its a hard day also, in a way, for me because its what Ive known. Its what Ive been about for the most part of my life. "So its a big day in both ways. But Im also excited about the next phase of my life and moving on." Pierce, a 32-year-old Hutchinson, Kan., native who played collegiately at New Mexico State, originally signed with the Lions in 2005. He was a key member of the club as both a backup and starter through five seasons before playing 3 1/2 seasons with the Blue Bombers. He returned to B.C. last September in a trade that brought wide receiver Akeem Foster to Winnipeg. "Buck was a fearless competitor who never hesitated to put his body on the line for our organization," Lions general manager Wally Buono said in a news release. Pierces career was marred by multiple injuries as he chose to take a hit instead of sliding or running out of bounds before getting tackled. But he said the rewards were worth the punishment. "I wouldnt change anything I played the game the way that I felt this game should be played, and I felt that I represented myself extremely well on and off the field," he said. "Theres always going to be critics, and people are going to say what theyre going to say, but at the end of the day, I represented myself and my family and this league in a positive way." He won a Grey Cup with the Lions in 2006 and led the Bombers to the 2011 championship game, where they lost 34-23 to B.C. "Obviously, winning the Grey Cup in 06 was a big point in my life," he said. "Theres lots of memories. You dont necessarily remember all of the big wins and stuff like that. But when you play almost a decade, you have lots of teammates and you see lots of teammates be traded and all these things, so you have lots of memories that stick with you. "Obviously, when I helped the Bombers get to a Grey Cup in Vancouver, that was a big part, and I felt very good about what we accomplished that year." His final CFL campaign, when he was relegated to third-string status with the Blue Bombers before being dealt, was "extremely difficult." "But its all about what he you take away from situations and what you learn," he said. "I was fortunate enough to get traded to B.C., where it all started, and I had some great games at the end of the year. Im privileged and excited to be retiring as a Lion." Pierce had "extremely minor" arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder following the season and would have needed to get another contract from the Lions. But neither his health nor contract issues affected the decision to retire. "I didnt know what was going to happen (after) last year," he said. "I wanted it to be my decision. It wasnt money. It wasnt about injuries. It wasnt about anything else. It was about where I was at my point in my career and moving forward and taking that next step -- and about taking advantage of some of the opportunities that I have out there." Noting he had reached a state of contentment, Pierce expressed gratitude to fans, teammates and his two clubs alike. "The CFL and Canada have been great to me," he said. "Ive been fortunate to have amazing teammates, great mentors all throughout my career, and have played in great cities in the league -- and became a part of the culture here in Canada." He and his wife Lori, who is from Winnipeg, live in the Manitoba capital and plan to reside there until the future opportunities take them somewhere else. "Winnipegs the place that I call home right now," said Pierce. After announcing Pierces retirement, the Lions also announced the signings of quarterbacks John Beck and Jarrett Lee. Pending any early cuts following a mini-camp, the Lions are slated to have five quarterbacks at training camp in June in Kamloops, B.C. In addition to starter Travis Lulay, whose recovery from off-season shoulder surgery is considered ahead of schedule, the Lions have holdover QBs Joey Elliott, the apparent No. 2 at this point, and second-year pro Chris Hart. Jaire Alexander Packers Jersey . Weise will have his hearing with the NHL head office over the phone, while the league has requested an in-person hearing with Kassian. Oilers centre Sam Gagner suffered a broken jaw after getting hit with a high stick from Kassian in Edmontons 5-2 win. Custom Packers Jerseys . However, Jim Popp isnt sure how long hell be able to admire wide receiver Duron Carter. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Tramon-Williams-Packers-Jersey/. -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. Jaire Alexander Jersey . Pekovic had an MRI test Tuesday on his right ankle that revealed bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled pad that cushions the joint. JMon Moore Jersey . -- Deshorn Brown scored twice, the first coming 13 seconds into the game, and the Colorado Rapids beat the undermanned Seattle Sounders 5-1 Saturday night.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Montreal Canadiens ended the 2014 calendar year on a high note. They hope to stay hot in the new year when they visit the New Jersey Devils in Fridays clash at Prudential Center. Montreal enters tonight on a four-game winning streak and also has earned victories in seven of its last eight games. Despite the surge, the Canadiens are still two points behind Tampa Bay for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Habs do hold two games in hand over the Lightning, who also play tonight in Pittsburgh. The Canadiens last played on Tuesday when they overcame some late Florida heroics to record a 2-1 shootout victory. The close win pushed Montreals record on a five-game road trip to 3-0 and the club is now 11-7-1 as the away club this season. Michel Therriens team will cap the trek tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. P.A. Parenteau netted the lone marker in the shootout on Tuesday, while Brendan Gallagher posted the regulation score for the Habs. Dustin Tokarski was less than two minutes away from a shutout, but Floridas Nick Bjugstad tied the game at 1-1 with 1:49 left in regulation. Montreals backup performed well in the win, stopping 36 shots over the games first 65 minutes and all three chances in the breakaway rounds. This year hes been a rock, Gallagher said of Tokarski. Hes been very consistent when hes been in net. Carey Price expects to be back in net tonight for Montreal. He is 8-10-1 with a 2.43 goals against average in 19 career games against the Deviils.dddddddddddd The Devils have lost four of five and nine of their last 11 games and the club is 1-2-0 since firing head coach Peter DeBoer and replacing him with co- coaches Adam Oates and Scott Stevens. New Jersey was on the road on New Years Eve, when it lost a 3-1 decision against the Detroit Red Wings. Henrik Zetterberg snapped a 1-1 tie with 5:01 left in the third period and Darren Helm made it a two-goal cushion just 36 seconds later. Joe Whitneys first NHL goal was New Jerseys lone source of offense and Cory Schneider allowed all three goals on 28 shots in defeat. New Jersey has been dealing with a tremendous amount of injuries and illnesses of late, and another name was added to the list on Wednesday when forward Steve Bernier left late in the third with a lower-body injury. He went into the boards awkwardly on a check attempt and had to be helped off the ice by his teammates. Bernier is expected to miss tonights tilt, but forwards Patrik Elias and Michael Ryder could play after missing time with the mumps. The Devils are beginning a three-game homestand tonight. They are 5-6-5 as the host in 2014-15. Montreal and the Devils are meeting for the first of three encounters this season. The Canadiens have won four of the last six in the series overall and six of eight in the Garden State. With the Devils also playing tomorrow against Philadelphia, Keith Kinkaid could give Schneider a rest tonight. New Jerseys backup has never faced the Canadiens. Jerseys NFL Cheap Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Cheap NFL T-shirts Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2020 ' ' '
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