eri hit Allen with an 11-yard TD pass.Montreal tied it after

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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. Dexter Williams Packers Jersey . Bjoergen pulled away from Swedens Charlotte Kalla on the final straight to win in 38 minutes, 33.6 seconds and defend her title from the 2010 Vancouver Games. Kalla was 1.8 seconds back. Heidi Weng of Norway took bronze. Jaire Alexander Jersey . Hes recovered from a scary injury and cleared to play. Mingo, who was hospitalized with a bruised lung he sustained in an Aug. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Bart-Starr-Packers-Jersey/ . 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Bart Starr Womens Jersey . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not.MONTREAL - Jonathan Crompton doesnt have the rocket arm or the calm demeanour of Anthony Calvillo, but so far, he wins just like the former Montreal Alouettes quarterback great.On a Monday afternoon that featured the retirement of Calvillos No. 13 jersey, Crompton threw three touchdown passes as the Alouettes drubbed the Saskatchewan Roughriders 40-9 for their third win in a row.Crompton, who is 5-1 since he took over as the starter from Troy Smith and Alex Brink, completed only 12 of 25 passes, put picked up 225 yards with a pair of touchdown tosses to Duran Carter and another to Brandon London.Jonathan continues to do what we ask him to do, which is lead the team and get wins, said coach Tom Higgins. His record speaks for itself right now.The only way to evaluate a quarterback is if you win with him. Jonathans a winner and thats the reason were on this roll.Third string quarterback Tanner Marsh also scored on a one-yard plunge for Montreal (6-. Sean Whyte added four field goals.The Alouettes were a mess early in the season as they searched for a replacement for Calvillo, their starter since 2000 who retired in January.The Roughriders (9-6), who could have clinched a playoff spot with a win, have been in the same situation since starter Darian Durants season ended with right elbow surgery last month. Neither Tino Sunseri nor Seth Doege has stepped up to claim the job.Sunseri started and went 7 for 12 for 72 yards, with a TD toss to Anthony Allen, an interception and a fumble. Doege took over in the fourth quarter and was 3 for 6 for 37 yards and an interception.Weve got to find answers to everything, said Riders coach Corey Chamblin. It has to be more than the quarterback situation.We have young guys in there and we depend on them to step up, but we understand that Darians not playing and were not hiding our heads in the sand on that. Weve just got to make sure that with the new quarterbacks, were still able to win.The Roughriders have lost three in a row and four of their last five, but Chamblin said its no time to panic. They lost in Montreal late in the 2013 campaign and looked to be coming unglued, but then rallied and won the Grey Cup.I remember post game saying I dont have the answers but well find them, and at the seasons end, we found the answers, added Chamblin. Its the same. We have to find the answers collectively about how to win football games.Allen gained 105 yards on the ground in the first half and didnt gain another yard on two second-half carries.It was fitting that all the post game talk was about quarterbacks on a day dedicated to the CFLs all-time passing leader. The intermission was extended for a 25-minute halftime ceremony in which a banner with Calvillos name and number was mounted on the stadium wall.The Alouetttes have always done things right, said Calvillo, who got a standing ovation from the season-high crowd of 23,069.dddddddddddd I was so nervous to get off the field.As an athlete, I hated when things like this go on. I just wanted people off the field so we could play. Thats what I was trying to do. Enjoy the moment, get off the stage and let these guys get back to work.Higgins let his team out five minutes early to catch the end of the ceremony.Then they blew open a game they led 21-7 at half time.Chris Rainey ran the kickoff to the Saskatchewan 43 and Crompton hit Carter with a 25-yard TD pass.After a Whyte field goal, Allen fumbled on an exchange with Sunseri and Winston Venable recovered on the 30, from which Crompton hit London in the end zone.Montreal gave up only a safety in the second half.There is emotion you can tap into and we did that, said Higgins. We didnt want to be too high.That would be terrible because all of a sudden youre trying too hard. But there was a plan. We had our own five minute warning and we got our players out. I think they appreciated it, and it was special for Anthony to see his (former) teammates out on the field.Montreal joined Toronto and Hamilton atop the East Division with six wins, setting up a three-way battle for what will likely be two playoff spots open for East Division teams. The Alouettes play at Toronto on Saturday, then end the season with games against Ottawa, Toronto and Hamilton.All three teams control their destiny, said Higgins. We all play each other.Its who is going to line up and finish the season on a positive note. One will get the (first round) bye, one will be second and the third one might not make it.The Roughriders controlled the ball early as Allen ran the ball repeatedly, but it took an Alouettes turnover to set up the first score as Tristan Jackson recovered Carters fumble at the Montreal 35. Five plays later, Sunseri hit Allen with an 11-yard TD pass.Montreal tied it after Sunseri fumbled and John Bowman recovered on the Saskatchewan 25. A pass interference call against Terrell Maze put the ball on the one, and Marsh ran it in at 5:02 of the second quarter. Five minutes later, Crompton hit Carter with a pass over the middle and the slotback ran it 61 yards for a TD. It was Carters 100th career catch.After Montreal conceded a safety in the fourth, Doege handed Geoff Tisdale his second interception of the day.QB Kerry Joseph, 41, who signed with the Riders this week, was used on one short yardage play.Brink mopped up for Montreal.Notes: The 13-yard line at each end was highlighted in red, white and blue with a number 13 on the field to honour Calvillos jersey retirement. . . The Riders were without all-star guard Brendon LaBatte, who has an upper body injury. ' ' '