WINNIPEG -- Buck Pierce wasnt out of football long. On Tuesday, the former quarterback retired following nine CFL campaigns. Three days later, he returned to Winnipeg -- where he spent three-plus seasons -- as the Blue Bombers running backs coach. Rookie head coach Mike OShea said Friday adding Pierce to his staff was a no-brainer. "When Buck retired, it came up as part of my multiple conversations per day with Kyle (Bombers GM Kyle Walters)," OShea said. "Then it went to how good a guy Buck is, his experience and the value of adding a CFL quarterback to our staff. "The running backs position hadnt been filled and its an entry-level position for guys who want to get into coaching and learn the daily rigours of becoming a professional football coach. Kyle and I got on the phone with Buck and he was very receptive. He wants to coach, he loves the CFL game and it just made sense on all levels to have Buck Pierce on our staff." The six-foot-two, 195-pound Pierce began his CFL career with the B.C. Lions, spending five seasons in Vancouver before signing with Winnipeg as a free agent following the 09 season. Pierce, 32, remained with the Bombers until last September when he was traded back to B.C. Injuries limited Pierce to 67 starts in 125 career CFL games although he did post a solid 64.2 completion percentage, with 76 TDs and 63 interceptions. He also averaged 7.2 yards per rushing attempt with 14 touchdowns while also committing 18 fumbles. Despite being plagued by an assortment of injuries, there was never any question about Pierces heart, toughness or character. Regardless of the ailment, he always returned to the field for his teammates. And embarking on a coaching career in Winnipeg makes perfect sense. Not only did Pierce play for the Bombers, his fiancee is also from the Manitoba capital. But OShea, a former standout linebacker who became Torontos special-teams co-ordinator following his stellar career with the Argonauts, said becoming a coach can present challenges for some former players. "Im sure Buck recognized early in his career the coaches were there before he was and were there after he left," OShea said. "Its always an eye-opener in terms of the planning and the number of tasks that are involved. "But as the staff comes together in the off-season and gets going through the daily routine and has the specific tasks theyre charged with Im sure hell get it all figured out quickly." OShea believes adding a former CFL quarterback to his coaching staff will provide added benefits as well. "These guys play quarterback for a reason, they have the ability to take in all that information, process it and then put it all back out there," OShea said. "Hell obviously do some work figuring out drills and finding out what his position group needs on a daily basis but hell also give that group a different perspective and understanding about how other positions are looking at the game and not just through the running backs eyes. "Any time a player can gain a better understanding of what the other positions are thinking out there is a good thing. That kind of knowledge only helps players produce." Notes: The Bombers signed quarterback Robert Marve and receiver Mario Urrutia on Friday. The six-foot-one, 212-pound Marve played collegiately at Miami (2007-08) and Purdue (2010-2012). The six-foot-six, 238-pound Urrutia was a 2008 seventh-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals out of the University of Louisville. He also spent time with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the Arena Football Leagues Utah Blaze. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 16 rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings snap a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Bulls 99-70 on Monday night. NFL Jerseys Cheap . After missing 20 games as a rookie a year ago, Valanciunas - like the Raptors as a whole - has been fortunate to be in good health this season. As he spoke about it, the Raptors sophomore centre scanned the room for wood to knock on. "It is disappointing because we lost today so thats the worst part of the day," said Valanciunas, who left Tuesdays game with a lower-back sprain in the third quarter, missing the rest of Torontos 118-113 overtime defeat at the hands of the Hawks. http://www.jerseyswholesalenfl.net/ .Y. -- Phil Jackson lost out on his preferred coach, but hes working hard on keeping his star player. 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Among those who missed the cut were forwards Alberto Gilardino and Pablo Osvaldo, Sunderland winger Emanuele Giaccherini, attacking midfielder Alessandro Diamanti, who recently joined Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, and Zenit St. Petersburg fullback Domenico Criscito. The forwards included are Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano, Alessio Cerci, Mattia Destro, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne and Rossi. On Monday, Chiellini was banned by the Serie A judge for elbowing Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic in Juventus 1-0 win Sunday. But Italy coach Cesare Prandelli apparently viewed the incident as not having any intent of violence. Last month, Roma forward Destro was left off the squad for fitness tests while he served a three-match ban for punching an opponent, and several other players have missed matches due to similar code of ethics violations. Prandellis latest squad announcement was made with a press release by the Italian football federation -- with no comments attached. Also left out was 17-year-old Udinese goalkeeper Simone Scuffet, hailed as the next Gianluigi Buffon. Torinos 24-year-old fullback Matteo Darmian was a surprise inclusion. Parmaa goalkeeper Antonio Mirante was left off the 30-man list but was called up to train with the squad in case of an injury to the three goalkeepers selected -- captain Gianluigi Buffon, Salvatore Sirigu and Mattia Perin.dddddddddddd Its Buffons ninth call up to a major international tournament, moving him level with former Germany great Lothar Matthaus as the top Europeans -- and it would have been 10 if Buffon hadnt been injured for the 2000 European Championship. Four-time champion Italy is in Group D with England, Uruguay and Costa Rica. Final 23-man squads are due June 2. ------ Italy: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain). Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan). Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Hellas Verona), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain). Forwards: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Mattia Destro (Roma), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina). ' ' '