Courtesy Montreal Gazette

Happy to have regained his starting position along the offensive line - although somewhat subdued it required an injury for it to occur - Paul Lambert nonetheless still has a bitter taste in his mouth and can’t forget the indignity he has been forced to endure recently.

“Things can change. But this … I’ll never forget this,” the veteran guard said. “I could play and start every game next year and honour my contract. This wasn’t a game or two. It was half the season.”

Lambert, a seven-year Canadian Football League veteran - the last five with the Alouettes - became a non-starter for the first time in his career in September. He didn’t dress for a game at Molson Stadium against British Columbia, because of a knee injury. When he regained his health the following week, at Edmonton, he had been replaced by American rookie Skip Seagraves.

Lambert has dressed for the last seven games, but started only one, at Saskatchewan. That hasn’t sat well with the 6-foot-4, 295 pounder, especially while the Als have continued giving up quarterback sacks at a brisk pace.

“I’m from Montreal. I go to different places - restaurants and grocery stores - and am constantly being asked questions … about the team’s record and the sacks,” he said. “It has been a challenge to respond. It has been hard mentally on me and my family.”

The Als won’t set a CFL record for sacks allowed. But, with one game remaining, they’ve given up a league-high 65 - 15 more than Edmonton. Tellingly, operating most of the game in front of mobile quarterback Marcus Brady, the Als allowed only one sack against Calgary last weekend. Perhaps it hasn’t all been the line’s fault, in other words.

“It’s tough. You always want to play, especially when you know you can and you’ve played for so long,” Lambert said.

“We’re all competitors. You see your team struggle and you don’t participate. It’s hard. You want to participate and think you can make a difference, but you need an opportunity,” Lambert added.

Starting tomorrow night at Winnipeg, and presumably as long as the Als remain in the playoffs, Lambert will get that opportunity. Rookie left-tackle Josh Bourke has been lost for the season with a torn ligament in his left knee. That means Seagraves slides over to replace Bourke, Lambert regains his old position, and Luke Fritz, who hasn’t dressed in five of the last six games, will be activated as the sixth lineman.

The Blue Bombers have recorded 47 sacks in 17 games. Only B.C. and Toronto have more.

“I’m happy to play,” said Lambert, who will line up against Doug Brown (provided he recovers from an injury) and Jerome Haywood. “I’d appreciate starting more if it wasn’t caused by an injury.”

Bourke, meanwhile, obviously feels rotten knowing he won’t play another down this season and with the playoffs beginning next weekend.

The 6-foot-7, 315-pounder joined the Als in August, after his release by Green Bay, where he spent last season. Selected 21st overall by Montreal in 2004, Bourke didn’t hide his desire to return to the NFL, as early as next year. But now, coming off an injury that will require surgery, he knows he’s destined to spend at least one more season in Canada, completing the option year of his contract.

“This is unfortunate. Obvioiusly, I wanted to finish the year and compete in the playoffs,” said Bourke, who suffered a similar injury to his right knee in 2004, while in college. “I started eight games and contributed. They know what I can do. I’ll have surgery, complete my rehab and come back.”