Football on the wire

CUNNINGHAM ANXIOUS

Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham can't wait until defensive tackle returns to the team.

Nick Fairley, the Lions' firstround pick this year, suffered a foot injury in the first week of camp and will likely be sidelined for the rest of the preseason.

"I was really upset about it, because of him, not because of our football team," Cunningham told mlve.com.

GREEN RETIRES FROM PACK

Running back Ahman Green is retiring as a Green Bay Packer.

Green, the franchise's all-time leading rusher, was set to make his retirement official at a news conference at Lambeau Field Thursday night.

Green's most recent stint in the National Football League came during the 2009 season, when he returned to the Packers in midseason.

PIERCE MOVES ON

Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce said he has nothing special to prove when he suits up Saturday against the B.C. Lions, the team that released him following the 2009 season.

On the contrary, Pierce said he still feels indebted to the Lions organization, where he spent five seasons.

"That's where I learned how to play quarterback at the professional level," Pierce said.