Courtesy Toronto Star:

Damon Allen finally closed the door on his extraordinary football career.

But he didn’t lock it.

While he announced to a packed press conference yesterday at a Bay St. lounge that he was, in fact, retiring after 23 years in the CFL, he left open the possibility that he might answer the call if a team needed someone to temporarily fill in for its injured quarterback.

“When that time comes my ears will be open,” he said following an eloquent, emotional farewell. “That’s the kind of situation where I wouldn’t be surprised teams would think of me due to the fact I understand the game and I’m someone they wouldn’t have to teach a whole new offence.

“But if the situation is not right, I’m going to say no.”

Allen said he would never attempt a full comeback a year from now as some star athletes have done.

“I think of the Michael Jordan situation where some people say some of his legacy is tainted because he went back and forth three times,” he said. “I always wanted to be the one who, once I’m retired, I’m retired.”

Allen admitted yesterday that he knew in his own mind that he was going to retire following last fall’s East Division final when he didn’t get off the bench, even though starter Michael Bishop struggled in a 19-9 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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