Sep
Will Casey Printers return to the B.C. Lions??
Courtesy Vancouver Sun:
Never say never. It’s a tried-and-true philosophy adopted by many in the wacky world of the Canadian Football League.
Good thing, too.
Take three months ago at the B.C. Lions training camp, for instance. It was then that Lions general manager and coach Wally Buono open the possibility of throwing quarterback Casey Printers a lifeline should a situation arise where he could possibly help his former team.
Well, it’s situation critical now, with starting quarterback Jarious Jackson lost for up to five weeks with a damaged rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder. Buck Pierce assumes the No. 1 job against the Toronto Argonauts for tonight’s game at BC Place. Travis Lulay and Zac Champion, both unproven at the CFL level, move up the depth chart.
Printers had yet to hear from the Lions on Friday, but seemed intrigued by the possibility of returning to B.C. He said he’s adopting a wait-and-see approach before commenting any further.
“When that opportunity presents itself, I’ll address it at that time,” said Printers, from his home in Houston, Texas. “Right now it’s just rumours as far as I’m concerned. I haven’t heard anything from the Lions and until there’s some facts and I speak to the appropriate people there’s not much I want to say.”
Printers was voted the league’s most outstanding player in 2004, his first of two seasons with the Lions. He left following the 2005 season to sign a free-agent contract with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, but returned north in 2007 when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed him to a $500,000 contract. After a disastrous campaign with the TiCats, Printers was given his walking papers and departed the CFL with a legacy of being a disruptive, me-first guy in the dressing room and a one-hit wonder on the field.
“You think all of Casey’s problems were just him? I don’t think they were.” said Buono, on Friday. “I don’t know [if Printers has changed]. I talked to him in the off-season. I’m a big believer in listening, but I’m also a big believer in seeing.”
Pierce was named the Lions starter before training camp, but hasn’t played a down since being suffering concussion-like symptoms the last time the Lions and Argos played on Aug. 14. The 28- year-old pivot has a history of concussions — his most recent being his fifth in the past 11 months — and all it would take is one blow and B.C.’s offence would be left in the hands of a pair of relative rookies for the stretch drive.
Printers, who works as a personal speaker and has a book entitled From High School to the Pros due out soon, politely declined to say much more other than he has the utmost respect for Buono and the Lions as an organization.
“There’s been a lot said in the media about Wally and I — and that stuff is so crazy and bogus,” he said. “I don’t know what else to say. It’s unfortunate for Jarious, but again it’s all speculation. Until I’m contacted directly there’s no need for me to say anything else.”
Never say never.
