News

Casey Printers arrived in Canada yesterday with his luggage in tow, a sure sign he was ready to commit to a CFL club and a long-term contract.

But which club and for how much were still up in the air last night as the 26-year-old quarterback contemplated his return to the league he dominated in 2004.

Printers, who recently cleared NFL waivers after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs, was believed to be in Toronto, where he awaited instructions from his Texas-based agent, Jason Medlock.

Medlock confirmed he had an offer for Printers and that the 6-foot-2, 222-pound passer was in Canada (Medlock wouldn't say where). "He'll be suiting up this weekend," Medlock said. "He won't play, but he'll be suited up."

The offer, the agent said, would pay Printers "in the $400,000-plus range" a season. Ricky Ray of the Edmonton Eskimos is the top-paid CFL quarterback at $460,000.

While the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are eager to sign Printers, given their quarterbacking woes, the offer in Medlock's hands is not from them. Medlock wouldn't identify which team was the first to pony up a contract, but did say the Calgary Stampeders expressed an interest.

"Calgary has called and they haven't sent me a contract, but they have said what they'd pay," said Medlock, who spoke with Stampeders general manager Jim Barker.

As for the B.C. Lions, they've been following Printers since his departure after the 2005 season and spoke with Medlock on Tuesday. General manager and head coach Wally Buono insisted the call had to do with another of Medlock's clients, a defensive lineman the Lions are interested in signing.

"He's out there," Buono said of Printers, who was the CFL's most outstanding player in 2004 after throwing 35 touchdown passes. "But our focus is on trying to beat Montreal again [on Sunday]. We are observing."

Observing? Yes. Offering up a contract? That's a distinct possibility considering the status of veteran quarterback Dave Dickenson, whose season could be done if he can't shake off his latest postconcussion maladies.

Dickenson, 34, was hurt on July 13 when he was hit under the chin and slammed to the turf by Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end Fred Perry. Since then, Dickenson has not played and barely practised.

Buono said yesterday he chatted with Dickenson to get a handle on how his quarterback was feeling.

"He's frustrated," Buono acknowledged. "He's not having the progress he wants. He is making some. He did run [Tuesday] and he worked out [yesterday]. I don't want to bother him or pressure him. I just like to chat with him and find out where he's at."

Dickenson has said that if he's still feeling woozy come October, his season would be over. The Lions are also without Buck Pierce, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in last month's 45-45 tie with the Stampeders and will be sidelined for at least two more weeks.

That means the Lions' current quarterbacking lineup consists of Jarious Jackson, Gino Guidugli and Ben Sankey, which pretty much screams for Printers's arrival.

But not every Lion is anxious to see Printers return. During his time with B.C., Printers's drive to be the starting quarterback created a split in the dressing room — one side wanted the younger, mobile quarterback to play more, while the other wanted disciplined, experienced Dickenson.

In the end, the Lions' coaching staff went with Dickenson, and Printers turned down a three-year, $1.2-million contract extension to sign with Kansas City.

"There are guys who appreciated what he did on the field and still talk to him, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say the consensus on the team is it wouldn't be good if he came back," offensive lineman Rob Murphy told the Vancouver Province. "To inject someone like that who has caused problems in the past, I don't think would be to our benefit."

As for the Ticats, the inconsistent efforts of Jason Maas and Timmy Chang have led to a 1-8 record and the lowest scoring offence in the CFL. Ticats president Scott Mitchell said the club is "definitely interested" in Printers and will make a pitch. Knowing that Medlock already had an offer, the Ticats may have submitted a contract last night.

Medlock added that the owners of the Toronto Argonauts were scheduled to meet last night to discuss Printers.

Toronto has Michael Bishop, back after a seven-week layoff with a broken wrist, Rocky Butler, Eric Crouch, Mike McMahon and Damon Allen, who is out with a toe injury and won't be back until late in the season.

With a report from David Naylor