Printers to miss Canadian Football League pre-season games
He hasn't thrown a pass yet but Casey Printers, last year's CFL MVP, is willing to concede the B.C. Lions starting quarterback position to teammate Dave Dickenson.
For now anyway.
Printers said Wednesday he hasn't fully recovered from off-season surgery for a toe injury that throbbed for the last part of the 2004 campaign.
Until he's fully healthy, Printers plans to practise in just one of the two-a-day sessions during training camp and doesn't expect to play in either of the team's pre-season games.
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Dickenson and Printers
''Since I'm not going to be able to participate in the pre-season games, then it's fair to say Dave is going to be the starting quarterback,'' said Printers, 23, as he and Dickenson spoke to the media at the Lions practice facility.
Printers, who threw a league-leading 35 touchdown passes in his sophomore season last year, won't rush his return.
''Right now I'm not 100 per cent,'' said the six-foot-two, 208-pound native of DeSote, Tex.
''If I'm not 100 per cent I'm not going to put myself at risk and put this team at risk.''
Dickenson, 32, who was the CFL's MVP in 2003, was surprised by Printers' announcement.
''That caught me off guard, I didn't know that,'' said Dickenson, who missed part of the 2004 season due to knee surgery.
''I'm just going to be ready and practise as much as I can and be as well prepared as possible for the season.''
Having two of the best quarterbacks in the league was both a blessing and a curse for Lions coach and general manager Wally Buono last season.
He was blessed that Printers led the Lions to eight consecutive wins when Dickenson was injured.
When Dickenson returned healthy, Buono was cursed with the pressure of trying to keep both players happy and the constant questions over who would start.
Printers was left on the sidelines during B.C.'s 27-19 loss to Toronto in the Grey Cup. He later complained that during the season he often felt like any mistake would result in him being replaced by Dickenson.
With Vancouver hosting this year's Grey Cup, Buono said the Lions will need both quarterbacks to repeat as West champions.
''It's not a matter of one guy is going to lead us to the promised land,'' said Buono.
''It's a long, gruelling season. The more depth you have at that position, the stronger you're going to be as a football team. They are both professionals and they both will put their personal agenda aside.''
The Lions finished first in the West last season with a 13-5 record. Printers completed 325 of 494 passes (65.8 per cent) for 5,088 yards. He guided a Lions offence that led the CFL in scoring (544 points), passing (351.9 yards a game) and total yards (429.2 yards).
This could be the last year both Dickenson and Printers play for the same team.
''Will this situation go on forever?'' said Buono.
''It can't.''
Dickenson is entering the third season of a four-year, $1.7-million deal.
Printers, who earned about $65,000 last season, has this year and an option left on his contract. He has been negotiating with the Lions for a four-year deal which would pay him close to the over $400,000 a year Ricky Ray is earning in Edmonton.
Printers said he's disappointed that both his agent and Buono have discussed his contract in the media. He said he will refuse to comment on his contract once training camp opens Sunday.
If Printers doesn't get a new deal, he may look at the NFL after the season.
Buono said signing Printers is a priority and the Lions have made a substantial offer. Buono also denied reports he's signed a new three-year contract.
''There is nothing that has been finalized,'' he said.
''I'm not going anywhere. I don't want to go anywhere.''
For now anyway.
Printers said Wednesday he hasn't fully recovered from off-season surgery for a toe injury that throbbed for the last part of the 2004 campaign.
Until he's fully healthy, Printers plans to practise in just one of the two-a-day sessions during training camp and doesn't expect to play in either of the team's pre-season games.
Related Info
Dickenson and Printers
''Since I'm not going to be able to participate in the pre-season games, then it's fair to say Dave is going to be the starting quarterback,'' said Printers, 23, as he and Dickenson spoke to the media at the Lions practice facility.
Printers, who threw a league-leading 35 touchdown passes in his sophomore season last year, won't rush his return.
''Right now I'm not 100 per cent,'' said the six-foot-two, 208-pound native of DeSote, Tex.
''If I'm not 100 per cent I'm not going to put myself at risk and put this team at risk.''
Dickenson, 32, who was the CFL's MVP in 2003, was surprised by Printers' announcement.
''That caught me off guard, I didn't know that,'' said Dickenson, who missed part of the 2004 season due to knee surgery.
''I'm just going to be ready and practise as much as I can and be as well prepared as possible for the season.''
Having two of the best quarterbacks in the league was both a blessing and a curse for Lions coach and general manager Wally Buono last season.
He was blessed that Printers led the Lions to eight consecutive wins when Dickenson was injured.
When Dickenson returned healthy, Buono was cursed with the pressure of trying to keep both players happy and the constant questions over who would start.
Printers was left on the sidelines during B.C.'s 27-19 loss to Toronto in the Grey Cup. He later complained that during the season he often felt like any mistake would result in him being replaced by Dickenson.
With Vancouver hosting this year's Grey Cup, Buono said the Lions will need both quarterbacks to repeat as West champions.
''It's not a matter of one guy is going to lead us to the promised land,'' said Buono.
''It's a long, gruelling season. The more depth you have at that position, the stronger you're going to be as a football team. They are both professionals and they both will put their personal agenda aside.''
The Lions finished first in the West last season with a 13-5 record. Printers completed 325 of 494 passes (65.8 per cent) for 5,088 yards. He guided a Lions offence that led the CFL in scoring (544 points), passing (351.9 yards a game) and total yards (429.2 yards).
This could be the last year both Dickenson and Printers play for the same team.
''Will this situation go on forever?'' said Buono.
''It can't.''
Dickenson is entering the third season of a four-year, $1.7-million deal.
Printers, who earned about $65,000 last season, has this year and an option left on his contract. He has been negotiating with the Lions for a four-year deal which would pay him close to the over $400,000 a year Ricky Ray is earning in Edmonton.
Printers said he's disappointed that both his agent and Buono have discussed his contract in the media. He said he will refuse to comment on his contract once training camp opens Sunday.
If Printers doesn't get a new deal, he may look at the NFL after the season.
Buono said signing Printers is a priority and the Lions have made a substantial offer. Buono also denied reports he's signed a new three-year contract.
''There is nothing that has been finalized,'' he said.
''I'm not going anywhere. I don't want to go anywhere.''
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