SURREY, B.C. - Casey Printers was as evasive about his future with
the B.C. Lions as he is when scrambling from the clutches of a
defensive end.
The only thing certain is that Printers will be in the option
year of his contract after re-signing with the quarterback-starved
Lions in September.
But his status as a starter - whether he'll supplant brittle Buck
Pierce as the No. 1 pivot - will be one of the uncertainties of the CFL's
off-season.
"We'll
be back and we'll see what happens," Printers said as the Lions cleaned
out their lockers Monday. "I can't tell you what's going to happen
because I don't know."
The Lions' season ended Sunday with a 56-18, mistake-filled loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the East Division final.
Many teammates didn't have answers about their future but expected
changes. The Lions shed nine players and lost two to the NFL before
this year's training camp.
Asked if he'd be happy to return, the 27-year-old Printers, who
started the last three regular-season losses and won one of two in the
playoffs, replied:
"We'll see. I can't give you a definite answer because I don't know.
If the opportunity presents itself, then, of course. But again, the
opportunity has to be extended."
Printers, the league's most outstanding player when he led the Lions
to the 2004 Grey Cup game, was the fifth quarterback to see action this season for
B.C.
"Casey came in and he gave us a lot of life (but) I'm not sure
what's going to happen with the quarterback situation," said veteran
receiver Geroy Simon.
"I think Casey can definitely take us where we need to go. He has
the leadership quality, he has the big-play capability. He can make a
lot of things happen and a lot of guys are willing to follow him."
Pierce started 12 games but his season ended with a damaged shoulder. He also suffered a concussion and a hand injury.
"The big thing for me right now is what direction we're going to go with my shoulder," Pierce said.
"I still feel like I can win and I can go out there. But whenever
you have a season that doesn't go the way you anticipated from the
beginning, changes are going to be made."
Jarious Jackson (three starts), Travis Lulay and Zac Champion also
saw action at quarterback. Jackson and Lulay were sidelined by
shoulder problems as well.
"All those (injuries) made the season very, very difficult," said
coach and GM Wally Buono, who wouldn't discuss personnel issues.
"I think it's important to let the emotions of the 2009 season wane
away," Buono said. "We have to make decisions. I don't think anybody's
foolish enough not to know that."
While Buono became the CFL's winningest coach with 234 victories,
his Lions regressed to 8-10, three fewer wins than in 2008 and a major
drop from the franchise-record 14-3-1 mark set in 2007.
After making five consecutive West finals, they squeaked into the
post-season when Hamilton defeated Winnipeg in the last game of the
schedule.
They crossed over to the East and beat the Tiger-Cats 34-27 in
overtime after a regular season that began 1-4 and ended 0-3. Then came
six turnovers and 56 points against in Montreal.
"You've got to keep things in perspective, deal with it and grow,"
Printers said of the Montreal loss. "In defeat, you certainly learn a
lot."
The Lions, who will play in a temporary stadium in 2010 while B.C.
Place gets a retractable roof, saw leads slip away after
defensive end Cameron Wake and his 23 sacks left for the NFL Miami Dolphins.
Elusive running back Stefan Logan is returning kicks for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Other veterans who didn't return include linemen Rob Murphy and Tyrone
Williams, slotback Jason Clermont and linebacker Otis Floyd.
This year will likely be no different in terms of change, said
defensive end Ricky Foley, who tied for the league lead in sacks with 12. Foley will
join running back Martell Mallett in Calgary for the CFL awards.
Foley is the West nominee for top Canadian while Mallett is on the ballot for outstanding rookie.
"I'd love to be back, but it's a business so you never know what's
going to happen," said Foley, who will be a free agent in February.
"It was the first time I've been an underdog (going into the
playoffs). It was a different year, a lot of adversity so hopefully a
lot of the younger guys learned a lot from this year."