Coach K won't say if Casey Printers his type

But ex-Ticat welcome at tryouts, Kelly says

He's been labelled a clubhouse cancer and a prima donna. And if you were to paint a picture to best describe quarterback Casey Printers' days with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, it would almost certainly involve a mushroom cloud, an enormous crater and several kilometres of scorched earth. And now, just a few weeks after vehemently denying any interest in his services, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are tap-dancing around weekend reports emanating from a Vancouver radio station that Printers is suddenly in their plans.

QB Casey Printers (Florida A&M Rattlers - 2002) has dropped in one season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from the top paid player in the CFL to unemployed professional quarterback.

"It's beyond me how this story has taken on a life of it's own," head coach Mike Kelly said from San Diego, where the Bombers conducted a free-agent tryout camp on the weekend. "Right now, we're just looking for good players (the club has two more camps scheduled in the next month). These are open tryouts. Joe Montana might walk out and say, 'Hey, I want to throw the ball around' and we'll say, 'OK, let's see what you got.' "I can't turn anybody away from these workouts."

That may be true, but despite his considerable skill set and his glowing credentials -- Printers was the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2004 -- the Bombers have until this point repeatedly spit out a polite "no thanks" when his name popped up in recent weeks. They vehemently denied interest in him in January when rumours surfaced that Printers would be traded to the Bombers for Kevin Glenn. And last month, when Printers was cut adrift by the Ticats, the Bombers took a pass on him as well.



CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Blue to take look at Printers
Suitor: A case for Casey
Green is the colour
Much more madness
• Ticats 'moving in the right direction'
Bombers try to find place for Payton
Extra text-ures

It's Final! Former MEAC QB highest paid player in CFL

Photo: Quarter-back Casey Printers as former member of Kansas City Chiefs

Congratulations are in order for former Florida A&M University and MEAC quarterback Casey Printers. The former NFL quarterback returned to the CFL and inked a three year deal today, worth roughly $500,000 a season, with a fourth option year with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"I'm well-compensated," Printers said at a news conference. "I don't know if I'm the highest-paid, but I am happy and that's the most important thing."

Casey Printers Joins Ti-Cats, Becomes CFL's Highest-Paid Player.

After assuming their perennial position at the bottom of the CFL's East Division for yet another year, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will try just about anything, and on Thursday that anything was throwing a whole bunch of money at Casey Printers.

The hard-luck club inked the former NFLer Thursday, with the two agreeing to terms on a three-year deal worth roughly $500,000 a season.

In U.S. football terms that might not be a lot of dough, but the deal makes Printers the highest-paid player in the CFL, surpassing Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray, who earns about $460,000.

Printers became a viable option for CFL clubs after the 26-year-old was released by the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the start of the NFL season. But in Canada Casey is still mighty, and there was no shortage of interest north of the border for the league's outstanding player in 2004.

Printers put up monster numbers that season, throwing for 5,088 yards and 35 touchdowns with the B.C. Lions.

Five CFL teams reportedly were interested in securing Printers, with Hamilton, Montreal and the Toronto Argonauts believed to be the frontrunners. Printers was reportedly ready to fly to Montreal and join the Als, but that was before the Ticats made him an offer he couldn't refuse, especially after spending last season on the Chiefs practice roster.

Coincidentally, Printers is the second ex-Chief to rejoin the CFL in the last week, after lanky slotback Marc Boerigter joined the Argos.

Printers said he thinks Hamilton was the best fit for him.

"The people here are hard-working, and that's the way I am," Printers said.

At first glance, the B.C. Lions seemed to be the most logical landing spot for Printers. However, he did ruffle the organization's feathers in '05 when there was a constant quarterback controversy regarding whether Printers or veteran Dave Dickenson would play. Also, Printers turned down a three-year, $1-million contract extension from the B.C. club before the start of the 2005 season, opting instead of leaving Vancouver in the off-season to sign a three-year deal with the Chiefs.

However, Printers never made an impact with the Chiefs, spending most of last year on the club's practice roster.

--Canadian Press, CityNews, ca and beepbeep

Former FAMU QB Casey Printers now highest paid player in CFL

The report coming out of Canada this afternoon indicates that former Florida A&M University and MEAC quarterback Casey Printers has returned to the Canadian Football League to continue his pro football career. Printers had signed in February 2006 with the NFL Kansas City Chiefs and had remained on the practice squad. He was cut this past Saturday and was offered an opportunity to resign with the Chiefs as a practice squad player for the current season at about $200,000 annually. He was only activated for one game at the number three QB spot for the Chiefs during last season.

Printers gave the Chiefs a kindly good bye and was being courted by five of the seven CFL teams. It is reported that Printers has signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at about $500,000 per season, making him the highest paid player in the CFL. Hamilton out-bid both Montreal and Toronto for the services of the 26-year veteran quarterback.

Printers player previously for the British Columbia Lions from 2003 to 2005 and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2004. He is considered a franchise player in both skills and the ability to put butts in seats in the CFL.

For more information on this developing story, please check back later.

-beepbeep