Friday, September 18, 2009

Printers not the answer to Lions' QB woes

The B.C. Lions need another quarterback.
They don't need Casey Printers to come back.
Jarious Jackson's torn rotator cuff put Lions general manager and head coach Wally Buono in a bind. With Jackson out for three to five weeks and Buck Pierce susceptible to more concussions, the Lions need another veteran quarterback. Pierce will start Saturday against the Toronto Argonauts at BC Place Stadium, but whether he will finish the game is anybody's guess.
Rookie Travis Lulay, who will serve as the backup, and sophomore Zac Champion, who moves off the taxi squad to become the third stringer, are clearly not ready for prime. The Lions (4-6) need a veteran QB who can help them have a strong finish to a troubled season -- not just a game -- as they battle for a playoff spot.
But Printers is not the answer. He has not played enough since attempting to return to the CFL from the NFL, and his poutiness makes him poison in the dressing room.
Another option could be former Winnipeg pivot Ryan Dinwiddie, who is now an assistant coach with an Idaho high school team after vowing that his playing days were done. Dinwiddie, 28, is no superstar, but he fared reasonably well as a Grey Cup fill-in starter a couple of years ago.
He would be insurance in case Pierce goes down, and there is a good chance that he will.
The trouble is, proven veteran backups, who can step in as starters, are hard to come by in the CFL. Edmonton's Jason Maas has cornered the market on the reliever role, but struggles as a starter.
It's time for player personnel director Roy Shivers to work his magic again and find a diamond in the rough -- who can start right away, if necessary.

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