By Elliotte Freidman,
CBC Sports
There is a difference between Montreal, B.C., Winnipeg, Calgary, or any other team that wanted Casey Printers. Hamilton needed him. And, that is why Printers is a Tiger-Cat.
Printers and agent Jason Medlock knew this. Medlock drove several teams absolutely crazy during this process, particularly Hamilton and Montreal, which reportedly faces a month without Anthony Calvillo. But that’s what he’s there for: to bleed every cent he could out of an owner’s wallet. And Bob Young was basically standing there, saying, “Please sir, can I have another?”
Young’s folksy charm won’t sell any more tickets in Hamilton. This team has changed coaches, quarterbacks, everything. Since the romantic recovery of 2004, which remains the team’s only playoff season since 2001, the Tiger-Cats have won 10 of 45 games. Sources say that’s not very good. And it’s not like they are losing close games. The average margin of defeat was 11 in 2005, 12 in 2006 and 11 again so far this season.
What’s worse, they’re boring. Hamilton had the worst offence in 2005 (by 58 points) and in 2006 (by 70). This year, the team is on pace to be 110 behind the next-worse team. Sometimes, fans can tolerate an exciting loser. But a boring one? Sorry, not interested.
Printers and Jesse Lumsden bring instant offence to team that looks totally lost when it has the ball. Printers also eliminates the team’s yo-yoing at the quarterback position, which reached a new low with the Labour Day yanking of supposed QB of the Future Timmy Chang. The Tiger-Cats have already traded Jason Maas, but should also look to move Chang, who deserves a fresh start and probably doesn’t trust the coaching staff.
But the quarterback has something to prove, as well. While it’s hard to blame him for being angered at the 2004 Grey Cup benching, it’s not as if he hasn’t ignited a blaze or two on his own. It’s interesting how the B.C. Lions, who would likely be the Grey Cup favourite with Printers, wanted nothing to do with him. Rob Murphy, who never even played with the guy, was out front telling everyone who would listen that this quarterback was not welcome.
Reputations are hard to change, once earned. And, Printers’ reputation is that he’s a “me” guy. “It’s never his fault,” is the label that sticks on him. We’ll see, and quickly. While his arrival immediately makes Hamilton a better team, fact is that there will still be plenty of offensive mistakes. This team is so messed up that Printers has a legitimate, built-in excuse for the rest of 2007. But will he use it?
It will take a special quarterback to win here. No one doubts Printers can be that guy. There is no controversy. It’s his job. The franchise needs him. The city needs him. To be perfectly honest, the situation is so bad that the league needs him.
No excuses now. It’s time for Casey Printers to deliver.
Elliotte Friedman is the host of the CFL on CBC. Catch the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats live on CBC on Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
(The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of the Canadian Football League)
