Four years ago you could ask Casey Printers to talk about Casey Printers and you might have been able to have a lengthy conversation without having to say another word.

Ask him today to talk about Casey and be prepared to hear a whole bunch of "we", the "team" and it's "not about me".

Well, Casey it is, and it isn't about you.

No one could blame Printers when his Canadian Football League career started, he became an instant fan favourite, the most outstanding player in the league and everyone thought he was a National Football League superstar in the waiting. Throw all that hoopla in with a bad agent and you could see the big mess developing a mile away.

It is amazing what a journey to the NFL can do to your ego and what a trip to Hamilton can do for your wallet. Printers has benefited from both. He went chasing what was good for him, there were definitely the dollars, but there was never really any sense.

Through it all Lions general manager and coach Wally Buono watched from a distance. He never had an issue with Printers when he was here, Buono even through big money at him to keep him a Lion.

Buono believes he can may every player buy into the team and if he can't that player doesn't become a Lion.

What was Printers' test? Well, would he become a fifth string quarterback and be happy sitting on a practice roster?

Printers answered yes to coach Buono's question of being a fifth stringer. Buono was aware Casey had learned some tough lessons.

No one could have foreseen all the injures that had to occur to get Printers into the starting line-up, let alone the starter's spot. The thought process from the coach was for Casey to come and show he is ready to work, learn and be a team guy. The Printers' headlines were supposed to be the media's top stories next spring at training camp, but that obviously changed and Printers is a headline act once again.

He makes the headlines because he is that good and that was the case as a youngster and it is that case now in the sequel. We as fans know that and the great thing after failures in Kansas City and Hamilton Printers now know its not all about him, but the environment created by the GM.

I wonder when Wally dusts off that last-ditch offer he made years back that he applies a little whiteout and maybe gets the signature he was looking for in 2005 and both sides would be happy this time around.