You couldn't ask for a more interesting story line than the quarterbacks in Monday's game between the B.C. Lions and the Argos at the SkyDome. B.C. has 31-year-old veteran Dave Dickenson and 23-year-old understudy Casey Printers.

The Argos have 41-year-old veteran Damon Allen and 25-year-old backup Michael Bishop.

Let's begin with the Lions. Printers took over as the starting quarterback from Dickenson in the fourth game of the season, while Dickenson recovered from lingering knee problems resulting from major off-season surgery and subsequent arthroscopic surgery. Dickenson returned last week but didn't play, as Printers threw for some 400 yards, his latest virtuoso performance.

At this point, Printers is the runaway favourite to be voted the CFL's most outstanding player.

With four games left in the season, Printers has completed 66% of his passes, which would rank among the top-10 best overall in league history if he maintains it, and has a quarterback rating of 115.8, which is on pace to be a league record.

Lions coach Wally Buono wants to give Dickenson some playing time but will be able to do that only if Printers gets hurt or the Lions clinch first place, possibly as early as Monday with a win.

When Dickenson returned to the CFL last year following two seasons as a well-travelled NFL backup who didn't play in a single regular-season game, the Lions pursued him aggressively and won a bidding war. They gave him a four-year deal and made him the highest-paid player in the league at roughly $475,000 per annum. To make room for Dickenson, the Lions traded Allen, who had played seven years in B.C., to the Argos.

Now Dickenson may have to be moved. Printers has one year and the standard option year on his contract, but there have been suggestions his agent, who also happens to be his uncle, may be willing to renegotiate the deal for a longer term by increasing the value of the contract. Printers is earning only about $60,000 a season because he had no market value when the Lions signed him two years ago. It has turned out to be a steal of a deal for B.C.

Printers can't entertain thoughts of jumping to the National Football League until at least the end of next season, at which point he will be able to take advantage of a window that allows CFL option-year players to explore NFL opportunities. And, if he continues his rapid development, Printers will have that opportunity. On the other hand, there have been at least three recent examples of promising, young, CFL quarterbacks -- Henry Burris, Ricky Ray and Dickenson -- who bolted for the big-money opportunities in the NFL but became backups who received little playing time. Ray is on the New York Jets practice roster.

Dickenson has a no-trade clause in his deal but might agree to waive it to become a starter elsewhere, particularly if the Lions re-work Printers' deal.

PLAYED DECENTLY

Which brings us to Toronto. Allen is ready to return to the lineup, recovered from the cracked tibia suffered in a game on Aug. 12 against Montreal. Bishop, who will make his seventh consecutive start in relief of Allen this Monday, has played decently, but nowhere near the level of Printers.

Allen, unlike Dickenson, will be returned as quickly as possible into his starting spot, but his situation is tenuous beyond this season. The Argos ownership and football brass are looking for a young stud. That someone just might be Dickenson or it may be the 24-year-old Ray, if he decides to return to the CFL, which is likely.

Dickenson and Ray are represented by the same agent, so you know there will be some interesting positioning to ensure both players are put into the best situations.