Dickenson returning to the Stampeders
Dave Dickenson is headed back to the Calgary Stampeders.
The free-agent quarterback agreed to a one-year deal plus an option with the Canadian Football League team on Thursday.
Player agent Ken Staninger said Dickenson will be a backup to Henry Burris, and is looking forward to the opportunity to make the team better in any way he can.
"I want to live here and I want my kids to grow up here," said Dickenson, who lives in Calgary in the off-season. "For a one- or two-year deal, to try and go to
another city, it wasn't going to happen.
"I understand it's a backup role and that's OK."
Calgary finished third in the Western Division with a 7-10-1 record in 2007 before falling to Saskatchewan in the division semifinal.
The Stampeders want Dickenson as insurance in case Burris goes down with injury as he did last season.
"You want a guy behind you that has experience," Burris said. "Better yet, the ability to come in and spell you in case an injury were to occur."
The Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers were also reportedly interested in signing the nine-year CFLer.
Dickenson started his CFL career with the Stampeders in 1996, when current coach John Hufnagel was offensive co-ordinator, and was named the league's outstanding player in 2000.
Dickenson, 35, remained in Calgary through 2000 before attempting a career in the National Football League. He returned to the CFL in 2003, signing with the B.C. Lions and leading the club to a Grey Cup championship in 2006.
In November, the Lions released the oft-injured pivot because of his $400,000 annual salary, plus the emergence of Buck Pierce and fellow free agent Jarious Jackson.
Dickenson suffered his third concussion in two years last July in a game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders and spent the next three months on the sidelines with post-concussion syndrome.
The Montana native returned on Oct. 26 and finished the season completing 64.4 per cent of his passes for 740 yards in five games.
"I've been three, four, five months symptom-free," Dickenson said.
Last week, received medical clearance from noted concussion specialist Dr. Karen Johnston.
Dickenson was also hampered by ankle and knee injuries in 2005 and 2004 respectively.
In nine CFL seasons, Dickenson is the all-time leader in pass completion rate at 67.6 per cent. He has amassed 22,834 yards through the air, passed for 154 touchdowns and rushed for 14.
He was the 2006 Grey Cup most valuable player.