VANCOUVER -- Players and owners in the NFL should take a look at what happened during the hockey lockout before doing anything that would put games in jeopardy this season, says former quarterback Dave Dickenson.
"The thing about it, did the NHL (labour dispute) accomplish anything?" Dickenson, who played in both the CFL and NFL, asked Friday. "In my opinion, no.
"Guys are still making lots of money. There are still teams that are struggling. There's the same issues."
"I think every league is walking on dangerous grounds when it comes to stoppage of play," said Allen, who won four Grey Cups during his CFL career, including one with B.C. in 2000.
"You don't want to get the fans too pissed off because they might stop coming to the ball games. Then I don't care how much TV dollars you have, no one likes playing in front of an empty stadium."
The NFL should be aware the public has a lot more choices now to spend their entertainment dollars, said Allen.
"The entertainment that is out there now from MMA to all the different things, I don't think the NFL can afford to not play this year," he said.
"Lingerie football is actually getting bigger."
The NFL owners and the player's union, who are locked in a bitter labour dispute, agreed Friday to extend the deadline for negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement by a week.
Dickenson and Allen are two of the five quarterbacks who have helped the B.C. Lions win Grey Cups. The five were in Vancouver to attend the B.C. Lions Orange Helmet Awards dinner, which raises money for amateur football in the province.
Also attending was Joe Kapp, Roy Dewalt and Danny McManus.
Dewalt, who guided the Lions to the 1985 championship, said each former quarterback brings his own personality.
"It's been a hoot," said Dewalt. "Everyone has a story.
"You have some legends here."
Kapp helped the Lions win their first Grey Cup in 1964. He went on to play in the NFL where he led the Minnesota Vikings to the 1970 Super Bowl, which they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
He's frustrated money has been the main focus of the NFL talks.
"They are fighting for the money," said Kapp. "Maybe they should be spending a little more time talking about the issues of head injuries.
"In football you have a chance to get your head rocked. I don't see people doing anything about softening the blows. It's dangerous."
Among the issues in the NFL talks is the owners wanting another US$1 billion in revenues; a rookie wage scale; expanding the season to 18 games from 16; and benefits for retired players.
Dickenson, who had stints in the NFL with San Diego, Seattle, Miami and Detroit, said he hopes both sides are thinking about retired players.
"There is no way I believe rookies deserve what they get," said Dickenson, who led B.C. to 2006 Grey Cup and is now offensive co-ordinator with the Calgary Stampeders.
"I have older friends that played in the NFL that are really struggling with medical coverage. If I go back to the U.S., I don't know what they are gong to do with me because I have surgeries all over the place."
McManus, who was part of the Lions 1994 Grey Cup team, believes a settlement can be reached in the NFL.
"There's companies on Wall Street that are fighting over way, way more money than what the NFL is fighting over," said McManus, who has been voted into the CFL Hall of Fame.
"I think what they are doing right now is getting into the boardroom, trying to iron this thing out and get it done."
Kapp said it's been a great experience meeting the Lions' other Grey Cup quarterbacks.
"These guys are great," he said. "They are fun to be around.
"You can tell they are leaders."
Allen said its like belong to a select club.
"To be part of the five is humbling, unique," he said. "We all have gone through the same things."
Dickenson shrugged when asked what the players from different generations talk about.
"We talked about old guys that were cheap-shot artists," he said.
"We like to whine quite a bit."
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