VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — After spending two years in NFL suspended animation, quarterback Dave Dickenson is looking forward to contributing once again.

Dickenson officially became a B.C. Lion on Saturday. He teams up again with coach and general manager Wally Buono, who he played under for four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders and is happy to return to the role of starter instead of interested observer.

‘‘That is the most exciting part, to know you have more than a half or a quarter,'' said Dickenson, 30, who saw only preseason action during his stint with four NFL teams.

‘‘In the NFL I knew, I had to butter my bread by having a good half. I'm more excited about going to war with the guys, getting sweaty and feeling like you've made a difference.''

In Dickenson's last CFL season in 2000 he was named league MVP after throwing for 4,636 yards, 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

Has two years standing on the sidelines tarnished his gleam?

‘‘I would be naive if I didn't think I would be a little rusty,'' said the Great Falls, Mont., native who won the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in Division I-AA while leading the University of Montana to the national title.

‘‘I knew this fits my game. I know the shotgun is where I want to be. I know I'm a better player right now physically than when I left. Can I translate that over into performance? We'll see.''

Buono doesn't think it will take Dickenson long to earn the respect of his teammates and the applause of the hard-to-please Vancouver football fans.

‘‘Dave is going to have to go out and do the things we expect him to do,'' said Buono.

‘‘The more TD passes he throws, the more first downs he gets, the more respect he's going to get from his teammates.''

Dickenson's last CFL game was against the Lions in the 2000 Western Conference final at McMahon Stadium. He left the game with a knee injury, B.C. staged an upset and then went on to win the Grey Cup in Calgary.

B.C. president Bob Ackles has spent more than a year tracking Dickenson. The Lions announced Wednesday a verbal agreement had been reached but the final details of the contract were not approved by the league until Saturday morning.

‘‘It was just internal league and B.C. Lions problems and how it was to be structured,'' said Ackles.

Reports have Dickenson agreeing to a four-year contract worth $375,000 a season plus a $200,000 signing bonus.

Asked if those figures were accurate, Dickenson hedged.

‘‘The numbers you guys are hearing are the final numbers if I make all my bonuses,'' he said.

‘‘I would have to be MVP of the Grey Cup and the league. I have a nice base salary that is comparable to Khari (Jones of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and Anthony (Calvillo of the Montreal Alouettes).''

One thing Dickenson isn't sure of is what number he will wear. The No. 15 he's worn most of his career is retired and belongs to former Lions running back Willie Fleming who called it quits in 1967.

By saying hello to Dickenson the Lions are waving goodbye to veteran Damon Allen.

Buono said Allen, 39, the CFL's all-time leader in passing yards, completions and attempts, remains on the Lions roster but won't be in Chilliwack, B.C., when the team opens training camp Sunday.

Buono said he is talking to a CFL team, believe to be the Toronto Argonauts, about making a deal for Allen, who earlier this year signed a one-year contract in the $300,000 range.

During his four years in Calgary, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Dickenson had a record of 21-8-1 as a starter, and threw for 9,261 yards, 64 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

He has spent the past two years as a reserve player with San Diego, Seattle, Miami and Detroit.

In his second year as president, Ackles has attempted to restore some shine to a Lions franchise that was tarnished through some years of mismanagement and neglect.

Luring the respected Buono away from Calgary showed the team was serious about stability in the front office. Now, by putting Dickenson on the field, Ackles hopes to have fans talking about football in the hockey-mad sports community.

Dickenson said he's willing to accept the pressure of the role.

‘‘I fully expect to win games and come in and do my part,'' he said.

‘‘Nobody has ever won a championship with just one guy. You can lose championships without having a certain big piece of the puzzle. What I'm going to try to do is just fit in at first and start things in the right direction.''