TORONTO - Veteran CFL quarterback Damon Allen is calling it quits.
A CFL source requesting anonymity said Tuesday the Toronto Argonauts quarterback has decided to retire after 23 seasons. The source added Allen is expected to make the announcement official Wednesday.
Dan Lawson, Allen's long-time agent, politely offered no comment regarding whether his client had indeed decided to call it a career.
Allen, 44, had maintained as early as last week that he intended to attend training camp and compete for the starter's job.
However, the harsh reality was he likely would've gone into camp third on the depth chart behind newly acquired Kerry Joseph and veteran Michael Bishop, both of whom signed new deals with the Argos in the off-season.
The San Diego native will leave the CFL as pro football's career passing leader with 72,381 yards. The younger brother of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen was a three-time Grey Cup MVP and in 2005 was named the league's outstanding player after passing for a career-high 5,082 yards.
But Allen spent most of last season as Bishop's backup -- completing 45-of-67 passes for 492 yards -- before finishing the year on the injured list.
A further sign that Allen's time with Toronto had come to an end was the club's blockbuster off-season trade for Joseph, the CFL's outstanding player last year who led Saskatchewan to the Grey Cup.
Allen entered the CFL as a free agent with Edmonton in 1985 and also spent time with Ottawa, Hamilton, B.C., and Memphis.
Allen also holds the CFL record for most yards rushing by a quarterback with over 11,000 yards.
