THE CANADIAN PRESS

ST-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU, Que. -- A lot has changed for the Montreal Alouettes over the course of this decade, but one constant that remains is seeing Anthony Calvillo at quarterback and Ben Cahoon at slotback.

Five head coaches and hundreds of players have come and gone since Calvillo and Cahoon emerged as starters for the Als in 2000. That longevity is part of the reason why Calvillo and Cahoon are not only one of the most productive quarterback-receiver combinations in CFL history, but also good friends off the field.

Cahoon says that friendship was, essentially, forced upon them by a process of elimination.

"It's a relationship of convenience," Cahoon said jokingly, though he didn't laugh. "As the team made transitions and made changes, you just find yourself staring at the same guy year after year."

The 2009 season will be yet another one of those years, but after the Alouettes lost in the Grey Cup game to the Calgary Stampeders last season neither Calvillo nor Cahoon were certain to be back for another one.

Yet here they are, back again to serve as the engine for the Alouettes offence.

With both players turning 37 over the course of this season, a lot of people might figure losing that Grey Cup gave both Calvillo and Cahoon a sense of unfinished business. But neither said that was the main motivating factor in their return.

"The only true way to know that would be if it really happened," Calvillo said when asked if he would have retired had the Als won last year's Grey Cup. "But I know for me the fight is still there, and it still would have been there whether we won the game or not.

"You always want to be able to compete at a high level, and I feel that I can still do that."

Not surprisingly, Cahoon didn't have a much different answer.

"I don't work that way," he said. "I was embarrassed and disappointed with the way that we finished the season last year, but I'm not coming out this year to try to prove something or get revenge."

In terms of on-field performance, both Calvillo and Cahoon showed no signs of slowing down last season. Calvillo set a new career high with 43 touchdown passes, was named the CFL's outstanding player and his 107.2 passer rating was his best since his first year as a starter in 2000.

Cahoon had his best statistical season since 2003, hauling in 107 catches for 1,226 yards and seven touchdowns.

Both players credited the arrival of head coach Mark Trestman last year for not only the production on the field, but also for the desire to come back and play another season.

"Going into last season, I was maybe 95 per cent sure that it was going to be my last year," Cahoon said. "But I had a great time, I really enjoyed coach Trestman and the tempo he set, the vision and the quality atmosphere he created. It was a lot of fun."

Now Cahoon and Calvillo will be aiming to reach the Grey Cup for a seventh time as teammates.

In order for that to happen, Calvillo arrived at training camp after a gruelling off-season of preparation in the hopes that his body and mind will endure the season.

"No one sees how hard he works day in and day out," Cahoon said. "This year in particular, in the off-season he's been extremely disciplined with his diet, he's worked out harder than he ever has and I'm excited to see how that's going to translate onto the field."

That sounds suspiciously like someone coming to the defence of a close friend, and when pushed a little harder, Cahoon admits that his relationship with his quarterback is something more than just one of convenience.

"We've become real comfortable with each other, and the more time we spend together the more respect we have for each other," Cahoon said. "I think it's a relationship that just developed because we both needed each other so much on the field, and now it's more of a genuine friendship."