January 14, 2014

End of the line? Calvillo to make ‘important announcement’

CFL.ca Staff

MONTREAL — At the time, Anthony Calvillo’s touchdown pass to Brandon London during Montreal’s Week 7 matchup against the Argonauts seemed just like the other 454 he’s thrown during his illustrious career.

Today, however, it looks like it very well could have been his last.

At 11:00am ET, the Montreal Alouettes will be holding a press conference with Anthony Calvillo where it is expected he will announce his retirement.

President Mark Weightman and Head Coach and GM Jim Popp will also attend the announcement.

The future hall-of-famer missed Montreal’s last 11 games of the season due to a concussion, suffered after taking an innocent-looking hit from Roughriders defensive end Ricky Foley in Week 8.

During the team’s final media availability following their Eastern Semi-Final loss to the Tiger-Cats, Calvillo admitted he was favouring retirement.

 “I’m favouring retiring, that’s for sure,” Calvillo said back in November. “That’s the way I’ve been looking at things.”

If he retires, he is looking at going into coaching, but he also wants at least one summer off to spend with his family.

And if he coaches, the Los Angeles native wants it to be in Montreal.

“This is my home, this is where I want to be, this is where I want to raise my kids,” he said. “So my first objective is to get healthy and try to stay here in Montreal.”

He said the desire to coach grew this season when he was unable to play but spent time in team meetings and talking to teammates in the locker-room. He watched three quartrerbacks prospects, Josh Neiswander, Tanner Marsh and Troy Smith, take turns being the starter.

Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, looks poised to take over next season if Calvillo opts to retire. Smith signed a three-year contract extension with Montreal on Dec. 20.

The five-time CFL all-star won three Grey Cups and was named the CFL’s Outstanding player three times.

He holds league records of 79,816 passing yards, 455 touchdown passes, 5,892 completions and 9,437 pass attempts. He also holds the single game completions mark with 44, and leads in career Grey Cup passing yards with 2,470.

With files from The Canadian Press