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Post by CentreHice on Jan 21, 2014 14:50:19 GMT -5
What a career! Globe and MailThe Anthony Calvillo era is over. Pro football’s all-time passing leader announced Tuesday he is retiring after a 20-year CFL career that saw him set several records and win three Grey Cups with the Montreal Alouettes.“Today I would like to announce my retirement from this great game of football,” Calvillo said, fighting back tears. “It has been an amazing journey of 20 years, starting in Las Vegas, to my humbling times in Hamilton to the past 16 years here in Montreal.” The 41-year-old’s retirement was not a surprise. He did not play after suffering the second major concussion of his career on what looked like a routine hit by Saskatchewan’s Ricky Foley in a 24-21 loss on Aug. 17 in Regina. The Los Angeles native set records for passing yards with 79,816, completions with 5,892, pass attempts with 9,437 and touchdown passes with 455.Calvillo, who also spoke French during his news conference, also holds records for completions in one game with 44 and in Grey Cup game passing yards with 2,470.Calvillo made eight career Grey Cup appearances and led Montreal to victories in 2002, 2009 and 2010. After his last championship win, Calvillo made the stunning announcement he’d require off-season surgery to remove a lesion on his thyroid. The operation was a success and Calvillo returned to play the following season. He passed for more than 5,000 yards in a season seven times in his career and twice had a record four receivers each gain over 1,000 yards.A five-time CFL all-star, Calvillo was named the league’s outstanding player three times (2003, ‘08, ‘09). He began his career in ‘94 with the now defunct Las Vegas Posse before spending three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Hamilton released Calvillo after the ‘97 campaign, allowing him to sign with Montreal as a free agent. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jan 21, 2014 15:14:00 GMT -5
What a career! Globe and MailThe Anthony Calvillo era is over. Pro football’s all-time passing leader announced Tuesday he is retiring after a 20-year CFL career that saw him set several records and win three Grey Cups with the Montreal Alouettes.“Today I would like to announce my retirement from this great game of football,” Calvillo said, fighting back tears. “It has been an amazing journey of 20 years, starting in Las Vegas, to my humbling times in Hamilton to the past 16 years here in Montreal.” The 41-year-old’s retirement was not a surprise. He did not play after suffering the second major concussion of his career on what looked like a routine hit by Saskatchewan’s Ricky Foley in a 24-21 loss on Aug. 17 in Regina. The Los Angeles native set records for passing yards with 79,816, completions with 5,892, pass attempts with 9,437 and touchdown passes with 455.Calvillo, who also spoke French during his news conference, also holds records for completions in one game with 44 and in Grey Cup game passing yards with 2,470.Calvillo made eight career Grey Cup appearances and led Montreal to victories in 2002, 2009 and 2010. After his last championship win, Calvillo made the stunning announcement he’d require off-season surgery to remove a lesion on his thyroid. The operation was a success and Calvillo returned to play the following season. He passed for more than 5,000 yards in a season seven times in his career and twice had a record four receivers each gain over 1,000 yards.A five-time CFL all-star, Calvillo was named the league’s outstanding player three times (2003, ‘08, ‘09). He began his career in ‘94 with the now defunct Las Vegas Posse before spending three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Hamilton released Calvillo after the ‘97 campaign, allowing him to sign with Montreal as a free agent. Unfortunately I never saw him play in person. I did see him on TV and he reminded me of a Peyton Manning Lite. My all time favourite Als QB was San "The Rifle" Etchevery. No. 92 and 14. I lost interest in the CFL when Ted Workman traded Sam and Prince Hal to Hamilton for Bernie Faloney and Don Paquette. It took a long time to start watching again. |
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Post by jkr on Jan 21, 2014 15:31:46 GMT -5
The guy has been through a lot including a difficult childhood (I think one brother ended up in jail) and his wife also battled cancer as well.
I didn't know about that single game completion record - 44!! That's insane. Great QB & by all accounts a great person.
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Post by franko on Jan 21, 2014 16:07:01 GMT -5
My all time favourite Als QB was San "The Rifle" Etchevery. Sonny Wade for me. had a feeling about this announcement . . . was amazed he played this season, but I guess if it's in your blood . . . |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Jan 22, 2014 10:35:31 GMT -5
Als fans were really spoiled with our last 2 QB, Ham and Calvillo...
...I think tougher time lies ahead, it's all in the hands of Troy Smith now and I'm far from feeling confident about the guy.
Als must also find a head coach and an offensive coordinator...
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Post by franko on Jan 22, 2014 11:12:09 GMT -5
Isn't Tebow on the Als list?
except for the fact that he can't throw a pass more than 4 yards or with any accuracy, he is made for the CFL.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jan 22, 2014 12:55:20 GMT -5
My all time favourite Als QB was San "The Rifle" Etchevery. Sonny Wade for me. had a feeling about this announcement . . . was amazed he played this season, but I guess if it's in your blood . . . Russ Jackson was my boyhood fave Ottawa Rough Rider. He ran the bootleg (play action by today's standards) to perfection. I have his rookie card back at the house. Good days for the CFL in the 70's, at least for me. Franko, from the Als' glory days you have to remember; Peter Dala Riva, TE, made the jump from high school ball directly to the CFL. Moses Denson, RB. Dickie Harris, DB, and one of the best return men of his day. Johnny "the ordinary superstar" Rodgers (remember reading he used to drive around with a framed picture of himself in his Caddy). Junior Ah You, DE, Terry Evanshan, WR (saw him set a single-game mark for receptions against Ottawa, but the Als still lost). George Dixon, RB. Did you know that Steve Faragalli, FB, was actually deaf in one ear? He had to stand directly beside Sonny Wade in the huddle with his good ear to the QB. Too many others to mention. Remember the Rough Riders well. Loved the Condredge Holloway, Tommy Clements tandem in Ottawa. Clements won a Grey Cup with Ottawa and he is currently the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. He was also their QB coach before that and he helped develop Brett Farve, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn. Art Green was the main RB in the 70's. Had a chance to meet Mike Murphy, FB and Jeff Avery, WR back in the late 70's. Ottawa also had the Capital Punishment line. I'd ask people who said they knew the the Rough Riders it they remember the original front four to the "Capital Punishment" line. I got a beer every time except once. The front four were, Wayne Smith, DE (Halifax), Rudy Sims, DT, Mike Laputka (DT) and Jim Piaskoski, DE (Levac, ON). The middle linebacker was Gerry "Soupy" Campbell. Rod Woodward, DB, Al Marcelin, DB, Dick Adams, DB, Mark Kosmos, LB. I think Kosmos is the owner/originator of Local Heroes here in Ottawa. I remember Dick Adams in a preseason game receiving a punt. Ottawa had brought in Art Laster, an import lineman. They have Laster listed as 285 lbs, but if he wasn't 400 lbs he was close. Adams waited for the punt which had a long hang-time. All I saw was Adams catching the ball and being totally absorbed by Laster. The ball flew up in the air and Adams ended up underneath Laster. The crowd went "OOOOHHHH" ... Adams had to be helped off the field, and Laster never made the cut. Too many stories, too little time (I'm at work with a demo to do for the client this afternoon). Haven't touched on Tony Gabriel yet. Saw him set the single-game mark for receptions (before Evanshan) against Ottawa (he was drafted by Hamilton) with 16. The Tiger Cats got close to winning the game but they kicked the FG wide and Ottawa ended up winning. Have to run. Cheers. |
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Post by franko on Jan 22, 2014 13:46:22 GMT -5
I moved to Winnipeg in the late 60s so became a two-team fan: east and west [so glad that Ottawa is back next year so that Winnipeg is where it belongs]. back and forth to Manitoba during some fun years [70s to mid80s]. lots of names from those days. Chuck Ealey and Dieter Brock, of course; Mack Herron and Joe Popp
Mark Kosmos is indeed the man behind Local Heroes. only two left in town, though -- the ones "east" have shut down.
fwiw, Kari Yli-Renko is a small part of "my team" here when he is in town. you'd never picture him for the mean offensive lineman that he was.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jan 23, 2014 9:25:50 GMT -5
I moved to Winnipeg in the late 60s so became a two-team fan: east and west [so glad that Ottawa is back next year so that Winnipeg is where it belongs]. back and forth to Manitoba during some fun years [70s to mid80s]. lots of names from those days. Chuck Ealey and Dieter Brock, of course; Mack Herron and Joe Popp Mark Kosmos is indeed the man behind Local Heroes. only two left in town, though -- the ones "east" have shut down. fwiw, Kari Yli-Renko is a small part of "my team" here when he is in town. you'd never picture him for the mean offensive lineman that he was. Mike Wicklum was a former phys-ed teacher of mine back in the 70's. Mike Wicklum Also had a former Rough Rider as a supply teacher back in grade 8. His name was Doug Collins. I remember asking him why he chose to be a teacher and it was because he needed an income in the off season, and he needed something to go to after football. Ottawa Rough Riders 1973Cheers. |
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Post by franko on Jan 23, 2014 9:29:03 GMT -5
Doug Collins. I remember asking him why he chose to be a teacher and it was because he needed an income in the off season, and he needed something to go to after football. still the way it is [mostly] in the CFL. guys either stick around town and find work [used to be some temp government positions here] or go "back home" for the winter. oh, and nice to hear the Calvillo is planning [at least right now] to stay in Montreal. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jan 23, 2014 10:02:44 GMT -5
Doug Collins. I remember asking him why he chose to be a teacher and it was because he needed an income in the off season, and he needed something to go to after football. still the way it is [mostly] in the CFL. guys either stick around town and find work [used to be some temp government positions here] or go "back home" for the winter. oh, and nice to hear the Calvillo is planning [at least right now] to stay in Montreal. A different generation of players, people, etc. I remember players staying and working in their communities during the off season. Whit Tucker, WR, is an investment exec with Nesbitt Burns (I think, no time to look it up), here in Ottawa. Russ Jackson was a math teacher and a vice principal at my old school in Ottawa's west end. I heard from a colleague of mine, who had him as a math teacher, that he was incredibly strict. But, these are only a few of the players who stayed behind and worked in the cities they played in. Nowadays athletes are paid so much that they feel entitled to just about everything. No humility left. But, you look at Jackson, Tucker, Collins ... all humble men. Cheers. |
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