Cato’s release opens up chance for Crompton
If Rakeem Cato drew the short straw Monday evening, when his release from the crowded Alouettes’ quarterback picture was announced, it was the troubled 24-year-old who might have actually planted the seeds of his demise months earlier.
Cato, you might remember, was in the middle of two public practice disagreements involving former Montreal receivers Kenny Stafford and Duron Carter. Cato temporarily left the practice field in St-Léonard on the second occasion before being cajoled into returning by Kavis Reed, then the Als’ special teams coordinator and now Montreal’s new general manager.
There was another incident — at Tim Hortons Field in mid-September the day before a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats — in which Cato publicly rebuked a Montreal journalist who asked what was regarded as an innocent, yet pertinent, personal question. It occurred in front of media members and in plain sight of Anthony Calvillo, pro football’s career passing leader and the Als’ offensive coordinator at the time.
We can only wonder what went through Calvillo’s mind at that moment. But it surely might have been: Does Cato possess the mental fortitude to be a team’s franchise quarterback?
“We feel Rakeem has a lot of talent. The young man did a very good job while he was here,” Reed told the Montreal Gazette. “Everyone in the locker room, minus the little incidents with a couple of guys, everyone respects and loved Rakeem. He has a very engaging personality.
“That (the disputes) was not a factor,” added Reed, who attempted unsuccessfully to trade Cato prior to his release. “If he were Tom Brady and we were winning Grey Cups, people would be more shocked. For a team that hasn’t had a winning record in a number of years, it shouldn’t be that much of a shock.”
Cato, from the troubled Liberty City section of Miami, had his moments with Montreal — just not enough of them. He’ll always be remembered for his rookie debut, July 3, 2015, against Calgary, when he was exquisite, completing 20 of 25 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-11 victory.
After that, the other Canadian Football League teams had video of Cato and started catching on to his tendencies. He passed for 2,167 yards that season with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. But he was concussed late in the year and the Als traded for Kevin Glenn.
Cato started five games last season, after Glenn was benched and subsequently traded, throwing for 1,403 yards and eight touchdowns. He was intercepted only twice. But the Als won only one of those games and, by season’s end, Cato had been supplanted by rookie Vernon Adams.
The Als, who also released quarterback Shane Carden on Monday, have five pivots remaining on their roster, including veteran Darian Durant, acquired in a trade from Saskatchewan, and Adams. Durant will come into training camp as the starter and would have to be injured for those plans to change.
Cato’s departure could be seen as a vote of confidence for the virtually forgotten Jonathan Crompton, who missed all of last season while recovering from shoulder surgery in winter 2016. But he also helped lead the Als from the abyss in 2014, when Montreal recovered from a 1-7 start to finish 9-9 and reached the East Division final.
Crompton was the quarterback of record from the ninth game that year, passing for 2,482 yards and 11 touchdowns while being intercepted eight times. He’s only 29 and, while his accuracy can be questioned, the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder has size on his side. But he also has played only three games since then. Still, he expects to be healthy by training camp.
“He’s a very good quarterback. He’s very good in the locker room. He has that CEO mentality and CEO personality and person that we need and want to carry the franchise,” Reed said. “The QB is the one who’s the face of the franchise. We expect those guys to have a certain disposition and a certain demeanour. And to conduct themselves in a certain way.”
And that, the argument can be made, is where Cato fell short. Cato couldn’t be reached for comment. Indeed, Florida-based Joe Schulz, his last agent of record, said he hasn’t heard from Cato in some time and isn’t sure whether he still represents him.
The Als’ other QBs are Greg McGhee, who completed the year on the practice roster, and Connor Halliday.
Meanwhile, the CFL released its 2017 schedule on Tuesday. Montreal begins the regular season June 22 at Molson Stadium against Saskatchewan, which undoubtedly will be billed as a grudge match for Durant and Roughriders GM and head coach Chris Jones. The Als begin their exhibition schedule June 8 at Toronto, before hosting Grey Cup-champion Ottawa on June 15. Four of their final six games are on the road.